New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-13
Nav Richardson Defiant
and Voluble in Court De
spite Hunger Strike.
crNTENCE IMPOSED
IS THE MAXIMUM
ludoe Regrets It's Inadequacy-
II s. Embassy May Issue Passes
10 Closed Galleries.

Id, March l2.-May Richardson, the
,,,,art suffrabctte who ON Tuesday
- the Rokeby Venus of Nelasquez
49,. National Gallery. was to-day sem
iced 10 six months imprisonment for
~. crime The case was disposed OF IN
- rrnc The public prosecutor in ad-
..ossine the jury on behalf Of the gov
S.,,,cut said that one might well doubt
-se,her the prisoner was in her right
- There was. however no medical
.,.,aoroc 10 show that she was person
-, RESPONSIBLE for her actions.
a. richardson. who had been on a
.,.r,rcr strike since her arrest, in re-
,,,;rr 10 the chaige said it had been pre-
.a,,sted and she pleaded guilty.
Addressing Judge Robert Wallace. who
,rssided over the court Miss Rich
srsson said she had been an art student,
~, cared more FOR justice than for art.
sho said she firmly believed that when
,so nation had shut its eyes TO justice
.,s nrcferred 10 have women who were
oeb,inc for justice maltrested and tor
,r,.d. such an action as hers should be
understandable
Nation Dead or Asleep"
She added that the slow and prcmed-
tatod murder Of Mrs. Emmcline Pankhurst
vas an ultimatum which brought about
the outragcs The nation, she continued,
ssemed dead or asleep. for the women had
knocked vainly at the doors of ministers,
bishops and archbishops, and even of the
King himself. She concluded:
81 know that YOU will sentence me, but
il will make little difference, not only
from, the fact that l can stand only
few months torture. but from the fact
that I am really q grateful and happy
woman because i have been able TO live
in a century in which Mrs. Pankhurst
lived. and because. in a slight measure,
have tried to carry out what l believe
IN"
As Judge Wallace was about 10 pass
sentence the following collOquy occurred:
The Judge-If the picture had been de-
stroved. no money could have replaced IT.
Miss Richardsou-Do YOU realize that
no money can replace Mrs. Pankhurst:
She is being slowly killed.
The Judse-You have pleaded guilty
and have gloried IN your crime.
Miss Richardson don't say that ]
think il is a shame / had to consider 1t
my duty 10 do II.
The Judge-With the greatest regret, 1t
Is my duty TO pass sentence OF SIX
months Imprisonment.
Window Smashing More Serious.
Judge Wallace added that he recos-
nized the sentence to be totally made
quate. but It was the maximum sentence
FOR damaging works of art. II IT had
been window breaking, he said, he could
have given the prisoner eighteen months
Imprisonment
Miss Richardson looked ill. and II was
suggested in some quarters that the pre-
carious state of her health had been the
reason for taking the unusual course OF
hurrying the trial. The charge entered
against the prisoner was malicious dam
age 10 picture 10 the extent of $500
Popular resentment in connection with
the slrTrasette outrages was reflected
again today In Parliament by number
o, questions on the subject especially
urging Reginald McKenna, the Home
secretarv. not 10 release such a danger
ous character as May Richardson
Premier Asquith announced that he was
making an inquiry into the question Of
the best way Of protecting the national
arr treasures.
More Preventive Measures.
Tho vandalism OF the militant sufra-
es,tes caused the closing to-day Of a great
many public buildings in addition TO
those which locked their doors yesterday
The Victoria and Albert Museum tho
crypt and galleries OF 81. PauPs Cathe-
crsl the ROYAL stables attached TO Buck
ingham Palace and the Charter house
were among those affected.
rBv Gable 10 The Tribune.