The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-13
THE ANARCHIST CAPTURED
Woman Killed and Policeman Shot
During the Chase.
Examined by Officials to Whom He
Talked in an InsOIent Manner
Claims to BE an Avenger.

at o'clock tonight in a cafe beneath the
Terminus Hotel, which is situated opposite
the st. Lazare railroad station The place
was full OF people at the time. A band was
playing and those present were enjoying
the coEtentuent which follows the consump-
ton Of a good dinner. All this was changed
in second. A man who had dined in the
cafe was seen TO raise his arm and throw
something into the middle OF the room. A
terrific explosion followed. and the occu-
pants Of the room were paralyZed with ter
ror. No one dared to move for some mo-
ments, fearing a repetition of the explosion,
but as none came their courage returned.
Then they investigated the damage, and
found that the explosion had done dreadful
work. The cafe was filled with smoke, and
lying on the floor We're numbers OF persons
wounded, and moaning and bleeding. The
bomb had landed upon table around which
a party had been sitting and this article Of
furniture had been reduced TO splinters. The
persons grouped at this table suffered the
most. The injured numbered a score. Nearly
all Of them were wounded in the legs. Some
of them were grievously hurt and were re-
moved to a chemists shop near by. where
they were cared for.
In the meantime, the man responsible for
the cowardly act had not been allowed to
escape. AS soon as he had thrown the
bomb he ran out of the place and darted
away. The alarm was given by persons
outside who had heard the noise of the ex-
plosion and chase was at once given to the
fleeing figure. A number OF policemen
Joined in the pursuit The fugitive drew a
revolver and when he saw his pursuers
were getting too close he turned and fired
several shots, killing woman and wound
ing a number Of persons. One OF the men
struck was policeman and his wound is
serious. The man was captured when $50
yards from the cafe He proved to be
undersized, pale-faced and beardless man
of thirty years. His name is Leon Breton.
He had been employed in the cafe as
waiter, but had been discharged for mis-
conduct -,
Directly after the explosion the cafe was
cleared the iron shutters lowered and the
place closed. Intense excitement ex-
listed in the vicinity and an immense crowd
gathered to discuss the outrage. The news
Of the explosion also caused a sensation
throughout the city. The Minister OF the
Interior visited the scene soon as he
was notified of the occurrence. All the per-
sons injured are Parisians.
DETAILS OF THE CRIME
Breton, before the explosion, had been
sitting on the outside of the cafe and had
partaken of refreshments. No particular
notice was taken of him, as his actions
were not such as to attract attention. AS
he was leaving the place he threw the
bomb, aiming at an electric light chande-
lier. The explosion shattered the plate
glass front of the place, destroyed one mar
ble-top table and overturned others and
smashed glassware and plates. their frag-
ments flying in all directions Breton on
leaving the cafe rushed towards the Rue de
Rome An omnibus which plies between
the railroad station and the Place St
Michael was passing the cafe as Breton
ran out. A policeman was sitting on the
top of the omnibus and saw Breton. He
jumped to the ground and followed him ard
run him to earth few yards up the Rue
de Rome at a spot opposite the Scossa
restaurant. Breton turned on the police
man. revolver in hand. and fired a shot at
him. The policeman grabbed him and both
fell While on the ground Breton fired an
other shot at the policeman and struck~a
woman who was passing. The woman fell
to the ground, mortally wounded. In the
meantime a crowd had collected, attracted
by the shots. The policeman who mad
grabbed Breton had been badly wounded
by the first shot and was unable 70 hold
on to his prisoner, and the latter, still
brandishing his revolver regained his feet
and was likely to do further mischief.
The people, larger part of whom had
followed Breton from the cafe, were In a
furious mood and seemed inclined 10 lay
violent hands upon him. They believed at
the time that the explosion was the work
of militant Anarchist and they clamored
for his lynching The sight Of the revolver
af FIRST hilf
by another policeman, they rushed forward
to secure him. Breton again attempted 10
use his revolver but the policeman cut him
over the face with his sabre staggering
him. He was then arrested. The MOB
again demanded that he be lynched, and
they would have carried out their inten-
ton had not strong force or ponce ar
rived. The prisoner was then escorted TO
the Office OF Commissary Asagon. on the
Rue de Moscou. The inquiry before the
commissary showed that the bomb was
constructed in the form OF sardine box
and contained a chlorate powder and pieces
of lead the size of cherries
HE Is AN ANARCHIST
Breton admitted TO the police that he was
an Anarchist. Minister Raynal. the pre-
feet of police. and number Of detectives
remained inside the cafe when il was closed
in order TO prepare their reports. Squads OF
police are on duty in the vicinity. The bull
let received by the policeman from Breton's
revolver has been extracted, and II Is hoped
he will recover. Breton told the doctor who
dressed the wound he received from the po-
iceman's saber that his main object was
to avenge Valiant His hatred toward the
proprietor OF the cafe was but a minor rea-
SON. He said there are others who will fol-
low his example, the object OF his asso-
ciates being TO destroy the burgeoisie socie-
ty Breton speaks English and French flu
entity lie declines TO reveal his Identity
but is probably native OF the Island OF
Jersey, where the name Of Breton is COM
mon.
Breton later was subjected 10 an exami.
nation by Minister OF the Interior Raynal
Minister OF Justice Dubose, Chief OF De-
tectives Geron and others He denied thai
he was the author OF the crime. adding in
solently: Il am an Anarchist. The sooner
the bourgeoisie bursts up the better. bat i
know nothing. / did not enter the cafe