The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-05
Fired Point Blank at IfIsndsd Victim, but
Failed to Hit the Mark.
He WAS PROMPTLY ovERpowEREu.
No Told Tho Police Hs Did Not Regret His Acllou,
and Would Repeat Il II The Opportunity
We're Given Hin.

brussels. April 5.-The prince and
princess OF Wales passed through this
city yesterday, en- route to Copenhagen,
10 attend the celebration of King Chris
tlan's birthday on April 8. Just as they
had boarded a train at the northern
station shots were fired into their car
riage by young man named Sipido.
who jumped upon the footboard and
fired twice, but no one was touched.
Hearing the shots the station master
rushed to the scene and knocked the
would-be assassin's arm as he pre-
pared to fire third shot, and a num-
Der OF persons threw themselves on the
princes assailant. In the confusion, a
second man, who was quite innocent,
was seized, roughly handled and beat
en-. After the prince OF Wales had as
certained that the man who had fired
the shots had been arrested he declared
himself and the princess uninjured. and
the train started, amid cheers for the
prince. Both the prince and the prin-
cess had a very narrow escape.
THE wOULD-BE REGICIDE.
The policeman ON duty took Slpido
in charge. The latter appeared proud
of his exploit and seemed quite calm.
tinsmith and lives on the Rue de la
Forge at Saint GILES, two miles south
of Brussels. He was In his best cloth
Ing. having told his father that he was
going to seek employment. He is 16
years OF age.
When examined by the railroad sta
tion officials Sipido declared he intend
ed to kill the prince OF Wales; that
he did not regret his action and that
he was ready to do IL again IL given
a chance to do so. Subsequently he
said he wanted to kill the prince of
Wales because he coused thousands
OF men to be slaughtered in South Az
rica."
An examination OF Sipido's revolver
showed that four chambers had been
discharged. but that two OF the cart
ridges had missed fire. The weapon
is of the cheapest six-chambered de-
scription. such as Is usually sold here
for 3ls francs.
Sipido has a round. boyish face. black
eyes and dark hair. At the eXamina-
tion before the Magistrate IL was as
certained that he had purchased pen
ny ticket in order TO reach the depart
. ure platform. where he walked up and
down quite a while at the same time
that the Prince was promenading.
ANIMUS OF THE ATTACK.
Persons who attended the Mason
Du Feuple Tuesday say they heard
Sipido declare that IL the Prince of
Wales came TO Brussels he ought to
have bullet in his head, and they also
heard him offer TO bet five francs that
i he would fire at the Prince.
According to lie Patriote, some news
of the views expressed at the meeting
referred to was conveyed to the sta
sionmaster. who had taken what he
thought were extra precautions.
NO SYMPATHY FOR HIM.
not be held responsible for the act of
a madman. whose conduct she repudi-
ates."
The attack Is condemned even at the
labor headquarters here. and at the
Maison Du Peuple. where the extreme
Anarchists meet. a leading member of
the young Socialist guard was loud in
his denunciaItion last evening OF Sipi-
dos action.
lie Pairiote in a special editc~ -
nounces the attempt as "cowardly and
scnseless." and says: 1T will create a
general Indignation, and the worst ene-
my OF Belgium could not have dealt
the country a fouler blow"
The Journal De Bruxelles says: This
outrage will provoke the Indignation OF
ALI honest people i'm every civilized
country. and especially Belgium. We
stsgmatize 1T az the crime OF youth
of disordered brain. We deeply regret
that IL was committed in Belgium; and
we congratulate the Prince Of Wales
upon his fortunate escape from the bull
let Of regicide."
sIPIDo'S EXPLANATION.
According TO the Etoile Beige. Sipido
explained his motive as follows
For a long time j have thousht tnat
q Ia1
war,sJcriiice so many human nyes tina.
they deserve 10 be punished. when
learned by the papers that the Prince
of Wales was going TO pass through
Brussels. / immed ately resolved 10 be-
come the avenger OF humanity ana 10
Kill this assass n. On sunday wens
To the Old Market and bought sec
ond-ha revolver and cartridges. 1
had then made up my mind to carry
out my project. 1 regret that | have
not accomplished IL as l desired"
The magistrates. struck by the In
coherency Of the story. are convinced
that Sipido does not tell the whole
truth. but wishes TO save some one
Spido passed the afternoon In the
chamber OF representatives When he
went TO the station he asked the first
person he met where the PRICE OF
Wales was. The person answered:
"That gentleman with the hat on"
THE FORMAL CHARGE.
At the same instant the prince took
O seat and a servant handed him a esp
OF. tea. Sipido waited until the servant
departed and then rushed toward the |
princes carriage. The mag strates are
going to verify the priso Ar's state
ment. The commitment charges the |
Continued on paeb Four)
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