Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-12-01

The Attempt 10 Assasslnate the Emperor
of Austria.

nc AtkGmpk 10 HScdcoth0tC shO EMpShVA
of Austria.
A correspondent of the New York
Herald, writing from Prague, gives the
following account of the attempt to
assassinate the Emperor of Austria,
mention of which has already been
made In our columns:
On Saturday, the 9th of October,
the Emperor went to the bohemian
theatre in Prague, and so did Captain
Hugh f. Palmer, marine engineer, and
late owner of the yacht Warhawk. This
gentleman, finding the heat excessive
in the theatre, left it about eight p. m.
and remained outside unresolved
whether to return to his hotel or re-
enter the theatre.
While standing outside he noticed a
crowd of men which we would charac
terize as ''roughs" lounging about, and
while examining them with travellers
eve. accustomed to look closer into de-
tails than most persons, he saw better
dressed man pass closely before one
of the ''roughs, who, as the we'll
dressed man passed, received OF him
something which, as he was transfer
ring to his pocket, Captain Palmer saw
was a pistol from the light of an adloln-
ing lamp falling on it. This naturally
made him more suspicious, and he OBJ
served the man more attentively, with
an instructive knowledge of what was
about to happen. He noticed the mans
trepidation and seeming fear; he saw
his hesitation and want of resolution,
and watched him closer; when the
crowd, to see the Emperor leave the
theatre, closed in nearer the imperial
carriage, he saw the man elbow himself
into a prominent position, and he, also,
worked himself Immediately behind
the man he suspected.
While doing so aud while keeping
one eve on the man, he had picked out
particularly, he noticed the black looks
of the roughs around him, and noticed
few suspicious circumstances which
might at another time have passed I'M
noticed.
Immediately after the Emperor had
entered his carriage, ard as the window
was being closed from the inside, he
saw the man raise his right hand In
which was the pistol, aimed at the
Emperor's head. Captain Palmer i'm
mediately threw his left arm around
the Bohemian's neck, half strangliUg
him. and with his right hand sharply
struck down the pistol. This done he
rapidly drew the man back through the
crowd and gave him in charge of two
policemen, he also gave his address and
returned to the hotel.
Now it seems very remarkable cir
cumstance that although this occurred
- Gin Ia rnaa no.
come forward to testify as witness to
the struggle and arrest or to give any
evidence whatever. Does it not seem
conclusive that the attempt was COM
mitted when the man was surrounded
by accompllces? Soon after the at
tempted assassination two students
picked up the pistol, a single barrelled
one, loaded but not capped, Immediate
Iy on the line through which Captain
p. had passed when struggling with his
prisoner and leading him toward the
policemen.
One of the policemen has also testi-
fed that he saw the Bohemian drop a
small piece of black silk, which was
picked up and found 20 contain pow
der, balls, and caps. This policeman
is the only person who has corroberdted
by testimony Captain Palmer's evil
dence. Not another soul can be found
to give witness of anything that took
place at the time, although, as / re-
marked, it occurred in the midst of a
dense crowd.
This circumstance, therefore, is made
use of by the Bohemians, who make
light of the affair, or say it was made
up thing, that Captain p. is employed
by the Germans, or that the attempt
never took place except in the foreign
er's Imagination. On the other hand
the Germans bring forward the fact OF
the impossibility of obtaining evidence
as a proof that it was whispered con-
spiracy, of which every one present In the
crowd was cognizant; and it was gener-
ally regarded as q lucky thing for Cap
tain Z. that he was not stabbed when
making the capture. He has been re
co amended not TO go about at night,
as the probability would be, if he did
so, that he might be assaulted.
In my conversation nth Captain
Palmer he spoke very bitterly of the
manner in which he has been treated
since the attempt took place; of the
way in which he has been examined,
and the general attempt to slight him
and his evidence. When he was first
sent for to give evidence he received
the message by word of mouth from a
policeman, but very properly declined
to attend the court unless a carriage or
cab were sent to convey him there.
He also complains of the mean, small
appearance of the members of the court
before whom he gave evidence, all of
whom being, as he remarks. dirty
looking blackguards' with the oxcep-
ton of the president. He has also been
much annoyed by close questioning on
trivialities and matters not bearing on
the attempt, made with the view of
showing that he was an adventurer,
seeking to extort money. The fact
that he spoke French slightly was
thought to be suspicious circumstance
in the eyes of the court.
The Coming Coup d'eiat-fhe Queen of
oaakx. tEKosoH of kha