Pearson was a supporter of votes for women and was both arrested for her militant campaigning and supported others to evade arrest. In 1912,18-year-old journalist Harry Johnson, a supporter of women's enfranchisement and possible member of the Men's Political Union (MPU),[5] was sentenced to a year's imprisonment in Wakefield Gaol with hard labour for attempting to blow up a house near Doncaster for the cause.[6] He went on hunger strike and was released temporarily from prison under the Cat and Mouse Act, and Pearson, along with Violet Key Jones, helped him to evade rearrest.[7] Pearson also set up her own safe house for suffragettes and supporters.[8]
In 1913, Pearson went to protest at the House of Commons and walked arm-in-arm with a nurse from Birmingham towards Downing Street.[9] She was arrested,[1] charged[4] with obstructing the police,[1] and summoned to appear in court on 18 January 1913.[10] Pearson was sentenced to a choice of a 40 shilling fine, or time in prison and opted for prison.[4][11] Two days later her husband paid the 25 shillings and sixpence fine,[2] and Pearson was released from Holloway.
After returning to York, Pearson received a Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) prison brooch,[12] and was invited to the next WSPU prisoners' reception where she was thanked for her contribution.[13] She was interviewed by a reporter from The Yorkshire Herald during which she explained her motivation for travelling to the demonstration and what happened when there.[14]
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