The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-05-18 00:00:00

A flood of congratulatory telegrams poured in at
the Palace from all parts of the world.

Tho Berlin Press is unanimous in expressing horror
that a German hand should have been raised against
the life of the venerable and beloved Kaiser, and in
rejoicing that the latter should have escaped without
even a scratch. The National Zeitung says: "Had
the attempt succeeded, one of the most precious pages
of our history would have been stained with crime, and
an ineradicable shame stamped upon the name of Ger-
many. It is well for us and for our remotest descendants
that this peril has passed by." The Lower House of the
Reichstag was in full session when the news of the at-
tempted assassination was brought in. It at once
adjourned, and its President and chief officials waited
on his Majesty to express the rejoicing of the nation,
through its representatives in Parliament assembled,
at the providential escape of their Sovereign. It is
said that his Majesty has been profoundly affected by
the burst of popular attachment to llis person called
forth by /Riders dastardly attempt. When he heard
the second shot he stood up in the carriage and was
heard to say, " Can these shots be intended for me?"

As soon as the news of the attempt on the life of
the Emperor William reached Paris, all the Ministers
were summoned to the Elyse, and the Marshal
at once sent a telegram to the Emperor in these
terms :

"I beg your Majesty to accept my sincere congratulations
on having, thanks to Providence, so happily escaped
danger."

Mr. Waddington then waited on Prince Hohenlohe
to offer the congratulations ef the Cabinet, and all his
colleagues have left their cards at the Embassy.

According to a telegram from Berlin, the Marshal's
congratulations made an especially favourable im-
pression (says the Paris Correspondent of The Times).
His message was signed, "The President of the
French Republic, MacMahon :" and this being the
first time he had signed in this Way, the inference
drawn at Berlin is that his intention was to associate
the entire French nation in his reprobation of the
outrage. There is, in fact, no person or party here
by whom that feeling is not shared.

BERLIN, May 13.

Repeated examinations of the would-be assassin litidel
Lehmann seem to prove that he had no accomplices. The
Christian Socialist Party deny having his name in their
books as a member or applicant for work. The provincial
Press is filled with expressions tif horror at the atrocious
deed and of joy at the Emperor's deliverance. In all the
metropolitan churches prayers were offered up on Sunday
for the Emperor's deliverance from the assassin's hand. In
the English chapel the Rev. Robert Benson, before preach-
ing the sermon, referred to the event in these words :

"Before I begin my exposition it is right that I should
refer to an event which happened yesterday in this city.
An attempt was made by a vile assassin upon the life of the
good old Emperor, bet God, in Ms mercy, warded off the
blow. Let us, then, with all his people' thank God for Ills
merciful Previdence which has watched over the life of the
Sovereign of this country. May he long be spared to his
people !"

There were similar celebrations in the churches of all the
provincial towns when the news transpired on Sunday
morang.

Whea the Emperor arrived at his Palace a few minutes
after the aiminal attempt on his life, his first act was to
compose a lengthy telegram to the Empress, who is staying
at Baden-Baden, acquainting Her Majesty with the particu-
lars of the terrible Incident.

In Monday's sitting of the German Parliament, Herr von
Forckenbeck, the Speaker, after adverting to the event in
a few appropriate words, called for three cheers for the
Emperor. Exc.pting two Socialistic members, who kept
their seats, the whole House rose and Joined enthusiastically
a the loyal demonstration.
This is the third time that the Emperor's life has been
attempted.

The Correspondent of The Times, writing from Berlin on
the 14th, says :

"At his last examination }Wel again asserted that he
had no intention to kill the Emperor, but that he fired at
himself, wishing to commit suicide in the Emperor's pre-
sence. On having his attention directed to opposite state-
ments made at previous examinations, he said nothing.
Several persons have deposed to his aiming straight at the
Emperor's head. None of the bullets have been found.
The preliminary inquiry being conducted with the greatest
despatch, it is expected that the criminal will be shortly
placed before the High Court of State. The crime committed
by the would-be assassin renders him liable to capital
punishment.
"Though a journeyman tinsmith, Hficlel has been em-
ployed for several years in selling and distributing the flying
sheets of the Socialistic party. For this purpose he has
travelled in Bavaria, Austria, and Switzerland. Lately he
was employed in the great Socialistic printing-house at
Leipsio, where the Vortvarts, the leading organ of the pa-ty,
is published Two months ago he quarrelled with the fore-
man of the printing-house, and, it appears, was expelled from
the party on the 10th of May—that to, a day before attemp-
ting the Emperor's life. His difference with the Red Socialists
seeinsto have induced him to go to Berlin and attezil the meet-
ings of the Christian Socialists, a new sect endeavouring to
combine Protestantism and loyalty with strikes and other
less defined attempts at modifying the exitipg property
laws. The confusion wrought in the heads of the less intel-
ligent working men by the incessant agitation of these
various parties may be imagined from the cirenmstance that
HOdelcalls himself a Christian Socialist and an Anarchist,
two opposite appellations altogether incompatible with
each other. At his last examination he admitted being
a Red Socialist, but censured his political friends for
m4ng promises which they did not fulfil. As far as
can be Zizcerned from the actual state of the evidence,
IWO, still I".4qt'fi eccentric than the rest of his fiery
friends, did not oi)ey prders, was turned out, and, finding
Lipiself divested of his previous gratifying position as an
az' ft • and violent partiiahenliimo,nbehtnoewudea7htet. and de-
ontended that, lilt were
in reply to several
oir,
itigtnietvo-dintiailv,isiSdeteinxnac
evidence
mnals.:ll d e
true its ha shot at the Emperor missed, he must have
been mad. If be had been in his right illizd; he would have
hit the Emperor."
had been made upon
sangfroid which the
Emperor A s andsitsapni displayed talterhe ctahl
attemptemna a
his We, 3 is stated thAp 1.41 P 4inlster, Herr von Billow. who