WOMEN’S FRANCHISE

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 27

WOMEN’S FRANCHISE

CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE. LONDON, July 21. A dramatic effort was made to secure the leader of the militant suffragettes from her flat. A decoy dressed like Mrs Pankhurst left the house, and the police who were on guard and followed were hindered from arresting her by 50 suffragettes. The police eventually caught the woman, and then found they had been tricked. Mrs Pankhurst, unknown to the police, reached the Pavilion, and hid in an anteroom till the meeting commenced. The detectives, hearing of her presence, barred the exits and arrested her as she was going on the platform. An uproar followed, and a number of women attempted to rescue her. They attacked the detectives with hatpins and umbrellas. Several arrests were effected. Mrs Pankhurst, when Holloway was reached, refused to leave the cab, so the detectives lifted her out and carried her into the prison. July 22. The suffragettes were active on the occasion of the Prime Minister’s visit to Birmingham. They broke a number of windows in the Grand Hotel July 24. A suffragette deputation to the Horne Secretary surprised the police, and entered the precincts of the House of Commons. The police tried to eject them, and there was an unseemly scuffle in St. Stephen’s Hall. Mrs Pethick Lawrence and two other women were arrested. July 25. Mrs Pankhurst has been released. It is alleged that she is in a critical state of health. The suffragettes intended to present a memorial against the “Cat and Mouse” Act. Some of them were admitted to St. Stephen’s Hall, and accompanied Sir Edward Busk. Mrs Lawrence attempted to address members, and a violent scene ensued. An umbrella was broken over a policeman’s head, and another policeman was chased with a hatpin. Mrs Lawrence, Miss Sharp, and Lady Sybil Smith were arrested. Mrs Lawrence, Miss Sharp, and Lady Sybil Smith refused to be bound over, and were sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment. Mrs Pankhurst had a bad night. The doctors consider her case serious, and have resorted to transfusion. Mrs Drummond has undergone an operation. July 25. Nil's Pankhurst is now better. July 27. Militant suffragettes, who set out on pilgrimages from the north, south, cast, and west of England, have arrived in London. As the pilgrims marched they enrolled supporters and collected £7BOO. Four processions numbering over 50.000 women entered Hyde Park on Saturday. They carried banners inscribed with the words; “ Reason; not force. 3 ’ At a monster demonstration resolutions were carried on 20 platforms demanding the suffrage. At a free speech demonstration in Trafalgar square Sylvia Pankhurst concluded a violent harangue by suggesting that the crowd go to Mr Asquith’s residence in Downing street. She was immediately arrested, and the mounted police checked the crowd rushing to Whitehall. The young woman’s bodyguard of East Eiid youths attempted to rescue her. Violent scenes ensued, and 12 women and 11 men were arrested. July 23. Miss Pankhurst was at liberty under the “Cat and Mouse” Act as her license had expired. She eluded the detectives owing to her shabby dress, and made a- dramatic appearance at the plinth of the Nelson monument, and declared for deeds ai'.d not words.

After the resolutions had been carried she jumped amidst her body guard and attempted to march to Downing street. The police broke up the procession. The militants used walking sticks and umbrellas freely. A number of members of the bodyguard were arrested. Miss Pankhurst was carried to the Police Station, where she seized a footrule for measuring prisoners and smashed a window. She then asked for a glass of water, and flung the glass through a window. Minor disturbances and stone-throwing were continued at the Whitehall till a late hour. Mrs Pankhurst is improving. A young girl was selected out of many volunteers for the transfusion operation.