The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-28
The Attempt to Assnssinate the Queen of
Spain.


Advices by theAtantic represent that the Queen
OF Spain had recovered from the wound inflicted
at the late attempt to kill her. Ii appears that
when the assassin, Martin Merino, approached the
queen, he knelt down, and, being in clerical robes,
(he was in the habit of performing service at the
church OF San Sebastian,) no obstacle was thrown
IN the way OF his design, ii was supposed he had
memorial to present TO the queen; but, when she
came close up, he suddenly struck at her with
great force with dagger which he had concealed
upon him. The queen mechanically put forward
her arm (perhaps TO receive a memoria) at the
moment, and this probably saved her life. Her
forearm was grazed and the dress torn.
The weapon struck her on the front part of the
right SIDE penetrating through several folds of her
mantle of velvet and gold, and cutting through the
stays, the whalebone of which diminished the eff
feet of the blow, which il is now hoped has not in
Jured any vital organ the fear was that the liver
had been wounded The assassin, at the moment
OF striking, exclaimed: "'Toma, va tienes bas-
tante." ("Iake IL; you have now got enough.")
The queens fret thought for her child,
"Mi nins! she exclaimed; "Gue ciuden'a sabel. )"
(My child,-let them take care of issbelD There
was moment of confusion. The king consort
drew his sword. One OF the royal haberdiers struck
down the assassin, who let fail the da gger, and was
secured by the Duke Of Tamames, and other mem
bers OF the royal suite. The queen able 60 walk
to her own chamber, where she was Immediately
attended TO, and at hrst tainted away for time
Martin Merno, who committed this detcstable
crime, was n native of Arnedo, province Of Logro-
no, sixty-three years OF age, frisr of the
franciscan Orocr, out seCuldrlZcd IN ISL, on his
own application. He was removed last evening in
coach to the Saladero prison, and the cavalry
escort which accompanied him had some difficulty
in preventing the crowd round the palace from do
ing summary justice on him.
He was perfectly cool, and evinced not tho least
conjunction for his act his only inquiry wac ''ls
the queen deads' And when told che was not, he
expressed surprise, and said that he had hit her
hard enough At other dimes he very abusive
TO those who spoke TO him; but his general manner
Is that Of cold, cynical sneer; he bad performed
mass at eleven that morning.
There's very contradictory accounts about
hun. The Espdno says that he was always Of ultra
revolutionary ideas, and was in a conspiracy
against the life Of Ferdinand VII, and emgratcd
in 1923; while the Gaccfa Aiiifar describes him az
a Carst, saying that he emigratod as anti-libcral
in 1920 10 1928 that he served az captain in the
Carlist army during tho civil war, and came in
under the Convention Of Bergara. lie had been
acting at Madrid for some time as assistant curate
in the parishes Of San Sebastian and San Milan.
He is said 60 have been engaged in attempt
against the life OF Queen Christina during her re.
gency, bot 20 have failed in opportunity for
carrying IL out. Hcw executed by the gaYrOfe on
Saturday, February 7th, and died calmly.
Her majesty was fast recovering from the effects
Of her wounds at the last accounts.