American WSPU members, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns; the four had tried to
force their way past the police into a hall where a Liberal Party meeting was
being held. With motherly concern, Emmeline accompanied the women to the
police court the next day only to find that they had arrived five minutes after
their case had been called. Refusing to wait for the women, despite the fact that
they were on the premises, the magistrate had closed the court and forfeited the
bail. Angry at such high-handed action, Emmeline and the other bailee,
Thomas Kerr, made a vigorous protest, even visiting the Chief Constable, but
all to no avail. The four offenders decided not to appear again, when
summoned, and to Emmeline’s relief, the authorities took no further action.^68
She now continued her Highlands tour, sometimes with Adela and Lady
Constance Lytton by her side, and in late August, while sailing on a steamer
from Oban to Fort William, wrote a cheerful letter to Elizabeth Robins:
I am having a very good time here in the north although I have
managed to catch a rather bad cold. Very silly of me!
This part of Scotland is all new to me. I had no idea the country
was so lovely.
We had a W.S. meeting at Oban last night – very good & sympa-
thetic. It was one of many in which I verily believe we have converted
many antis.
One meeting does more good than endless arguments with stupid
people.
They have to sit & listen.^69Emmeline’s peace was soon to be shattered.
On 17 September, Asquith spoke at Bingley Hall in Birmingham. Since
women were barred from the meeting, a small group of twelve suffragettes were
determined to make their presence felt. In particular, Mary Leigh and Charlotte
Marsh, WSPU Regional Organiser for Yorkshire, climbed onto the roof of a
nearby house early in the day, axes in their hand. They loosened slates on the
roof and when the Prime Minister’s car drew up, flung them onto the vehicle,
breaking the windows and the lamp – while taking care not to hit Asquith or
his chauffeur. The women shouted, ‘No surrender’ as a hose pipe was turned on
them and stones hurled, in an attempt to force them down. Eventually the two
were led away wet, wounded and in their stockinged feet, their shoes having
been lost in the struggle on the roof. Mary Leigh and Charlotte Marsh were
sentenced to three months’ and two months’ hard labour, respectively, in
Winson Green Gaol while the other militants who had broken windows
received shorter sentences.^70 Although the WSPU leadership had not advo-
cated these spontaneous attacks on private property by the rank-and-file
membership, which could undermine their authority to determine the direction
of the militant policy, Emmeline, Christabel and Emmeline Pethick Lawrence
had little choice but to endorse it. Emmeline, in reply to criticisms from the
‘A NEW AND MORE HEROIC PLANE’