The morning times., 1896-07-15
SHOT It PRESIDENT FAURE
Allegsd- Attempt During a Gel
ebration at Longchamps.
BLANK CARTRIDGES USED
Man Who Held the Pistol Protests
That No Bullets Were Used and
That He Fired Because OF Exuberant
.SpiIits--Great Excitement Among
POpuIace-PrisonerB Belle we'd Insane.

Paris. July 14.-what is claimed in
some quarters as an attempt to asslssinate
President Felix Faure, WAS made at ESQ
O'Clock this afternoon, at the parade
ground, at Longcha mps.
The day was the one hundred and seventh
anniversary OF the fall of the Bastie, and
was celebrated in the usual manner. in
cludinS q. review OF the troops at Long
champ. which drew q very large concourse
OF people. r.e - rHf"a 'ri.+
Among those present were some of the
members OF the Ancient and Honorable
Artillery Company OF Boston, who were
yesterday elected honorary members Of
1 the Cercle ,Militaire.,s' ~ t-'--r,s
President Faure, accompanied by Prime
Minister Meline. Gen. LIE MOutOn de Bois-
deffre. chief Of staff of the army, and
Gen. Tournier. chief OF the presidents
military household, left the Palace OF the
Elysee In an open carriage, and drove to
LOngchamps, 1t having been arranged that
the president should review the troops.
As the carriage passed through the
Porte du Moulin entrance to the parade
grounds 1t was surrounded by troops who
were 70 escort n. Faare to- the. reviewing
stand. Before the vehicle had proceeded
far tall, fair and correctly dressed man
or about thirty-five years of age stepped
slightly in advance or the crowd and drew
revolver, which some eye witnesses de-
clare, he discharged point blank at the
President. 81
Immediately there was a scene OF the
greatest excitement. and it would undoubt-
edly have gone hard with tn e man had he not
at once been seized by the gendarmes who
were standing by. He was at once con-
Quoted to the temporary police quarters
that had been esta blished near the grande
Cascade within the grounds.
HE RESISTED ARREST.
The mun resisted arrests, declaring that
lie had done nothing to cause his being
taken into custody. He claimed that. he
had not fire d the revolver with any inten-
ton of in3uring the President, and that, in
fact, the weapon had only teen loaded with
blank cartridges. He claimed that he had
spirits.
Some Of those who stood close by him
when the President entered the grounds
deciire that two shots were fired. An e1-
animation OF the revolver that was made
by the police appears to bear out the
prisoners statement that blank cartridges
were used, for in four OF the chambers
cartridges with 10 bullets were found At
tempts ~ tte police station 10 learn any
thing further from the prisoner were Of
no avail. He stated. that his name was
Francois, and refused to say anything
further. Theprisonerappeared tobe insane
In the mkan ntime the news of the affair
had spread like wildfire, and the most
exaggerated reports gained credepce. The
crowd OF spectators surged toward tile
Presidents carri;ige, and the troops had
| a difficult task in keeping the excited peo-
pie back. II toek only little time, how
ever, for IT 70 he tea rned that NJ. Faure was
| unbarmed. .Twbereupon the crowd cheered
| the presideFt again and again.
II. Faure-app5ared to be entirely un-
moved by The e&ciiement. He had paid
| no attention to the shot and calmly Con-
versed with his cQippsninps in the car
riage until the shouts and cheers OF the
multitude drowned his voice. Then di-
recGng his coachmap to proceed, the car
riag e, which had been temporarily stopped,
went on to the stand where the president
reviewed the troops, after which he was
driven back 10 the palace Of the Elysee.
HEARD FROM BEFORE.
The police Informed a reporter OF La
PresSe that Francois is the same luEatic
who recently threw a bundle of petitions
from the gallery Of the Chamber of Deputies
into the body OF the house, thereby causing
semi-paDlc among the Members, who
imagined that the bundle was bomb.
Late. IIitss tiltefDOSm fTdutOlS was ex-
amiDed by Prefect Lepine. He was then
more communicative and told the project
that in scharging the revolver he merely
wisbed-to attract attention. He reiterated
his statement that he had had no wish to
injure anybody and that tie weapon was
loaded with only blank cartridges.
Francois was formerly u street surveyor
employed by the Municipal Council OF Pa ris,
:yut was discharged on account OF his pre-
a rob
special offence, which led to his dis
charge, was the publication of revolution
ary verses. He lives at No. -46 Rue Clery
His residence was searched by the police.
but nothing OF suspicious nature was
found. The officials believe that he is
insane. ~-@
During the commotion which followed
ia firing reputcdanarchistn named Boulant
was arrested for saying:
THAT'S the sort Of fellow for me- He
:-as done the proper thing"
The approval OF outrage IS penal Of
fsnse under N. Dupuy's anti anarchist laws
and Poulant stands a eood chance OF spend
-" q few Of The coming years in prison.
The feeling of tile crowd at the reviewing
grounds was illustrated by its treatment
of a waiter at cafe at the Grand Cas-
cade. In some way this man was mis-
taken by the crowd for Francois and saw
age attack was made upon him. Que OF
his eyes was torn from its socket aud lie
was almost lynched before the police were
able to rescue him.
THE news of the shooting had preceded
the president to the city, aud as he was rec
ognized by the people on tile streets through
which he pa ssed on his returnhe wasgreeted
with cheers and congratulations.
This evening the diplomats and large
number of the prominent men called at
tho paIacp Or the EfySep and cOpgratu-
lated Al. Faure. Several soyereigns sent
folaprunhic messages of con fuIafions