Ella Felters
Amy Dennis,Lauren Otten, Carolina Carrion, Audra Saunders

I do remember that night, so long ago. September 25, 1895.  I was a young woman then.  Even through all these years, I've managed to carry the weight of the guilt from my part in the events that took place that night.

Even at the trial, as I denied writing that letter, the evidence that accused me, I knew I was going to have to live with this secret. 

With time, I moved on, in another place, and seemingly another time, I left the scrub, got married, raised a family . . . all the while hiding from my
past.  Occasionally I was confronted with the past, but I avoided details.

As a young woman, in my twenties then, I vowed never to speak of Harry
Singleton, Jack McCormick, or the families I hurt.  Now, as an old woman, 82, I know I must relieve myself of the burden of truth. 

I did love Harry Singleton, but I also had to get out of the scrub.  A black woman in Ybor City had little future.  McCormick was even more determined to make this happen.  I had a bad reputation, I was in trouble with the law.  Murdering a police officer was not the answer, but I wasn't thinking clearly.  I knew Harry would do it--take care of McCormick for me, but I never meant for him to die for the crime I thought of.  I really wanted both of us to escape, to find better lives.