THE SUFFRAGETTES' HUSBAND

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1455, 1 June 1912, Page 11

THE SUFFRAGETTES' HUSBAND

AV. W. JACOBS ASD HIS WIFE. Among the women arrested for smashing windows in I.ondnu was Eleanor Jacobs, 31, m:\iTio-l. of Felthnm House, Loughtou, Es=e.v, wife of W. W. Jacobs, the author of "Many Cargoes," "Beauty and tho Barge," and scores of other works. She was brought up before Mr. Fordham, Ll'.il., at West Loadon, and the "Daily

Telegraph" reports tho case as follows:— Mr. Barker HVontner and prosecuted for the Commissioner of Police, and stated that llio defendant broke the window with a hammer. When seized, she said: "I have done this to get tlio vote. Mr. Fordhain (to the defendant).-Do you admit this?— Yes. What have you to say?—l havo done this because I" think it my duty ns tlio mother of livo thildrcn. Mr. l'orillmm.—What! Your duty as a mother of fivo children to smash up properly ? JMendant.—Yos; that is the only way we can protest against the action, or rather (he inaction, of tho Government in icfusing justice. Mr. Fordhim.—Your statement is so absurd that I think I ought to have you remanded to havo your state of mind inquired into. Defendant; (smiling).—Oh, my mind is quite sound. I have done my duty to my children for tweke years. I think my daughter?,'when they grow up, should have equal rights and responsibilities and duties with my sons. Mr. Foi'dham.—l shall remand you for eight days for the doctor to report on the state of your mind. ■ i On the hammer found in the defendant's possession was a label hearing tho words, "To Mr. Lloyd-George.—A protest from a Welshwoman against repression. Later in the afternoon Mr. Leslie Smith (Oswald Hanson and Smith) made an application to Mr. Fordham respecting the defendant. He stilted that he was instructed by Mr. W. W. Jacobs (who was present "in'court) to ask that Mrs. Jacobs might be allowed to go out on bail. He (Mr. .Smith) was instructed to say that the lady's mental condition was quito right, but, probably through tne lnlluence of the ringleaders of this propaganda, she had conceived the idea that tho action of herself and others in thus bringing their supposed grievances to the notice of the Government w_.dd be ultimately .if benefit to the country. His Worship observed to Mr. Smith that, since he was assured that the lady's mental condition was unaffected, he was prepared to deal with the case summarily. Addressing Mrs. Jacobs, who was brought into the dock again, his Worship said, "I remanded you this morning because I thought from what you said that you were demented, and I think it is most unfair that any demented person should be punished. I did not think that any woman of well-balanced mind could have acted and spoken as you did. I am assured now by your husband's solicitor that you are no"t mentally defective, and I have been asked to deal with tho case.' Defendant.—There is no reason .it all to suppose that I am not quite sane. Mr. Fordham.—Well, you know, it is a common experience' that lunatics never think themselves insane, but I am assured in your case that there is no ground ■ for supposing that you are not ill your right mind.. I must say that this morning you appeared far from well. Defendant—l have slept very badly lately because I have been worrying about this difficult and expensive step I have taken, but I am perfectly sensible and in my right mind. Mr. Fordham.—l should like to hear what your husband has to say. Would you like to say anything, Mr. Jacobs? Mr. Jacobs thanked his Worship, and said that his wifo had taken up this attitude because she conceived that it was her duty to her children that slie should support this movement. He asked his Worship to consider that for a long time persons like his wife had been under the influence of the two leaders of the movement, Mr. and Mrs. Pethick Lawrence— the very great influence, ■ he might add. He could not speak too highly of her as a wife and a mother. He hoped that his •Worship would extend leniency to her, and would not inflict on her the hardships which, very properly no doubt, had been inflicted on many of these misguided women. His wife could not stand hardship, and if she were called ■ upon to endure it her health would be permanently affected. She did not realise what she was doing. He wished to say that if the Government had not played with the question his wife and thoso other unhappy women would not have been brought to their present position. Mr. Fordham—l think that what yon have said is very proper. I am thoroughly sorry for your husband, Mrs. Jacobs, and I a'm quite sure that you are uoth of you devoted to your children. Ihe 'fact is you have been led away—overpersuaded. You have been encouraged by the foolish leniency-as many of us deem it-extended to persons who have been doing this sort of thing for years. 1 think if they had been given to understand that what they did was not a political offence at all, and had been punished like anyone else who commits wilful damage we should never have seen all this , damage in the last few days-damage amounting to thousands of pounds., m the encouragement given by those in authority, these women, who, I believe, are. not as we should wish them to be, would have been punished in the first instance, .ind this trouble would not havo arisen. 1 believe it has been tlio rule and practice the last few days to pass an invariable sentence of two months' hard labour. 1 don't pass that sentence on you. but I sentence you to one month's hard labour.