The Oskaloosa herald., 1907-07-18
ATTEMPT TO KILL
FRENCH PRESIDENT
NAVAL REsERvIsT FIRES TWO
SHOTS AT M. FALLIEREs.
NEITHER TAXES EFFECT
Assassin, Who Seeks Chief Magls-
trate's Life as He Returns from
Longchamps Review, 10
Thought Crazy.

Paris, July 15.-The national fete
Sunday was marred by a dastardly at
tempt on the life of President Fall
Heres by Leon Maille, naval reserv-
list of Havre, who, 1t is believed, is
suffering from the mania of persecu-
ton. Maille fired two shots at the
president but did not hit him. He
was at once placed under arrest.
On account of the activity Of the
anti-milltarists, who tried to organize
a demonstration against the army
throughout France Sunday, exception
al precautions were taken to safe
guard President Fallieres. The at
tempt on his life occurred on the
Avenue des Champs Elysees while the
president was returning to the palace
from Longchamps, where he had re-
viewed the garrison of Paris in the
presence Of 100000 enthusiastic peo-
pie.
Assassin Fires Twice. ..
Premier Clemenceau and M. Lanes,
the presidents secretary, were with
the president in his landau, which
was escorted by squadron of cuiras-
siers. The carriage had safely
emerged from the Bots de Boulogne,
where the anti-militarists had sta
toned themselves with the intention
of hooting the soldiers and was de-
scending the broad Champs-Elysees
amid the acclamations of the crowds
thronging the sidewalks, who were
shouting "vive Fallieres," "vive
L'Armee," when at the corner OF Les
ueur street Maille from the curb fired
two shots point blank at the president
in quick succession.
Miraculously no one was hit. Presi-
dent Fallieres was cool and collected
when the cortege stopped. The diplo-
mats who were following the presi-
dents landau alighted from their car
riages and hurried to the side Of M.
Fallieres. Finding that nobody had
been injured, by the presidents orders
the cortege moved on.
Meantime two policemen seized
Maille, who made no resistance, but
the police with difficulty prevented
the irate crowd from lynching the
prisoner until Gordon of reserves
came up and conducted him to the sta
ton. There Maille refused to give
any reasons for his act, saying:
"The revelations have are so grave
and serious that l w<ll only make
tbop1 hafora q n, aUjctrota for tro ~ @ poic
sion to the chief of state. 1t is a mat
ter between the government and me.
l am the victim of many villainies."
Thought to Be Crazy.
Some of the witnesses of the shoot
ing said that Maille fired in the air
1t is believed that the man partici
pated in the recent seamen's strike
and that his mind had been unhinged
by fancied grievances. 1t Is believed
also that he aided in the revolutionary
agitation of the General Federation of
Labor and the anti-militarists. There
is no reason to suspect a plot, as Mail
lie arrived here from Rouen only Sat
urday night.
Maille appeared before an examin.
ing magistrate Sunday night and the
authorities succeeded in extracting
from him only rambling statement
about family persecution directed
against him. 1t was in order to draw
public attention to his grievances, he
said, that he fired the shots. The
prisoner terminated the examination
by announcing his intention to give
no further explanations, as he be-
lieved that the magistrate would do
nothing to remedy his wrongs.
Congratulations to Fallieres.
President Fallieres has received
numerous kilograms of congratulation
from the rulers of many countries on
his lucky escape.
The attempt on the life of President
Fallieres probably will strengthen the
governments intention to put stop
to the anti-militarism propaganda,
which already is des-oralizing the
army and becoming a menace to the
republic.
Thirty-nine ringleaders were ar
rested Saturday for kissing soldiers
who were returning from the review
Other arrests were made at the Place
de La Concorde, where the League of
patriots held its animal caramony