THE ABBEY OUTRAGE.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13494, 13 June 1914, Page 5

THE ABBEY OUTRAGE.

EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE

MR. McKENNA'S STATEMENT,

DUPES OF RICH WOMEN,

(Received June 12, 11.25 p.m.) .London, June 12

At the moment Mr McKenna was explaining^the Government's policy to the House of Commons regarding militancy, the explosion occurred in the Abbey. A piece of the top of the Coronation Chair was blown off, and the stone carving on the screen behind it was slightly damaged. The Scottish Coronation Stone was injured.

The bomhgappears to have been well made of -tHm^ nickelplated metal. It was loaded with iron bits, and was fired by a fuse.

In the excitement the police temporarily detained two inoffensive Danish ladies.

It is supposed by some that a member of a large party of sightseers lagged behind the others, and deposited the bomb. A woman's boa, a guidebook, and a bag were found near.

In the House of Commons Lord Robert Cecil and others described the Cat and Mouse Act as a failure.

Mr. McKenna, in reply, justified the Act, saying that the number of crimes had diminished, although the seriousness of the offences, had increased. The authorities were in possession of sufficient evidence to proceed against subscribers to the {unds of the Women's Social and Political Union." It was intended to bring a test civil action for damages, while criminal proceedings might also be instituted ggainst sinister figures with money bagis who cared more for the organisation than the cause. Mr. McKenna declared that rich women in the background selected their •dupes from epileptics and semi-derang-ed persons, urging them to martyrdom at a wage, of 30s to 40s a week. The subscribers were mainly rich women using their wealth against society. They paid unfortunates to undergo the horrors of starvation, while they themselves lived in luxury. If supplies were cut off the last would soon be heard of the Pankhursts. He would never adopt I the policy of "Let them die," and he thought (deportation unprincipled. He appealed to the Press to give less publicity to the militants' operations.

The "Daily Telegraph" says Mr. McKenna's statement was the most shocking in our time, showing a flavour of the unhealthy depravity of the recent militancy.

"The Times" says Mr. McKenna is more conscious of the difficulties of the problem than resourceful in grappling with it. The pitiful tale of Laura Gray throws a lurid light on the demoralisation of weak-minded girls systematically practised by the women's organisation. .