The Washington herald., 1917-07-18

mitted various disorderiy acts, were
not arrested by the police: that the
suffragists, who committed no disor-
derly acts, were arrested by the police.
More than one policeman under oath
testified that he was sent out with
orders to arrest the suffragists.
I'm closing the argument which
she made in her own behalf, Mrs
John Rogers. of New York. said: We
are not guilty of any offense, not
even. In our opinion. of infringing a
police regulation. We know full well
that We stand here because the Presi-
dent Of the United States refuses to
give liberty to American women. We
believe, your honor, that the wrong
persons are before the bar In this
court. There are votes enough and
there is time enough to pass the ma
tional suffrage amendment through
Congress at this session. More than
2o0 votes in the House and more than
so in the Senate are pledged to the
amendment The President puts his
power behind all measures in which
he takes a genuine interest. II he
would only say one frank word of his
advocacy Of this measure. it would be
passed Immediately as piece Of war
emergency legislation
Imposes Extreme Penalty.
Toward the end of the trial in the
Police Court yesterday afternoon
when Judge Mullowny appeared in
the court room after the noon recess,
he carried with him a copy of the
act OF Congress creating the peace
and order act, under which the women
are held. The suffragettes, as was
once before intimated by Mrs. John
Rogers. one of the defendants, SEEM
ed to sense that a verdict of guilty
would be pronounced by the court and
listened tensely. When he had con-
cluded reading, Judge Mullowny said /:
Il want to add that violations of
this act are most ordinary. 1 dispose
Of such cases in this court day after
day. But I also want to impress upon
you that this particular case is most
unusual and extraordinary.
Here have before me women Of
culture and refinement, women who
are well versed IN public affairs. And
why are you here? Because you are
being denied certain political rights.
so engrossed are you in these that
you actually and sincerely believe that
that the crowd which gathered at your
last picketing should have been dis
persed and you, the objects of II,
allowed TO stay. Ladies, you BELIEVE
that you are above the law" and I
am forced to enter a verdite Of
guilty"
Miss Doris Stevens then entered an
exception. which was noted. He asked
If the defendants had anything to say
as to sentence.
At this juncture, Corporation Counsel
Hart interposed that he had some
thing to say. He asked for the maxi
mum penalty. and the sixty-day
sentence was promptly imposed.
Confusion reigned among the group
of women during the first moments
after the sentencing. AT the sug-
gestion of Judge Mullowny the six
teen defendants accompanied by NJ,
Malone adjourned to a nearby Jury
room to decide which OF the course
offered by the court to pursue.
Within a few minutes. led by Miss
Anne Martin. the women again filed
back into the room.
I'VE have decided not to pay any
fines" Miss Martin told the court.
We are confident that We are not
guilty of any charge which has been
brought against US and we STAND
ready to serve our sentence"
Judge Mullowny then explained
to the women that if they cared to
they could enter an appeal for an
other trial and remain out on bail
or pay the fne-of s25 under pro-
test" He patiently explained every
loophole which they might take ad-
vantage of, but both Miss Martin
and Miss Stevens remained OBJ
durate, stating they preferred to
enter upon their 60-days sentence
beginning today"
As the court was adjourned, and
the sixteen convicted suffragettes