Women Fanatics

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 216, 12 March 1914, Page 5

Women Fanatics

SUFFRAGETTE SEEKS MARTYRDOM. MRS. PANKHURST AS A BEAUTY. VANDALISM IN NATIONAL GALLERY. By Telegraph—Press Association. London, March 10. Suffragettes, with a hatchet, badly damaged the Velasquez Venus in the National Gallery. Mary Richardson, a well-known suffragette, was committed for trial for indicting several rents in a picture of Venus, by which its value was depreciated by .00,000 to .05,000. Bail was I not allowed. Miss Richiirdsoii boasts that she is not unwilling to die. She attempted to destroy the most beautiful woman of mythology as a protest against the Governnnitt destroying Mrs. Pankhurst, the most beautiful character of modern history. The Velasquez Venus was purchased by public subscription in 1900 at a cost of £45,000. Mr.' Asquith, replying to a suggestion to extend the provisions of the Malicious Injuries in Ireland Act to Britain, owing to outrages by suffragettes, especially that of Miss Richardson, said that he was not satisfied it would have the effect desired. The National Gallery nnd the Wallace collection have been closed till further notice. To her previous statement Miss Richardson added that Mrs. Pankhurst sought justice to womanhood. For this she was being slowly murdered by the Government of Iscariot politicians. A policeman gave evidence that when he arrested Mis? Richardson she remarked: "I am a suffragette and broke the picture. You can get another picture, but cannot get another life, as they are killing Mrs. Pankhurst." Replying to the Magistrate, Miss Richardson express.) contempt for a Government which did not treat all persons equally, adding: "Mr. McKcnna cannot make me s-rve a sentence. He can only repeat the farce of releasing me or else kill me. Either way is a victory." GAOLING MRS. PANKHURST. ANOTIIER HUNGER STRIKE STARTING. London, March 10. A crowd of suffragettes picketed the Glasgow railway station throughout the night. The police in the morning forced Mrs. Pankhurst, struggling on a stretcher, into a motor car. Suffragettes in another fir vainly pursued to Coatbridge, where t.le London train was specially sff.pp.-d and pickeu up Mrs. Pankhurst and two detectives. Mrs. Pankhurst is hunger-striking. The suffragettes are picketing the London railway terminus and Holloway gaol. FURTHER DETAILS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received li, 5.40 p.m. London, March 10. The National Gallery was fairly well tilled. A lady stood before the Velasquez "Venus," and studied it for a few moments, watched by the attendant policeman. While the detectives were in an adjoining gallery she drew a small hatchet from her muff and dealt the picture a terrific blow, shattering the glass and slashing the canvas. Fire less powerful blows were delivered in rapid succession, when the attendant policeman seized her. It has been ascertained that the cuts were so straight and clean that the damage can possibly be repaired for iCI(K). THE ART GALLERY OUTRAGE. DAMAGE NOT IRREPARABLE. POLICE INGENUITY. Received 12, 12.10 a.m. London, March 11. The cuts made in Velasquez's "Venus" were six inches long, and were all in the figure. There is little doubt that they can be repaired so that the slashes will be practically unnoticeable. A number of Suffragettes travelled to London by the Pnnkhursts' train. The police stopped it at London Road, leaving the part containing the suffragettes in the tunnel, though the Pankhursts' carriage was at the platform. The women tried to climb out, but the train proceeded, carrying them to Euston. Mrs Pankhurst, in a state of collapse, was taken to Holloway Prison.