‘We have to fight with these weapons for our liberties’

The Stirling Observer reported Ethel Moorhead’s Wallace Monument incident in the edition of September 10, 1912.

The story, which was titled‘The Wallace Monument Outrage’, covered the court proceedings after the suffragette had been charged in connection with the matter.

The charge was that she had“on Thursday, August 29, in the second hall of the Wallace Monument, Stirling, maliciously and mischievously broken the glass case containing the Wallace Sword”.

Ms Moorhead said that she refused to plead and declared the proceedings“entirely irregular”.

Miss Frances Dennis, who worked at the door to admit people to the monument, gave evidence that on the day of the incident the accused entered the building accompanied by another lady.

The report read:“The latter remained in the shop and the accused went upstairs. Shortly after the witness heard‘most fearful knocking’and knew that the lady was breaking something.”

It added that the witness afterwards saw a policeman lift a stone out of the case. The stone was wet and as if it had newly been taken off the ground. No one else had gone up the stairs that morning.

Constable David Boyd said that he was instructed to go to the Wallace Monument and make enquiries about damage done there. He saw two cuts on the right hand of the accused which appeared to be newly made.

A note was left at the scene which read:“Your liberties were won by the sword”.

While she denied smashing the case, Miss Moorhead said that she“strongly approved of the action and the written protest”.

She added:“This sword was but a symbol with which your liberties were won and we women are fighting for our enfranchisement with stones and hammers. These stones and hammers are also but symbols of the freedom which we shall get.

“I feel it no dishonour but rather an honour, in being associated with this action, but it does not follow that because I am a suffragette that every time I go to a museum I smash something.”

Sheriff Substitute Campbell said there could be nothing more clearly proved than the case of malicious mischief and offered Miss Moorhead the chance to pay a fine or take seven days’ imprisonment.

She“passionately”replied:“I shall take the imprisonment sir and I desire to say sir that our acts are not disgraceful acts. Since we have enfranchisement in the constitution of our country, we have to fight with these weapons for our liberties.”