Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-07-01
A LONDON SENSATION.
Attempted Assassination of tn
Duke of Saxe-Weimer.

The British metropolis has had mo-
mentary thrill of excitement over an
event supposed at first to have some i'm.
portant significance, and the news OF
which was telegraphed to this country as
an attempt to assassinate parsonage
nearly related to the royal family. Sub
sequent investigation, however, showed
that the affair was much exaggerated.
The Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar is
one of those German relatives of Queen
Victoria who pass most of their time at
the British court and hold commissions
in the British army. He is TO be seen
on state occasions at the drawingrooms
and in London society generally, but he
is not man of such position or proml-
mence as to call upon his head the wrath
of the ordinary political assassin. Yet
there was a rumor, the other day, that he
was the object of an attempt at murder;
and thereby hangs tale, the particulars
of which we're divulged at recent ex-
animation before local London magis-
trate.
II appears that there lives in London
certain Gustave Bernard Gennovich,
Pole by birth and a jeweler by trade.
This man had invented new kind of
cannon, which he had in vain sought to
bring to the favorable notice of the Brit
ish military authorities. They had seen
IL il is true, but had decided that it was
'inapplicable to the service" and with
this discouraging view of the matter, the
persevering inventor was be no means
content. So one day he put his cannon
into a carriage, and drove into Portland
Place. where he fred in off in the mid
die of the street. He then went to the
door of the residence of Prince Edward,
and asked to see him. Refused admit
lance, he next demanded an interview
there with Mr.. Disraeli and the Duke of
Cambridge. The servants of the house,
naturally alarmed at the intrusion of a
stranger, who came provided with artil.
lery to enforce his claims, sent for the
police, who took the pertinacious inven-
tor in charge. He was dressed in a Po-
lish military uniform, and was accompa-
MED by lad who was in his employ in
his business as jeweler.
1t was at first supposed that Genno.
vich meant to assassinate the Prince OF
Saxe-Weimar, but this suspicion was not
supported by the facts OF the case. In
court the prisoner claimed that he was
only intent upon bringing his wonderful
invention into notice. The cannon in
question was produced in the courtroom
It was mounted on wheels, and was of
about the size of an ordinary blunder-
buss.
The antecedents of Gennovich, if not
disreputable, were eccentric enough to
alarm the loyal magistrate. 1t was
shown that in 1867 he had been arrested
for under suspicious circumstances in
the grounds Of Windsor Castle. He had
also sent his photograph to the Queen
and to the Prince of Saxe-Weimar; and
he had, moreover, described himself as
cousin OF the Duke of Cambridge. In
his defence he made long and rambling
speech, in the course of which he claimed
to be an heir of the Duke of Brunswick
and related to the imperial family of
Russia. The magistrate was of the
opinion that the man was out Of his
mind, and he was remanded for exsmina
ton; and so ends the latest nine days
wonder.