The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-01
AMERICAN WOMAN IN LONDON
JAIL sT'RENUoUsLY REsIsTs
FoRclRLE FEEDING.
MRS. RANKHURST vExED
Leader Of tho MiIitants Declares She
X ls Certain of Conviction, But Is De-
fiant-She Praises Behavior Of Miss
Emerson-United States is Re-
quested to Take Hand.

London, March 31.--Mrs. Emerson
of Detroit, Mich, received today a
letter from her daughter Zele, who
is undergoing two months imprison
ment in Holloway Jail for window
smashing. Her hunger strike and
forcible feeding in prison have at
tracted a great deal of attention.
The letter was smuggled out by
released prisoner. 1t stated that Miss
Emerson has Just completed three days
solitary confinement for violation of
the prison rules. She complained
that she was feeling very sick and
feared permanent impairment of her
digestion.
Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst in a
speech today praised nightly "the
heroic behavior of Miss Emerson"
Mrs. Pankhurst announced that the
woman who tried to catch pneumonia
in prison by sponging herself all over
with hot water and remaining uncov-
cred all night, as stated by the home
secretary on March is, was Miss EN-
erson.
The smugg1ed letter stated also that
Miss Emerson's arm had been badly
bruised by the. policeman who arrested
her.
The box reserved for Mrs. Emerson
and Mrs Pankhurst at today's meet
ing was shared by Beatrice Harraden,
the author; Baroness von Hengervar
Hengelmuller wife of the former
Austro- Hungarian ambassador to the
United States, and a number of other
prominent suffragettes.
Svnpathv,
Acting on the invitation of Mrs.
Pankhurst, number of American
women rose in the audience and ex-
pressed their sympathy with Miss
Zele Emersons mother.
Baron Won Horst of San Francisco,
states that on investigate and after
taking legal advice, he is satisfied
that forcible feeding is illegal and
therefore constitutes a ground for in
reference by the American govern
ment on behalf of Miss Zelie Emerson.
IF l am not at Albert hall meeting
on April 10, it will be because the au-
thorities have discovered a way of
keeping me- away by force or because
i am dead,' Mrs. Emmeline Panll-
hurst told meeting of militant suf-
fragettes this afternoon.
Mrs. Pankhurst reminded the suf-
fragettes that her trial on the charge
of melting persons to commit malici-
GUS damage to property would begin
Wednesday.
Conviction Certain.
my conviction" the speaker con-
tinued, lis certain. Whether | am
sent to prison for short or long
period and with or without hard labor,
will make no difference. l look upon
myself as a prisoner of war and | am
not bound by any moral obligation.
That being my position, / shall ter
inmate my imprisonment at the earli-
est possible moment. | hope to break
prison bar and be present at Albert
hall"
Beatrice Harraden, the author, has
sent the following cablegram to Presi-
dent Woodrow Wilson:
Having just come back from
America, where I learned from all
sources that there is a strong feeling
against the barbarity Of forcible feed
ing, I venture with confidence to beg
you to intervene in behalf of Miss
Emerson, who is being fed forcibly
in Holloway Jail and who is in pre-
carious condition"
Home Secretary McKenna, when
questioned today in the house of com
mons by James K. Hardie who urged
the release of the suffragette prison
ers now undergoing forcible feeding
said that there was one woman ant
two men at the present time under
(Cnntinna6 SnvoO