The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1900-08-03
ATTEMPT TO KILL
SHAH OF PERSIA
Assassin Was Stayed Just in
the Nick Of Time,
GRAND vIz|ER STOPPED HIM
The WouId-Be Murderer Sprang on the
Carriage Step and Then Pointed
a Revolver at the Mon
arch's Head.
GRAND vIz|ER STOPPED HIM

Paris, August 2.-Muzaffer Ed Din, Shah
of Persia, who has been visitor to the
exposition since Saturday as the guest of
France. narrowly escaped an assassin's
bullet this morning. 1t had been arranged
that he should today visit Sevres and see
the national pottery works, going after
wards to Versailles, and 1t was just after
he had left the sovereigns' palace on his
way to the Seine to go 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 presented at
his breast he was the recipient of a letter
which warned him that his life was in dam
ger No serious thought, however, was
given to the contents, SO numerous had
been former warnings of the same char
acter. As he was seated in the landau be-
fore feaving the court of the palace his
secretary brought him letter dated Ma
pies, bud posted in Paris last night and
signed with name bearing an Italian ter
minatioH. 1t said:
To-day you shall meet the same fate as
Humbert."
In nowise 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 large crowd of curious
on-lookers broke into cries of "Vive le-
Shah,", and ''Vive la Perse." Hardly had
these acclamations died away when man
dressed in the ordinary clothing of Paris
workman darted forward from between
automobiles where he was hidden and
rushed toward the imperial carriage, over
throwing y bicycle policeman, who rolled
under .ths feet of the horses. In an instant
he was on the carriage step. Holding the
door with his left hand, with his right
hand he pushed revolver toward the
breast Of the Shah.
Hesit.ted For "a Moment
He seemed to hesitate for a moment, as
though undecided where to aim. This hes
itation saved the Persian monarch's life,
for before the would-be assassin could pull
the trigger strong hand grasped his wrist
and wrenched it so that the weapon fell
harmiessly to the bottom of the landau.
I'D like TO have photograph of that
man." nonchalantly exclaimed the Shah.
Then. addressing few words in his native
tongue 70 his companions in the carriage,
he told the eoachman to drive on.
Seated In the landau with the Shah at the
time thesassault was made were the Grand
Vizier, the personal physician of the mon
arch aud General Parent. his personal aide
General Parent in the course of an inter-
view, subsequently said:
: ut was the court physician who met the
criminals first advance. 1t was he who
seized the Individual by the wrist and ar
rested him for a sufficient time to allow the
pistol to be knocked from the assailant's
hand,
IT am inclined to the belief that the man
is an Italian
At the police station the man expressed
regret that he had been unable to carry out
his inteptions. He said:
This is an affair between me and my
conscience."
1t was just quarter past when the
carriage of the Shah emerged from the
court of the sovereign's palace. Seated in
the carriage with the Shah was his grand
vizier.s while opposite him sat General Pa
ret. The carriage turned to the left toward
the avenue Bois de Bologne.
1t had proceeded but few yards when
man, dressed as a laborer, sprang from be-
tween automobiles, where he had been hid
den. He broke through the line of police
men, oyerturning a bicycle officer, and
jumped on the royal carriage step. In one
hand the man had cane, which he raised
as though to strike but this movement was
only intended to hide his real purpose, for
the other hand held revolver.
Grand vizie- Dissrmed H. IN
IT.
an end. for the grand vizier struck the
weapon from the mans hand and at the
same time officers caught his arm from be-
hind and overpowered him.
A crowd of 500 people who witnessed the
attempted assassination made rush to-
ward the would-be murderer and tried to
attack him, but there were many police in
the neighborhood acting as guards of the
Shah, and these prevented the mob from
doing violence to the miscreant.
The prisoner was taken to the police sta
tion. This afternoon the Shah carried out
his programme for a trip down the Seine
to Versailles
The would-be assassin declines absolutely
to give his name or nationality. He speaks
but little, and that with a southern ac-
cent The police believe him to be an Ital-
ian. He is about 26 years of age.
Just before starting from the palace the
Shah received letter dated from Italy,
signed with an italian name, but posted In
Paris, announcing to him that he would be
assassinated today. The police believe the
Italian who attacked the Shah was not
alone In his effort. The whole of the po-
lice department is at work seeking for his
accomplices.
i An. .eye-w witness Of the affair said:
-.sYhen the gate Of the palace opened the