SUFFRAGETTES BROKEN UP.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 71, 13 March 1914, Page 6

SUFFRAGETTES BROKEN UP.

"CAT AND MOUSE" ACT. From figures officially supplied we are able to publish details of the number of Suffragettes dealt with accoiding to the, provisions of the "Cat and Mouse" Act, which has been in operation nearly nine months (stated the 'Daily Mail' of January 12). The A»t received the Royal Assent on April 26 of last year and came into force immediately. The object was to deal, with prisoners who adopted the hunger strike. It provided for their temporary release and rearrest on recovery.

Since the Act came into force, 18 persons, men and women, have been received in prison in England and Wales for offences in connection with the militant Suffrage campaign. At the present date two only are in prison. One, Miss Sylvia Pankhumt, was released from Holloway Prison on Saturday after a hunger "strike. Six have completed their sentence or paid their fines. Two have been discharged on giving pledges of future good behaviour. Thirty-seven fled while temporarily released in order to escape further imprisonment.

Tins total of 37 anpears hut it must bo remembered that the purpose of the Art in the suppression of crime is secured while the absentees are in lud.ng, and that if they reappear in England thev can be'immediately rearrested. Moreover, seven oT the 37 are definitely known to be abroad, and less than half a dezen of the remaining 30 were convicted for grave offences." . The fact that 48 militants have been imprisoned 411 nine months since the Act came into force is ample proof of it 1 efficacy, as a comparison with previous figures will show. In 1912, before its operation, 240 suffrage persons werereceived in gaol., of whom 66 had to bo released for medical reasons, due, with few exceptions, to hunger-striking. This large number of Suffrage prisoners continued up to the time of the passing of the "Cat and Mouse" Act. Durinn' the first two months of last year their total numbered over 50—an average of 25 per month, as compared with the present average of five.