VICIOUS VANDALS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8679, 12 March 1914, Page 5

VICIOUS VANDALS

SUFFRAGETTES AGAIN VALUABLE PICTURE HACKED WITH HATCHET. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, March 10. Suffragettes, with a hatchet, badly damaged the Velasquez Venus in the National Gallery. The National Gallery and the Wallace collection hare been closed until further notice. The Velasquez Venus was purchased by public subscriptions in 1906, and cost £45,000.

A TERRIFIC BLOW. DAMAGE MAY BE REPAIRED FOR £IOO. "Times” and Sydney “Sun” Services. (Received March 11, 5.40 p.m.) LONDON, .March 11. The National Gallery was fairly well filled when the outrage was perpetrated. A lady stood before the Velasquez Venus, and apparently studied it for a few momenta. She was watched by the attendant policeman, while detectives wore in the adjoining gallery. The woman 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. The attendant policeman then seized the culprit. It has been (ascertained that the cuts were so straight and clean that the damage may possibly be repaired for £IOO. # •'ISCARIOT POLITICIANS.” “ MURDERING”MRS PANEHURST.” MOST BEAUTIFUL CHARACTER IN MODERN HISTORY. tiy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, March 10, .. Mary Richardson, who has frequently been arrested and released under the “ Cat and Mouse ” Act, has been (committed for trial for Inflicting several rents in the picture of Venus, its value thereby being depreciated by £IO,OOO to £15.000. Bail was not allowed. Richardson .boasts that she is not unwilling to die. She said she had attempted to destroy the most beautiful woman in mythology as a protest against the Government destroying Mrs Pankhurst. the most beautiful j character in modern history. Richardson added: “Mrs Pankhurst seeks justice for womanhood; for this she is being slowly murdered by a Government of Iscariot politicians.” Policemen gave evidence that when arrested Richardson remarked: “ I am a, suffragette. I broke the picture. You can get another picture, but you cannot get another life, as they are killing Mrs, Pankhurst.” Replying to a magistrate, Richardson expressed contempt for the Govern-, ment,, which did not treat all persons equally. “Mr McKenhsi,” she said, “ cannot make me serve a sentenceHe can only repeat the farce of releasing me or eke bill me; either way mine is victory.”

MALICIOUS INJURIES ACT. WOULD NOT HAVE DESIRED EFFECT. 0/ Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, March 10. Mr Asquith, in replying to a suggestion that the Government should extend the provisions of the Malicious Injuries in Ireland Act to Great Britain owing to the suffragette outrages ‘and especially that of Mary Richardson,' said he was not satisfied that such extension would have the effect desired. • HUNGER-STRIKING AGAIN, VAIN PURSUIT OF MOTOR-CAR. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, March 10. A crowd of suffragettes picketed the Glasgow railway station throughout the night, . . ~ The police in the morning forced Mrs Pankhurst, who struggled, on to a stretcher, and carried her to a motorcar. Suffragettes in another motorcar vainly pursued the police car to Coatbridge, where the London train specially stopped and picked up Mrs Pankhurst and two detectives. Mrs Pankbutst is hunger-striking. Suffragettes are picketing the London railway termini and Holloway Gaol. CUTS IN PICTURE SIX INCHES . LONG. MRS PANKHURST IN STATE OF ‘COLLAPSE. , By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Received March 12, 0.10 a.m.) LONDON, March 11.. The cuts made in the Venus are six inches long, all in the figure. . There is little doubt that the picture can bo repaired so that the slashes will be practically unnoticeable. A number of suffragettes travelled to London in Mrs Pankhurst’s train. The police stopped it at. London road, leaving the part containing the suffragettes in the tunnel though Mrs Pankhurst’s carriage was at the platform. The women tried to climb out, hut the train proceeded, carrying them to Euston. Mrs Pankhurst, in a state, of collapse, was taken to Holloway Prison.