Helen Clarke: Suffrage Newspaper Seller

The police arrested Helen Clarke in April 1913.

The charge was causing an obstruction. Helen and Olive Clapson were selling suffrage newspapers at Oxford Street, a place where Helen had stood before. On this occasion, a man stood opposite, holding a placard which read ‘Anti-suffragettes: women do not want the vote.’ Either Helen or Olive responded by holding one up which read: ‘Gamble in Human Life.’

In consequence, a crowd gathered to watch. The police moved all three on, but shortly after, Helen and Olive returned and the police arrested them. In court, Helen commented that until this point, the police had been very kind when she had occupied the same spot selling newspapers. She was fined 10 shillings and 6 pence.

​When Helen appeared in court, she gave her age as thirty-five. Other than that, no further information has been located.