The San Francisco call., 1904-08-13
Florence MaybriCk
Grateful Tor
Freedom.
Her Constant Prayer Now
Is for Proof Of Her
Innocence.
ErStwhile Prisoner "29 L" WeepS as
She Details Events of Her Life
in AyleSbury Jail.

Special Cable to The Call and New York
Herald. Copyright 1904, by the New York
Herald Publishing Company
LONDON. Aug. IA message to
my friends To you all 1 give my
heartfelt thanks for your noble fight
on behalf of an innocent and defense
less woman 1 earnestly pray the day
is not far distant when proof of the
wrong that has been done TO me may
be granted
FLORENCE MAVERICK.
August, 1904" 3"
I had pictured to myself a woman
shattered in intellect, haggard of fea
ture, agitated and fearful l found a
clear -witted and outspoken. mildly ro-
bust. perfectly calm and pleasant look
ing little lady. Ii is true her face was
drawn, as with much grief and suffer
ing and her eyes were Iistless. but
there was confidence of deneRn0r
and an entire absence of nervousness
or embarrassment and quiet delibera-
ton in answering questions or waving
them aside as impossible which aston
ished me.
The very antithesis Of mental and
bodily wreck did Florence Maybrick
present as she extended the hand of
welcome and told me / was the first
unofficial gentleman she had spoken TO
for fifteen years" ] had passed Marie
Normandy. the dragon who guards the
entrance to the Baroness ROques' cot
tage home at Rouen and who had
faithfully kept il against an army of
would-be interviewers and, crossing
the garden. was met at the door by
Florence Maybrick herself
GRATEFUL TO HER FRIENDS.
Her mother was by her side and the
three of US repaired to a little apart
ment overlooking the Baroness holly
hooks and rose trees. where her newly
returned daughter has been nursing
herself back TO appreciation of present
day affairs
First let me ask you" she COM
menced. TO say how grateful / am to
all the kind friends who have sent me
and my mother messages and congrat-
ulatiCns on my release. See" pointing
to letters and kilograms scattered
about the room, they come from all
over the world-from India, Africa and
the Continent and, of course. from
England and America. Please tell
them that, although l am unable to
acknowledge them. 1 am deeply moved
by them Mr.. Choate and Henry
Waite have always been most earnest
in my cause. / owe Mr. Harding, in
London. a debt I can never hope to
repay. Some day, perhaps, / shall
meet them all"
Mrs. Maybrick and / settled down to
talk an hour or more about her case
her prison agonies, her future and heI
hopes. I inquired when she was first
informed OF her intended release. She
said:
In February, 1903, was definitely
informed my case would follow the
regular course. 1. e., five years off foI
good behavior.
MONTHS OF ANXIOUS WAITING.
How anxiously 1 waited for those
last few months to pass you may guess
and it was on January 25 last that
left Aylesbury jail. after serving f1fteer
years. Not a word had been said to any
other prisoner. The actual date of my
going was known only to the gov
ernor, lthe matrons and myself. In th'
company of the assistant matron, who
was kindness itself to me, / walked ou
of the gates at half-past in the morn
ing. The gatekeeper was the only per
son to see me go. ] said no good-byei
and my departure was kept perfect!
secret
we took a train from Aylesbury t.
London and then went from Padding
ton to Truro, where I was to remain a
the Home Of the Epiphany for the res
of my term. This was on the recon-
mendation of the medical officers a
Aylesbury, who thought 1t necessar.
] for my health's sake"
Mrs. Maybrick then gave an extende,
account Of her life in prison. With he
/ eyes filled with tears and in broker
voice her sentences came slowly Sh
was known as convict "29 L." the las
named letter meaning life" Sh
/ worked in the kitchen and sometime
as a seamstress.
After relating many incidents of pris
on life she said:
I'VE heard of Queen Victoria's death
and on Edwards coronation day w
were allowed extra meat and som
plum pudding"
Mrs. Maybrick declined to discuss he
| future or whether there would be
reconciliation with the children.