The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-11-10
ENGLISH SUFFRAGETTE ATROCI-
TIES.
Brutal Treatment Received mt Hands
or Prison Officials by Foolish WO-
men Who Want the Ballot.

now nave an opportunity to shed q
few tears about homegrown cruelty.
Whatever one may think Of the suf-
fragettes and their methods Of COM
manding attention, no real man can
read Of the atrocities perpetrated upon
defenseless women in British jails
without experiencing a boiling of the
blood. The "water cure" as admins
tered in the Philippines, were kind
ness compared with the treatment Of
some OF the suffragettes. The physi
clans and jailers implicated in the
atrocities do not deny them, but take
a sort Of pride in what they call the
"humbling" of the suffragettes.
Mrs Leigh, one Of the victims, tells
a sworn story in which handouts,
padded cells and worse atrocities fig
ure. She was one of those who, when
confined in prison, refused to partake
of food. Her story is in part as fol-
lows
ION my arrival at Winson Green
Gaol protested against the treatment
to which I was subjected, and broke
the windows in my Cell. According.
ly at o'clock in the evening 1 was
taken to the punishment cell, a cold.
dark room on the ground foor-light
only shines on very bright days; no
furniture in IL.
"A plank bed was brought in; was
then stripped and handcuffed with the
binds behind during the day, except
at meals, when the palms were placed
together in front. AT night they were
also placed in front with the palms
out. On Thursday food was brought
into the cell-potatoes, bread and
gruel--but 1 did not touch it.
Thursday afternoon the visiting
magistrates came. / was taken before
them handcuffed. After hearing what
1 had to say they sentenced me to nine
days close confinement with bread
and water, and to lose forty-two days
remission marks and pay 5s. damage.
The handouts were removed at mid
night on Thursday by the matron's or
ders. still refrained from food.
About noon on Saturday was told
the matron wished to speak to me,
and was taken to the doctors room,
where I saw the matron, eight ward
resses, and two doctors. There was a
sheet on the floor and an armchair
on 1t. The doctor said I was to sit
down, and 1 did.
II was then surrounded and forced
back on the chair which was tilted
backwards. There were about ten Of
them. The doctor then forced my
mouth SO as to form a pouch, and
held me while one of the wardresses
poured some liquid from a spoon--it
was milk and brandy. After giving
me what he thought was sufficient, he
sprinkled me with eau de Cologne,
and wardresses then escorted me to
another cell on the first floor where !
remained two days.
ON Saturday afternoon the ward
resses forced me on the bed, and the
two doctors came in with them. and
while was held down a nasal tube
was inserted. 1t was two yards long,
with funnel at the end; there is a
glass junction at the middle to see II
the liquid Is passing. The end is put
up the nostril. one day and the other
nostril the other.
Great pain is experienced during
the process. both mental and physical.
One doctor inserted the end up my
nostril, while 1 was held down by the
wardresses, during which they must
have seen my pain.
THE sensation Is most painful; the
drums Of the ear seem to be bursting,
a horrible pain in the throat and the
breast. Before and after, they test my
heart and make a lot of examination.
nc tlItcI-clIeClS are I6enng OIL
faintness, sense of great pain in the
diaphragm, or breast bone, IN the nose
and the ears. The tube must go below
the breast-bone, though l cannot feel
1T below there.
Il was very sick on the first occa-
sion after the tube was withdrawn. I
have also suffered from bad indiges-
ton. / am fed in this way very ire
gularly. l have used no violence
though having provocation in being
fed by force. 1 resist, and am over
come by weight Of numbers. If the
doctor does not think the fluid is 60
ing down sufficiently swiftly, he
pinches my nose with the tube in it,
and my throat, causing me increased
pain"