WOMEN’S FRANCHISE

Otago Witness, Issue 3097, 23 July 1913, Page 27

WOMEN’S FRANCHISE

CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE. LONDON, July 14. Miss Kenny appeared on the platform at the Pavilion Music Hall, and sold her two prison licenses by auction for £l2 for the-benefit of the Political and Social Union’s funds. Mrs Pankhnrst also came on to the platform amid tumultuous cheering. Both of the women were arrested when leaving the hull. After a violent struggle with the police Mrs Pankhurst escaped in a taxi-cab, a crowd of women beating off the detectives with their parasols and sticks. A constable’s coat was torn off in the melee. William Boss, who was arrested on suspicion, has confessed to the Salem Church lire, and also to robberies from other churches. He says that he committed these crimes “ for a lark,” and intended to rob and burn the principal churches on the Welsh coast. July 15. Mrs Pankhurst declared that Parliament must give votes or kill women. She. challenged the Government to kill her or give her her freedom. Suddenly the detectives, with their heads down to protect their faces from the male suffragists, who were brandishing sticks, and from the women, who were using hatpins and umbrellas, dashed into a solid group of women, in the centre of which was Miss Kenny A violent struggle ensued, and men and women were bowled over while attempting a rescue. Eventually Miss Kenny was forced to a taxi-cab, and the detectives drove off amid execrations and shouts of “Shame, comrades !‘’ from a crowd of women, who as well as the detectives bore evidences of the fray. Mrs Pankhurst was not arrested. She escaped during the confusion. July 16. Mrs Pankhurst has returned to her apartments, and is now under the surveillance of the police Several of Mrs Pankhmst’s sympathisers have been fined for their participation in the melee at the Pavilion Theatre. July 17. Decided attempts have*been made to burn the grandstand on the football ground at Doncaster. While a sorter in the Dublin post office was stamping a letter addressed to Mr Dillon it exploded, and his hand was badly injured. July 18. Mrs Barrett addressed a meeting in the Memorial Hall, and was re-arrested when leaving after a scuffle with the police. Another man and woman were also arrested. * July 19. Miss Kenny, who was arrested when leaving the Pavilion Music Hall last week, has been released. Mrs Pankhurst lias been rearrested.