FORCIBLE FEEDING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2722, 29 January 1910, Page 4 (Supplement)

FORCIBLE FEEDING.

SUFFRAGETTE LOSES ACTION AGAINST HOME SECRETARY. SCENES IN A PRISON. Mr, Herbert Gladstone, M.P., the Home Secretary, was one of three defendants sued by Mrs Marie Leigh, a Suffragette, who sought to recover damages for a series of assaults in consequence of tbe forcible feeding treatment to which she was subjected when serving a term of imprisonment in Winson .Green Prison, Birmingham. Mr Gladstone did not attend. The other defendants were Captain Percy Green, 'governor of the prison, and Dr Ernest Ha si a r Helby, the medical officer. MRS LEIGH’S NARRATIVE. Mrs Marie Leigh, a dark lady, neatly dressed in a white costume trimmed with green and wearing a small green hat, gave evidence, in a clear and pleasing voice and without any nervousness. The food she refused (before forcible feeding was resorted to) was gruel and bread for breakfast, potatoes and bread for dinner, bread and gruel for supper. She was brought before the visiting justices in handcuffs fastened behind her back; she complained to the magistrates of the handcuffing. The damage she did consisted of breaking the prison windows on entering the (prison. For that her sentence was nine days’ close confinement on bread and water, the remission of forty-two days’ marks, and to pay the cost of the damage, ss. Sho was taken back to the punishment cell and the handcuffs .were kept on until nearly midnight. She had taken no food on the 23rd and 24th, and on the 25tli she refused a drink of milk offered to her early in the morning by Dr Helby, who said he did so on grounds of humanitj’. The forcible feeding began that afternoon. Three wardresses were on either side of her. She resisted, and her mouth was forced open by Dr Helby. The L-ord Chief Justicc: And you endeavored to keep your mouth shut, of co.urse? Airs Leigh : I resisted all the time. Continuing, the witness said that Dr Helby by putting his fingers into her mouth made it like a pouch, and the nurses forced some milk and brandy into her mouth by means of a spoon. She was tied into the armchair with a towel, and pressure was used to keep her still. Whenever they fed you with a spoon was that the way in which you were treated —-Yes, in all cases. On some occasions there were fewer wardresses, and sometimes more. On Saturday the nasal feeding tube was used; it was about two yards long. The tube was inserted through the right nostril. The Lord Chief Justice: Did you move 3 r our head? Airs Leigh: I was resisting with all ray might. It caused such pain, which was evident to both tho doctors, that the tube was withdrawn. I coughed hard and had great pain, mental and jihysical. The witness, continuing, said that on Saturday she was fed by feeding cup and spoon three times —breafast and supper of Benger’s food, at midday meat juice cordial—Dr Helby forcing her mouth open and holding her nose, and pinching the throat so that the fluid nassed down. BARRICADING THE CELL. The Lord Chief Justice: I supposi you were trying not to swallow ? Airs Leigh: Yes. The witness, having described the incidents-of two subsequent days, said she was removed to the hospital cell, and then, resolving on stronger methods than mere refusal, barricaded her cell door, and food was not forced upon her that day. The Lord Chief Justice: You held the fort and kept them out? (Laughter.) Airs Leigh: Yes, for a short time, sir. What did you barricade with?—A small iron bedstead, chair, table, and a hot-water bottle. (Much laughter.) Continuing, the witness said sh e was removed thence to tbe padded cell, and was there fed with milk by the nasal tube. The witness said that ono day her mouth was injured, her gum being caused to bleed while she was being fed by a spoon. On Sunday, the 17th, she again barricaded her cell. Hjs Lordship: How long did you hold the fort on - the second occasion ? Mrs Leigh: About one and .a half hours. ..The witness said- she could not 'retotri ; wfche administered food up to October 23—if made her sick; five times before October 7, and after that date sickness after each meal. After October 23 she was fed three times daily by tube. On that date, for the third time since her imprisonment began, s he was taken intd the prison yard on a chair. On the 29th she was seen by Dr Jordan Lloyd, who was accompanied 'by two other doctors. Dr iLloyd examined her and asked her some questions in an offensive manner which she refused to answer. Then came her release; she asked on what grounds, and the governor refused to answer. Describing her feelings during the process of feeding, she said that when the tube was withdrawn she felt as if some organ would come with it. There was a feeling of great weakness. It also affected her digestion. Dr Helby said that the operations of feeding Mrs Leigh passed off easily and satisfactorily, and without any detriment to her health. He added: “All possible care was taken, and I was as gentle as I could possibly be. I was kind to her, and endeavored by persuasion to get her to take food.” AI r Duke (cross-examining): Within how many weeks of death by starvation do you say Mi’s Leigh was when you began this treatment? Dr Helby : It was a question of days, not of weeks. ' The jury did not leave the box. They consulted for about two minutes, and gave a verdict for the defendants. Judgment was for the defendants, with costs.