Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-10-18
HAPPY NOW THAT
SHE IS SET FREE
FLORENCE DUOAN THANKS
FRIENDS WHO HELPED HER.
Tells Of Her Imprisonment and
Tridl-Sdys She Feels Though
She Had Entered New Life
Going to Live Differently-At-
tempted tC Kill Geo Schumacher.
(From Thursdays Daily.D

GAINESVILLE Gazette: With nothing
but an effusion of thanks for the
people who helped her in her troubles,
which came to close with the
verdict of the jury at noon today,
Florence Dugan smiles today as she
rehearses the incidents OF her i'm
prisonment and trial. As much IS
the difference between her attitude
today and her sUoIld pose while on
the witness stand as between statue
and the artists living mooel. After
a long Imprisonment Of six months
with dramatic climax of the trial,
which was contaminated today IN her
favor she seems to be d new woman,
rs she herself confesses she feels.
She has evil wishes toward none but
her compassion goes out to all Who
were against her, even to Geo.
Schumacher, at whom she leveied her
weapon. If she could, she declares,
she would do anything in her power
to assist in the recovery to health
of the man whom she once loved
but later shut. Despite the long
siege in jail she has Suffered
practically no physical breakdown.
Though at times she has been on the
verge of nervous collapse till today,
with her mind free Of the dreaded
possible end that might have been
against her, she feels as well as she
did before the beginning of her
happiness she realizes that che is g
free woman and at will to go where
she p!eases. In this happy mood she
told the following story this after
noon when seen at the county jail
where she is now engaged by Mrs.
Fisher to assist IN homework:
81 first wish to thank the numer'
Gus friends who have stood by me al
through this trouble. Especially dt
wish to thank MIR. and Mrs. james
hemmlngs, Phil Sheridan and Attor
ney T. S. Nolan. who so ably &C.
Tended me. / want to express my
gratitude to Sheriff and Mrs. Fisher
and Mr.. George Appleby who treat,
ed me so kindly while | was i'm
prisoned here at the jail.
During my impr 'sUnment ant
trial | had fears of the end at times
and then again | felt confident that
would be freed. Some days while il
Jail l thought that 1 would never bt
free again, possibly, and on othel
days | was more confident that
would win. The most nervou!
moment during ali the trouble tina
| spent was when | saw the jury
coming from their room after the.
had decided On their verdict. The
reason was. | guess, because knew
that in only few seconds | woult
know the end.
"WhIle 7 was on the witnes!
stand, during most of the first day o.
he trial, | almost was frightened tt
death. / did not tell lie when OF
the stand, felt worse In the fore
noon but in the afternoon | felt more
at ease. But after the first day
knew that Mr.. Nolan Was more con
fdent and that gave me hope.
was uneasy during the trial because
there had been so many delays and
thought that probably there would be
disagreement among the jury anc
another trial would have to be held.
All during the trial | don't think
slept more than three hours until last
night when | felt more sure that
would be freed. Last night | slept
pretty we'll. | had better appetite
today at noon than | have had for siS
months. | expect to visit my fulks,
who live in the town of Bradford anG
other relatives for a week or So
am going to work here for Mrs.
Fisher while at least.
eff there is anything | could dc
right this minute to help George gst
we'll, | would do it. | hope he get!
well. What witnesses | though
told falsehoods on the stand to hur
ME | can forgive. | teel as though
| was entering a new lite today ant
| am going to live different from
now on.