The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-03
When WouId-Be Assassin Jumped
Aimed q Revolver at His Breast
SHAH DID NOT LOSE HIS HEAD
MOVED ASIDE AND STRUCK THE An
ARCHIST WITH HIS CANE.
Then the Grand Vizier Seized the
"Red" and Handed Him Over to
the POlice--ssThe Czar Next"

PARIS, Aug 2-Muzaffer-E -Ed-Din, Shah
of Persia, who has been a Wis, or TO the ex
position since Saturday as the guest Of
France, narrowly escared an assassin's
bullet this morning. 1t had been arranged
that he should to-day visit Sevres and see
the natioral pottery works. going after
wards TO Versailles, and it WAS just after
he had left the sovereigns palace on his
way to the Seine to so on board yacht
placed at his disposal for the trip that the
attempt upon his life was made
Only five minutes before the pistol was
pointed at his breast he was the recipient
of letter which warned him that his
life was in danger. No serious thought.
however, was given to the contents, SO
numerous had been former warnings of the
same character. AS he was seated in the
landau, before leaving the court of the
palace, his secretary brought him a let
ter, dated Naples, but posted in Paris last
night, signed with a name bearing ar
Italian termination. 1t said:
To-day you shall meet the same fate as
Humbert."
In no wise disconnected the Shah handed
the letter to the officer on guard and gave
orders for the carriage to start. The gates
of the palace were thrown open and as the
monarch emerged a large crowd of curious
onlookers broke into cries of "vive lie Shah"
and "vive la Perse.'' Hardly had these ac-
carnations died away when a man, dressed
in the ordinary clothing of a Paris work.
man. darted forward from between two
automobiles where he was hidden and
rushed toward the imperial carriage, over
throwing bicycle policeman, who rolled
under the feet of the horses. In an instant
he was on the carriage step. Holding the
door with his left hand with his right he
pushed a revolver toward the breast of
the Shah. He seemed to hesitate for mo-
ment though undecided where to aim.
This hesitation saved the Persian mon
archs life, for before the would-be assas-
sin could pull the trigger strong hand
grasped his wrist and wrenched it so that
the weapon dropped harmlessly to the
bottom of the landau.
I'D like to have a photograph of that
man, nonchalantly exclaimed the Shah.
then addressing a few words in his native
tongue to his companions in the carriage
| he told the coachman TO drive on.
Seated in the landau with the Shah at the
vizier, the personal physician of the mon
arch and General Paret, his personal aid.
| General Paret in the course of an inter-
view subsequently said: "It was the court
| physician who first met the criminals ad-
vance. 1t was he who seized the individual
| by the wrist and arrested the movement OF
| aggression for a sufficient time to allow
| the pistol to be knocked from the assail-
! ants hand. am inclined to the belief tha,
| the man is an Italian
TRIED TO MOB THE PRISONER.
When the would-be assassin was taker
| to the police station he expressed regret
| that he had been unable to carry out his
| intentions. He said: This is an affair be-
| tween me and my conscience" A crowd O,
| 500 persons who witnessed the attempted
| assassination made a rush toward the
| would-be murderer and tried to attack
him, but there were many police in the
| neighborhood acting as guards of the Shaf
violence to the miscreant. This afternoon
| the Shah carried out his programme for q
| trip down the Seine to Versailles.
The would be assassin declines absolute
| ly to give his name or nationality HI
| speaks but little and that with a southern
accent The police believe him TO be ar
Italian. He is about twenty-six years ot
| age, has chestnut-colored hair, a large
moustache and blue-gray eyes. He wa.
dressed in blouse and wide trousers the
usual clothes of a carpenter. In his pocke
! was found an ugly knife and a handker
| chief marked '12Sth regiment infantry.
| When this was discovered the man said
THAT will not aid you in your inquire.
concerning my identity" Later in the day
| to some officials of the household of tn,
| Shah who tried TO interrogate him. IN.
| prisoner said. Your master will do wei
to resign; otherwise we will kill him."
An eyewitness to the attempted assassi
nation says the courage of the Shah wa.
remarkable. He acted with perfect cool
ness and was among the first to seize hi
| would-be murderer, holding him with botl
hands until the man was thrown to tb,
| ground by the police.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Another eyewitness of the affair said
when the gate of the palace opened TN
first carriage to appear contained the Shah
| He sat at the right hand side of the car
riage with his doctor at his side. Opposite
was the grand vizier and at his side Gen
Paret the personal aid of the Shah. The,
were on their way TO the Pont Alexande
| III, where they were to take the boat ol
the Seine for Sewers 10 visit the potter,
works there. The landau turned to the lef
towards the Avenue Bois de Boulogne. L
had not gone far when a man dressed a
carpenter rushed towards the carriag
and put his right foot on the step, restin,
his left hand on the door TO assist him e
mount Then. drawing his right hand from
his pocket he pushed 1t towards the breas
OF the shah- This hand carried . revolver