The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-13
SLASHER OF PAINTING
GETS ONLY 6 MONTHS
May Richardson Benefits by
Laxity Of Law on Damage
to Art.
SHE Is PROUD OF HER DEED
Tells Judge She Is Thankful
She Lives IN Mrs. Pank.
bursts Century. /
SHE Is PROUD OF HER DEED
special cable Despa;cA to Tn. suS.

special cable Despa:cA to TIVE sux
LONDON. March 1.-the English law
a. II exists to-day 10 as fatuous as the
Government and the public have hitherto
shown themselves to be when invoked to
DO something TO stop the violence OF the
surragettes.
only six months imprisonment" was
,erated persons on learning that May
richardson's attack on the f45.0o0 N2c5.-
0oO) "Rokeby Venus" had not brought
greater penalty. This anger was increased
when It was learned tina. this Is the maxi
mum punishment which II allowed to be
imposed for destroying or damaging works
Of arr and such things In public collec-
,,crs. while II she had damaged anything
10 the value Of f5 N25) belonging to a
private Individual the penalty would be
four times as great. or two years. The
only thing that the Government could do
20 show its appreciation of the heinous-
meas Of the offence was 10 expedite the
rial lest the woman should defeat the
ends Of Justice by going on a hunger
strike during the remand.
Think woman Grassy.
IN his address to the jury the public
prosecutor said there was ground for
Doubt as TO the prisoners me n;ai condi-
ton. but that no medical evidence had
been presented to show that she was not
responsible for her acts.
The woman admitted hacking the pic
ture and said that her act was premedi-
ta,ed She said that although she had
been an art student she cared more for
Justice than for art and that she be-
ue,ed her action ought to be under
standsble when a nation had shut rs
ewes TO justice and preferred to have
women who were hghting for Justice NAL
treated and tortured.
The prisoner said that Mrs. Pankhurst
sas the victim Of SLOW murder" and that
this was the reason for her own act
o. vandalism. The nation. she said. was
dead or asleep. since the women had
Bishops. Archbishops and the King him
self
There Is n section OF the nation that
believes the nation Is either dead or
asleep" but with a different application.
An attempt Of a questioner In the House
Of Commons to arouse Home Secretary
McKenna showed that he shields himself
under the existing laws and apparently
does not dream OF trying to extend the
SCOPE OF the statutes.
IA
Miss Richardson said her sentence would
make little difference to her. because she
could stand only a few months torture.
and am grateful and happy that l have
lived in century in which Mrs. Pank-
hurst lived
Che trial. said that II the picture had
been destroyed no money could have re-
placed H. do you realise" Miss Rich
ardson retorted. that no money can
replace Mrs Pankhurst? She Is being
slowly killed.
To the Judges remark that Miss Rich
ardson gloried In her crime she replied.
81 don't say that. / think 1t a shame
had 10 consider Il my duty TO do It.
strike since her arrest on Tuesday. She
Oohed Ill In court.
The License 70 Commit Crime.
Miss Richardson's criminal career dur
sns the past year IL a typical example
Of the license which the followers OF Mrs.
Emmeline Pankhurst enjoy In the COM
mission Of offences against society. She
has been convicted again and again. but
On each occasion she got out under the
provisions of the "cat and mouse act
ehe never was once rearrested on the ex-
piration OF her license. All her other ar
rests were for some fresh offence. This
would doubtless happen again II she
should be released. She will probably
Undergo self-torture for a few days and
then will be released under the ''cat and
mouse act when she will smash some
thing else
The Daily Mail predicts the certainty
That women will never get the vote until
such deeds al those of Miss Richardson
nave passed from memory" In view OF
The attitude Of these who ought to compel
observance Of the law. this prediction
seems 10 be wildly rash one.
May Attack Abbey.
Miss Zelle Emerson Of Jackson. Mich.
al-utenant Of Sylvia Pankhurst. said yes
trday that our" next move probably
would be TO make mincemeat out Of those
wonderful old windows In Westminster Abb
hey" Miss Emerson said she considered the
initiation Of the "Rokeby Venus" one OF
NE most effective blows ever struck for the
cause" ana added: at Is q shame we are
forced to such extreme measures. but
ihsre Is no other course left"
Premier Asquith when asked In the
House OF Commons what he was doing In
insure the safety of art treasures said
mat Inquiries were being made and that
n. would shortly make a statement. Mean
u'ne numbers OF people seem to think II
worth trying to enter the places con-
'alhing valuable collections which have
Deem closed, Many expressions Of indig-
nation were made by disappointed Ameri-
cans "ho were amazed to md that zone
woman with a tomahawk could get the
crop on important pictures" and there
were vivid comparisons with what would
De done in the United States and In 0reai
Britain.
Several places containing collections IL
tht lTpXiucea ara pnvs hainH rl0aAA Thu