The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-05-14
IS MILITANCY HURTING CAUSE MOMENTS VOTE? Striking Evidence in Bow Street Police
 Court Today Witness Says Circulation of Sut- fragette Fell Off After
 OutTageS

London May 14-Striking evidence as to the extensive operations of the Suf- fragettes engaged in the militant cam paign and of the bad effect on the Women's cause of the outrages com n1fted by them was given during to- days resumed hearing at Bow. street police court of the charges against the Suffra gette leaders of infringement of the malicious damage of the property act
 Those who occupied the prisoners en- closure were Miss Harriet Rebecca Kerr, Mics Agnes Lake, Miss Rachel Barrett, Mrs. Beatrice Saunders, Miss Annie Kennedy, Miss Laura Lennox and the analytical chemist, Clayton. The case against General Flora Drummond was postponed until July, owing to her illness.
 Testimony was given by letter car riers and postoffice officials as to the great damage done to the mails by chemicals and other fluids being pour ed into the public letter boxes.
 The former business manager of the Suffragette gave evidence as to the re- sponsibility of the various prisoners for the different departments of that newspaper. The witness explained that his services were dispensed with by the militant society, as Mrs. Hmm cline Pankhrnst thought it was better that only women should conduct the paper
 The witness evidence as to the loss of circulation by the suffragettte after mi1itants had been committed was somewhat surprising. He said that at first 3o.o00 copies had been printed but the sales were only 17.000. The paid circulation then dropped to .7,500 but 5000 copies were circulated in other ways Just before last Christmas he told Mrs. Pankhuret that this falling off was due to the letter box raid, but the sllffragefte leader ehrugged her SIo f f1EaI possible because when the women were most militant they were most success fuI.
 A receiving order was made in bank ruptcy court today against Frederick Pethick Lawrence, a prominent and wealthy suffragist who recently sew cred his connection with the militant suffrag gette society.
 The order was made on the applied ton of the director Of public prosecu- tions because of MT. Lawrence's refus- al to pay the costs of the prosecution Of himself and his wife and Mrs. Elm incline Pankhuret when they were broght up at the Old Bailey session on a charge of conspiracy in May last year. The outstanding amount is $8,- GAO. The court appointed an official receiver to take charge of MT. Law rence's affairs and thus he, although a wealthy man, will have to place his business affairs in the hands of this off, ficial until the governments claim has been settled
 The application was heard privately. MT. and Mrs. Lawrence and a few of their friends were present, but other wise the public was excluded from the court in order to prevent demon stration. A crowd of women, however, collected outside the entrance to the court, which was guarded by g. strong force of police.
 MT. Lawrence on leaving the court remarked: "I am now a financial cipher but I am out for fight in the public interest against a wholly unjust law which gives the executive the power to strike a blow at any man who sides with revolt by charg- ing him with the costs of his prosecu- ton"
 A militant suffrage Arson squad during the night destroyed a, large un- tenated residence, ftThe Highlands' at Sand Gate on Sea. near FolkeStone, on the English channel. Post cards addressed to the "Dishonorable prime minister and to the 'sDishonorable Reginald McKenna, Home Secretary, were left lying a bout on the premises There was also a post card bearing the words We hope this is not a poor widows house.
 Suffra gette bombs were found today in one of the passenger cars of Q local train running between Kingston's' on Thames and London on the Southwes- tern Railway, making the third out rage of this kind on the same line within two months. On the arrival at Waterloo Terminus of the King ston train crowded with passengers on their way to business, the conductor noticed in one of the compartments three parcels which aroused his sus-= picion On investigation two of them were found to contain tin canisters filled with combustiles and wrapped in euffragette pIacards. No explosion occurred and the bombs were handed over to the police.