Suffragettes at Bow Street court

Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst with Flora Drummond in the Dock at Bow Street court, October 1908. The three suffragettes were charged with involvement in incitement to 'rush the House of Commons'. Christabel, who had studied law at university, chose to defend herself, taking the opportunity to serve subpoenas on two Cabinet ministers: Lloyd George and Herbert Gladstone. This stunt ensured maximum press for the suffragettes. The women were sentenced to three months in Holloway Gaol. Flora was released after just nine days when it was revealed she was pregnant. Emmeline and Christabel used this spell in jail to demand the status of political prisoners for all imprisoned suffragettes. As punishment for disobeying prison rules, Emmeline served her sentence in solitary confinement.