Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-02

L LONDON. March Mrs. Emmefne
Pankhurst. Mrs. Tukes and Mrs Mar
shall. the three leaders of last evenings
window-smashing campaign hr which the
suffra gettes almost succeeded IN error
izing the London tradesmen, were today
sentenced each to two months imprison-
ment. They We're the first three of the
ia women who were arrested in the
course of the street demonstration on
charges of causing willful damage to
stores in Bond street. Piccadlly, Regent
street, Oxford street, the Haymarket and
the Strand. as well as other busy shop
ping streets. The attorney for the prose-
cution announced in court today that the
total damage done by the suffragettes in
their stone-throwing manifestations was
estimated at $4,000, and on behalf Of the
government he stated that the time had
now arrived when the consideration
which had been hitherto shown in con-
nection with suffragette raids could no
longer be allowed.
Proclaims Future Program.
On delivery Of the sentence by the
magistrate Mrs. Pankhurst declared that
she intended to go farther when she
came out Of prison and that the suf-
fragettes were prepared to go to the full
est limit to show the government that
women were going to secure the vote.
Sentences ranging from fortnight to
Der Of prisoners. including the three
named, but most Of the women were
committed for trial at the London ses-
sions, as the damage committed by each
were dealt with today. the remainder be-
ing adjourned.
No Sympathizers Present.
The friendly audience that has here
tofore been present IN the courtroom at
the prosecutions was absent today. and
Mrs. Pankhurst and her companions fac
ed public benches. which were generally
heretofore occupied by sympathizers. but
which were filled with the storekeepers
whose premises had suffered damage. The
sentences of the three leaders were re-
ceived with applause.
Never since plate glass was invented
has there been such a smashing and
shattering of it as was witnessed when the
suffragetteS went out a window
breaking raid in the West End Of Lon
don.
The Strand, Haymarket, Piccadilly,
Bond. Oxford and Regent streets round
about u O'Clock presented extraordinary
scenes. From every part of the crowded
and brilliantly lighted streets came
crash of spintered glass. People started
as window shattered at their side. Sud-
denly there was another crash i'm front of
them. on the other side of the street,
Scared shop assistants came running
out to the pavement Traffic was stop
ped. Policemen sprang this way and
that.
Police Make Arrests.
Five minutes later the streets were a
procession of excited groups, each sur
rounding a woman window wrecker. who
was being led in custody to the nearest
police station The arrests numbered 14s.
This latest exploit of the suffragettes
was an entire surprise. demonstration
was expected Monday next. but even II
a warning had been given. It would have
been difficult to prevent the execution Of
tOday's plan.
The wrecking was carried out by wom-
en- walking singly or by twos and threes,
who had stones or hammers concealed in
their muffS and handbags. Until they
actually smashed a window there was
nothing in their behavior to show that
they were not peaceable shoppers.
While the great shopping streets of
London were being reduced to desolation,
Mrs. Pankhurst. with two other women.
drove to Downing street in motor car
which they hired early in the afternoon.
They rang the bell OF NO. III, ana hand
ed the servant a letter addressed to Mr.
Asouith, the premier. They then hurled
two stones through the door into the hall.
and also broke two small square pRnes
of the old-fashioned windows on the
ground floor.
Mrs. Pankhurst Defiant.
The constables on duty seized the wom-
en- and hurried them toward tho Cannon
Row police station. On their way past
the home Office Mrs. Pankhurst wrenched
her arm from the constable's and threw
another stone through one of the win
dows. The other women, meanwhile,
damaged the windows Of the colonial
office.
Impartial in Their Smashing.
There seems to have been no method in
the madness OF the suffragettes. Shops
great and small were equally the target
Of their devastating hammers. The small
private establishments and the large de-
partment stores suffered alike.
The studied selfAeffacement Of the West
End tailors' windows attracted them as
much as the tall, glazing fronts OF a big
drapery house.
Some women drove in fashionable vehi.
cles to certain establishments. and, when
being ushered In as ostensible purchasers,
suddenly produced their hammers and
stones from their NUTS and hurled them
through the windows.