THE MORNING POST MAY 5 1914

THE MILITANT SUFFRAGISTS

OUTRAGE AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY

PORTRAIT DAMAGED

Yesterday afternoon, about half past one o'clock, Mr. Sargent's portrait of Mr. Henry James at the Royal Academy, which has been presented to the distinguished novelist by a group of his admirers, was seriously damaged by a Suffragist. The portrait, No. 343, was hanging on the line in the Large Gallery, where there was the large company of visitors that always gathers there on the opening day at Burlington House. The woman, a Mrs. Wood, attacked the picture with a meat-chopper, breaking the glass, and before those standing by could prevent her made tow or three slashes into the canvas. The eyes were not toughed, but there were two gashes on the face, and one lower down, hear the hand. The woman who had dropped the chopper, was seized and arrested, offering no resistance.

A man in the gallery, who began to talk loudly in justification of the woman's action, was also removed, not before he had been handled with some roughness. He afterwards appeared at the offices of the Academy off the entrance hall, making a claim for compensation for broken spectacles.

Under the direction of Mr. David Murray, R.A., who happened to be present, the gallery was temporarily cleared, and the damaged picture taken from the walls. It was noticed by those who saw it carried away that daylight showed through the canvas in two places.