SUFFRAGETTE OUTRAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVIII, 12 March 1914, Page 5

SUFFRAGETTE OUTRAGE.

FAMOUS PICTURE SLASHED.

REVENGE FOR MRS. PANKHURST’S ARREST. PERPETRATOR COMMITTED FOR TRLyL.

[UNITED TRESS ASSOCIATIO*-"'''COPTright] LONDON, March 11. A well-knovfrfi suffragette named Mrs Mary Richardson, used a hatchet and badly damaged Velasquez’s Venus in the National Gallery. Mrs Richardson was committed for trial, bail not being allowed. Mrs Richardson boasts that she is not unwilling to die. She had, she said, attempted to destroy the most beautiful woman of mythology as a j protest against the Government destroying Mrs Pankhurst, the most beautiful character of modern history. To her previous statement Mrs Richardson added: “Mrs Pankhurst seeks justice to womanhood. For this she is being slowly murdered by a Go-, vernment of Iscariot politicians.” Policemen gave evidence that when arrested Mrs Richardson remarked: “I am a suffragette and broke the pic-, tuiie.. You can got another picture, hut cannot get another life, as they are killing Mrs Pankhurst.” Replying to the magistrate, Mrs I Richardson expressed contempt for a Government which did not treat all persons equally, adding: “Mr McKenna cannot make me serve a sentence. He can only repeat the farce of releasing or else kill me. Either way mine is a victory.” The National Gallery and Wallace Collection have been closed till further notice.

Velasquez’s Venus was purchased by public subscriptions in 1906, and cost £-15,000. Mr Asquith, replying to a suggestion to extend the provisions of the “Malicious Injuries in Ireland Act to Britain, owing to outrages by suffragettes, especially Mrs Richardson's ‘raid, said fie was not satisfied that it would have the effect desired. (Received March 11, 5.40 p.m.) The National Gallery was fairly well filled at the time. Mrs R ichardson stood before the Venus and studied it for a few minutes, watched bv an attendant and a policeman, while there were detectives in an adjoining gallery.

She drew a small hatchet from her muff and dealt the picture a terrific blow, shattering the glass and slashing the canvas. Five less powerful blows were delivered in rapid succession before the attendant and policeman seized the woman. It has been ascertained that the cuts are so straight and clean that the damage can possibly be repaired for £IOO. A erod’d of suffragettes picketed Glasgow railway station throughout the night. The police in the morning forced Mrs Pankhurst, struggling on a stretcher, into a. motor car. Suffragettes in another car vainly pursued them to Coatbridge, where the London train was specially stopped, and picked up Mrs Pankhurst and two detectives. Mrs Pankhurst is hunger-striking. Suffragettes are picketing the London termini and Holloway gaol.

LEFT IN THE TUNNEL ! POLICE OUTWIT THE WOMEN. (Received March 12, 12.10 a.m.) LONDON, March 11. The cuts made in the picture arc eix inches long and all are in the figure. There is little doubt but that they can be repaired so that the slashes will be practically unnoticeable. A number of Suffragettes travelled to London in Mrs Pankhurst’s train and the police stopped it at London Road, leaving the part containing the Suffragettes in the tunnel, though Mrs Panklmrst’s carriage was at the platform. The women tried to climb out of the train, which, however, proceeded on its journey, carrying them to Easton.

Airs Pankhurst, in a state of, collapse. was taken to Holloway prison.