WOMEN AND THE VOTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14985, 6 May 1912, Page 5

WOMEN AND THE VOTE.

WINDOW-BREAKING CRUSADE

A DEAL IN HAMMERS.

[FROM Otm OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

, London*,. March 29. The purchase of hammers by an unknown lady was the feature of the evidence at Bow-street when Mrs. Pankhurst, Mr. and Mrs* Pethick Lawrence, and Mrs. Tuke, leaders of the Women's Social and Political Union, again appeared'.,:in , the dock charged with conspiracy to commit damage. Mrs. Tuke, who, it was stated, had been brought from the infirmary, was given a chair by the side of the dock.,

Miss Christabel Pankhurst is. still at liberty, and it is rumoured that she is in America, \ '■

Mr. Richard Melhuish, a tool merchant, of Fetter Lane, said that on February 22 or 23, "a lady of great dignity" entered the shop, and asked for some hammers. She was well dressed, and witness took her to be a lady of means, interested in boys. (Laughter.) She required hammers with claws, and agreed to purchase two dozen of a particular pattern. They were to be packed while she went to lunch, but when she returned the parcel was not ready, and she was very arrogant. Mr. Bodkin suggested that the witness was a little afraid of the lady. ,'. • . Mr. Melhuish replied that he was anxious to please the lady, who was very impatient. He packed the hammers, one of which was accidentally left out of the parcel. - .': .'";. ~ ■ ' : Mr. : Bodkin r One of the 24 you were paid for?— Yes. (Laughter.) The lady did not leave any address, and I have been waiting for her to call for it. But she hasn't done so?— Not yet. (Laughter.)■ . ■-',' ■,'■',' Mr. George Eaton Hart, manager of the St. Clement's Press, Portugal-street, stated that in 1903 his firm entered into •a. contract with Mr. Pethick Lawrence to print " Votes for Women," and they had done so until March 8 last. On March 4 witness refused to print a handbill which was intended ' for publication. He wrote to Mr. Pethick Lawrence, pointing out that it seemed an incitement to extreme measures, and saying he must decline to print anything of a seditious or libellous character in " Votes for Women." :In December last witness's • firm printed ■ 20,000 "copies of a circular, headed.'■, Broken Windows," but an order received on March 5 to reset the same circular in larger type was;| refused. ■'.'.■.' > • ":..'''' v :"." ,: '.",'i Mrs. Pankhurst' asked for the facilities of a remanded prisoner to; prepare her defence. '» ,„•■-' \ ' ■ '■ : ;i ■ Mr. Curtis Bennett pointed out that Mrs. Pankhurst was undergoing a sentence of imprisonment. He understood that/her solicitor, had permission to see her at any time. • ■ . Mrs. Pankhurst said she would be; willing to serve her sentence later. Mr. Curtis'Bennett: I am afraid; there is no Act of Parliament by which that can be allowed. '' Mrs. Pankhurst (warmly) : Then I am not having a fair trial. '~''"' There were cries of '.'Hear, ; hear," from the back of the Court, and the magistrate, indicating a woman with grey hair, directed that she should not be admitted to the building again.