The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-07
Women Tell of Indignities
They Suffered During
Suffrage Parade
BOY SCOUT VICTIM
OF PEACE GUARDIAN
Witness Says Policemen Tore
Her Cloak Because She
Asked Him to Pro-
tect Aged Woman

WASHINGTON, March Start
. ling testimony in regard TO the indig-
mites perpetrated on suffragists in
their parade here last Monday, was
given today. before the senate com
mittee. which is authorized TO inves-
tigate the conduct OF the Washington
police department on that occasion.
: Among the witnesses heard We're:
Senator Peludexter, of Washington
Miss Julie G. I.athrop. chief of the
chitdrens bureau, IN Washington
Rear-Admiral W. X. Van Reyken. re-
tired, former surgeon general or the
navy; Mrs. Fisher, wife of ex-Secre-
.ary Walter Fisher, Of the interior de-
partment. Mrs GaIlinger. daughter
ln-iaw OF Senator GaIiinger, OF I f,,yI
Hampshire. and Mrs. Helen mn
Weed, daughter Of ex-Congressman
Ebenezer ]. Hill of Connefucut-
Distinguished Witnesses.
There was u long line Of timousines
and other motor cars standing in
front OF the senate office building at
o'clock this afternoon, when the near
ing opened Probably no more dis
finguIshed array OF witnesses ana
spectators ever attended "A hearing nj
the senate Richard Sylvester super
fntpudens Of police WAS rot pres
emf, but he viii bc heard Saturday
along with some cf his colleagues
whom the sunragettos accuse.
The hearing rs labie TO take a ~lder
scope than was originally expected
Charles have been lodged against
Superintendent of Police sylvester and
sJa14n S. Johnston ~ k2, l1}sfglct, sAs
Columbia. and Assistant Secretary OF
War Oliver
Miss Patricia Street, Of Australia.
who was one Of the managers Of the
parade. and who arranged many Of the
aoats. exhibited her cloak before the
. committee. showing a great rent.
which abe testified was made by
policeman who handled her roughly
because she appealed 10 him 20 pro
tect an old woman who was being
roughly handled by drunken man
Appeals To Police.
Miss Street said she WAS riding on
the running board Of an automobile.
in the parade, and using the mega
phone 10 appeal 10 the crowds TO re-
tire 10 the cGrhiug and permit the
parade 10 proceed. Finally when she
saw a drunken man roughly gran an
aged woman and spit tobacco juice
in her face. she struck the man with
n stick and then appealed f0 an ofNCer
who stood by and had offered no pro-
lection
i M yoa would stay at home and at
tend 10 your own business you Wouid
not need protection, WAS the EruH
reply, according 70 Miss street
Following this indignity the officer
grabbed Miss street and tore her gar
ment
Senator Polndcxtcv Tells.
Senator poindexter of Washington,
told of TIE details or III afrETCHr1uT1
he had with an ambulance. and the
refusal Of two police sergeanfs ana one
patrolman To render assistance
Senator PoindeNter told how me
ambulance came down the street
running the length of the parade. with
out turning to right or left, where
there was ample space for II 10 nave
uassed When ii came "a the senator
ard his group Of marcheFs, he pro
tested aud halted the chauffeur me
man In charge of the ambulance
TANNED ont and displayed his badge.
sT.,rI,f.7Tr,sy 10 tho senator. and ordered
tha chauffeur TO run over the seha~
tor
Mr.. Poindexter testified that he
stood his ground with raised stick,
and that finally the ambulance drew
out of the parade He furnished the
committee with the numbers OF the
two serceants. and about fifteen or
twenty patrolfnen who he said had
shown no disposition 10 protect the
parading column, or to turn back
the crowd.
Mrs. Weeds Story.
Mrs Helen nm Weed. OF NorwalN'
Conn. daughter of eN-Congressmah
EbeneZer j. Hin. testihed tnat the only
two police officers who showed any
Sisnosltjon TO preserve order were
colored men. She told ot one mel
dent in which drunken negro seized
The Connecticut State banner hcinG
carried in the parade, from the mana
Of a young girl, while white ponce
man stood ~ i2nghin@
Nrs Weed declared that policemen
stood hy and laughed NJ the fttlte e.
forts ~ hoy scouts 20 keep back the
crowds from the marching women
she added that the larsrante Hsed was
no, only coarse, but "ohscenitv. aoso~
lutelv Indecent was addressed TO
Young girls" She said the police
ioined i'm and used the eptthets,
The witness said many drunken SOL
diers joined in the insults
The "Chickcn Brigade"
Witnesses testified that the police
men bawled out, There comes the
chicken brigade !"
This was addressed to y@ung Eiris
who carried as emhiems "hlts doves.
@Another policeman referred 70 the
Girls a. Georgia peaches"
Interest in the hearing became IN
tense when ane woman witness testl-
scd :hat sha saw n policeman graz
and cAeke-a hoy scout who was trying
to keep the crowd back. and protect
the marchine column At this poim
the HOY scout was produced, Philip
Elliott. who testified that he was thir-
teen wears old, that q policeman push
ed him down on the pavement. ana
raised q bump on his head Simply
because he was striving TO do police
duty that the policeman should have
pe,formcd.
Mrs. Fisher Witness.
Mrs. Walter Fisher wife OF eN-Sec-
rotary Fisher, Of tho interior, testified
that she witnessed the parade sram
1 the Washington city postoi'iee buiid-