Source 55, Pg.2:  Written questionnaire (actions of the police towards suffragettes)

 

Description

Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst, leader of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) was due to address a public meeting at St Andrew's Hall in Glasgow on 9 March 1914 as part of a Scottish tour. Mrs Pankhurst had recently been released from prison as part of the 'Cat and Mouse' Act, and the police intended to re-arrest her so that she could serve the rest of her sentence. Many of the women who attended the meeting complained about the behaviour of the police; witnesses said that they used unnecessary force to control the crowd.

A leading Scottish suffragette, Janie Allen, who attended the meeting campaigned tirelessly for an enquiry into police tactics. She contacted local magistrates, as well as local and national politicians. She wrote to other women who had attended the meeting and asked them to complete a written questionnaire relating to the incident. This source is an example of one of the completed responses.

Grace MacKinnon, who completed this questionnaire, taught Modern Languages in Glasgow schools from 1902 - 1928.

Completed questionnaire, Janie Allan Archive (Acc 4498)

Transcript

CONFIDENTIAL

Name: Grace A. Mackinnon

Postal Address: 9 Regent Park Square, Glasgow S.

Designation: Teacher

Age: 35

Are you connected with the Suffrage Movement? Yes

Were you present at the meeting? Yes

Where you sitting? Specify particularly.

In back row of platform, 4 or 5 seats along from left hand side facing hall

What warning did you get that police were coming?

I heard a cry from the passages on my right and almost immediately after the police burst in.

When did the police appear?

After Mrs Pankhurst had been speaking for two or three minutes.

Where and in what numbers?

From area door at right hand side of platform from where I was sitting and from both sides of platform.

Did you notice if the police were on the platform and had struck the first blow before they approached the platform from the area, and had reached the barbed wire?

I thought so.

Did the police come on to platform with drawn batons?

I cannot say.

Describe the first incident which you noticed, and detail any particular acts of violence you witnessed and part of platform where same occurred.

My attention was attracted by a man evidently a superior officer whom I now take to have been Superintendant Douglas rushing at the plants and benches in the area in front of the platform and tearing them down. He looked very angry & excited and was leading on the police who were with him. They subsequently got up on to the platform from the area.

Did you notice anyone in charge of police, and can you say where Superintendant Douglas was when arrest was made?

I did not notice anyone in command of the police until those left on the platform after the arrest was made were marshalled up into […] and marched off the platform.