Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-07-17
ATTEMPT
MURDER
TWO SHOTS FIRED AT
LEADER OF FRANCE.
BOTH MISSED THE MARK, HOW.
EVER-SUNDAY WAS NATION
Al FETE DAY.

Paris, July 15.-The national fete
Sunday was marred by dastardly
attempt on the life of President Fail
Heres by Leon Maille, a naval re-
servist of Havre, who, 1t is believed,
Is suffering from a mania Of perse-
cution. 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.militarists, who tried to organ
ize a demonstration against the army
throughout France Sunday, excep-
tional precautions were taken to safe
guard President Fallieres. The at
tempt on his life occurred on Avenue
des Champs Elysee while the presi-
dent was returning to the palace
from Longchamps, where he had re-
viewed the garrison of Paris in the
presence Of 100000 enthusiastic peo-
pie. Premier Clemenceau and M.
Lanes, the presidents secretary,
were with the president in his landau,
which was escorted by a squadron Of
cuirassiers. The carriage had safely
emerged from the Bots de Boulogne,
where the militarists had been station
ed with the intention Of hooting the
soldiers, and was descending the
broad Champs Elysee amid the accla-
nations Of the crowds thronging the
sidewalks, who were shouting, "Vive
Fal1ieres!" "Vive Earnest" when at
the corner of Lesueuer street, Maille,
from the curb, fred in quick success
sion two shots point blank at the
president. Miraculously no one was
hit. President Fallieres was cool and
collected when the cortege stopped.
The diplomats who were following the
presidents carriage alighted from
their carriages and hurried to the
side of M. Fallieres.
Finding that nobody had been in
jured, by the presidents orders the
cortege moved on. In the meantime
two policemen seized Maille, who
made no resistance, but the police
with difficulty prevented the irate
crowds from lynching the prisoner
until a Gordon of reserves came up
and conducted him to the station.
There Maille refused to give any rea-
son for his act, saying:
"The revelations l have are SO
grave and serious that 1 will only
make them before a magistrate for
transmission to the chief of state. 1t
is matter between the government
and me. II am the victim Of many
villainies."
No Plot Suspected.
Some of the witnesses of the shoot
ing said that Maille fred in the air.
1t is believed the man participated in
the recent seamen's strike and that
his mind has been unhinged by fam
cied grievances. 1t is believed also
that he aided in the revolutional agi-
tation Of the general federation of
labor and the anti-militarists. There
is no reason to suspect plot, as Mail
lie only arrived here from Rouen last
night.
Maille appeared before an examining
magistrate and the authorities only
succeeded in extracting from him a
rambling statement about family per-
secution 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 explana-
ton, as he believed the magistrate
would do nothing to remedy his
wrongs.
President Fallieres has received nu-
merous 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 a stop
to the anti-militarist propaganda
which is already demoralizing the
army and becoming a menace to the
republic. Thirty-nine ringleaders
were arrested Sunday for Kissing sol.
diers who were returning from the re-
view. Other arrests were made at the
Place de la Concorde, where the lea
que of patriots held their annual cere-
mony.
BRING MAGIll TO CLINTON, ILL.
Sudden Marriage Following the
Strange Death Of Wife Leads