The Detroit times., 1913-02-20
SUFFRACISTS IN
LONDON JAILED
FOR ARSON
Burn Pavilion in Kew Palace
Botanical Gardens, Soaking
Walls With Kerosene
THREATEN HUNGER STRIKE
If SENT TO PRISON
Hurl Papers and Books at Judge
and Are Carried Out of
Court Room

LONDON. Feb. :0.-The militant
suffragettes reverted to arson again
today, setting fire to and completely
destroying the restaurant pavilion in
the Botanical Gardens around Kew
palace. Two young women, Lillian
Lenton and Joyce Locke. both prom
inent in the ranks OF the militants,
were caught by the police trying to
escape from the gardens. They were
/ seen 10 throw away an old portman-
teau, in which was found parapher-
malta for starting the fire. A violent
courtroom scene followed their ar
lraignment.
The Kew gardens pavilion burst
into flame at about a. m. The walls
had been soaked with kerosene. Piles
of oil-soaked shavings and cotton had
been heaped about the floor and
votes for women" cards scattered
about. The sudden connagration
warned the police that the fire was
incendiary and they quickly formed
Gordon around the gardens TO pre-
vent egress OF anyone still within the
gates.
The Richmond fire department re-
sponded 10 the call and had difficulty
in preventing the flames from spread
ing 10 other buildings in the gardens.
Their efforts to extinguish the fire in
the pavilion were fruitless and the
structure was burned TO the ground.
While the firemen were at work and
the police were holding back the
crowds that tried to break into the
gardens, the two suffragettes were
seen making their way toward the
wall. Several police rushed upon
rounded, one or the girls threw the
lportmanteau behind bush.
Both laughed as the police arrested
them and when the portmanteau was
opened In their presence, and they
were asked to explain what they
were doing with bottles OF kerosene,
Iwads Of cotton and shavings and
I"votes for women" cards, they re-
fused TO answer, demanding that they
be taken to court.
In the Richmond police court, Miss
Lenton gave her age as %, and Miss
Locke as %. They assumed the most
defiant attitude toward the magistrate
and laughed and joked with the wo-
men spectators.
Miss Locke demanded bail, threat
kening that II she and her companion
were sent TO prison they would &c
ION a hunger strike, and force the
keepers either TO starye them 70
death or release them.
You cannot frighten this court
nor shall we permit you to attempt
Ito intimidate u.s. declared the mag
listrate holly.
With a scream of defiance, Miss
Locke picked up handful OF papers
and hurled them at the magistrate
head. She followed them with two OF
three law books from the desk in
front OF her and kept the magistrate
ducking his head to escape the mis-
lsiles before the court attendants
could seize her and prevent further
violence. A furious struggle, follow
ed during which the police and court
attendants had TO resort to harsh
methods 10 subdue the unfuly prison
lers. The magistrate committed the
1.-TWO girls to jail without bail.
They were led. or rather half-car
lried, out OF the courtroom screaming
defiance, and shouting to the excited
crowds that they were being made
martyrs to the cause OF woman's suf
ifrage but that they would die before
they would submit to "manmade
laws.
This was the second attack on Kew
gardens, last week suffragettes hav
ing destroyed about $4,000 worth o
lplants The destroyed pavilion wa
built at a cost OF about $4,000.