Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-12-26
THUG ATTACKS
PRES|DEN
Of FRANCE
ASSAILANT QUICKLY
SEIZED BY POLICE
Authorities Profess to Believe
Him Harmless Crank Though
ROyaIiSt Plot Is Suspected in
Some Quarters,


icy Morning journal Special Lensed Wirel
Paris, Dec. 25.-Whuc Almond
Fallieres, the president Of France. ac-
companied by NJ Ramondou, his secre-
tary, and Colonel Lasson, military at
tache at the Elyze palace, was taking
a morning stroll near Rue de LEtou
today, poorly-clad individual. who
evidently had been lying in wait, sud
denly jumped on the president from
behind and threw his arms about NJ
Fallieres neck in an effort to seize his
beard.
Colonel Lasson and Secretary Ro-
mandou sprang to the assistance Of
the president dragged off his assail
ant and turned him over to special de
tectives who had been following the
party on bicycles.
The presidents cane was broken in
the struggle but beyond a scratch on
the ear he was not injured and insisted
on continuing his walk.
As the detectives slipped the hand
cuffs on the man he cried. II am I'm
armed. I simply wanted to pull the
presidents beard When searched AT
the station house the presidents as
saiant proved to be Jean Maths, a |
cafe waiter, "A years old. Medals OF |
General Mercier, the former minister |
of war, stamps bearing the head Of |
the Duke of Orleans a card of mem
Dership in the Patrie Franchise, auC !,
other royalist documents were found |
on his person.
Massis, during the examination.
boasted Of being a royaist and talked
confusedly of having done his duty
and obeyed the dictates of his Con
science" Heaps Of royallst reaction
ary literature were found by the po-
lice who ransackcd rls residence.
The invcstie alton reveals thG&act !
that Maths was in close relation with
the royalist organization and this
gives color to rumors that he was the
instrument of a royalist plot. Seriou.
evidence i'm this direction, however is
lacking up to the present time, and il
is more likely that he is only crack
Drained individual seeking notorictN
whose head has been turned by the
campaign of scandal and vilificatioH
which reactionary newspapers like the
Librc Parole and L'Actiou have re
Gently been conducting. They used
the scandal in connection with the
Stcinheil affair to make every CunCeiv-
able charge against the EovcrnmeK,
even to its being guilty Of political
murder. and insisted on >hc inshua-
tion that the late President Faur,
was killed because he sided agains;
Major Dreyfus.
Early this week the height of au
daclty was reached whcn the reaction
AIRY papers printed circumstantaI
stories to make it appear that Prcsi
dent Fallicrcs' SON when found in Il,
company Of the wife of Philippe As
trcssc, an advocate OF the court of an
pcals, q year ago, shot ana killed tho
attorney, and that the police ha"@
hushcd up the scandal
Mr. White. the American ambassa- 5
dor, and other members of the diplo-
matte corps, and Of the cabinet and
q number of high officials called at
the Elcyze palace today to express
their Indignation at the insult offered 4
President Fallieres
Mathis has been formally charged |
with assaulting ID magistrate in the
exercise of his functions. This crime
is punishable by from two to five
Years Imprisonment The leaders OF
the reactionary opposition to the gov
ernment and the newspapers cham
pioning their cause, disavOW the as
sault ana claim that it was instigated
by the police to throw discredit upon
their cause and distract public atten- !
Ton from graver questions