The Washington herald., 1908-02-16

the reigning houses of the Old World to
destroy the firearms or the knives that
have been used by the assailants. It is
a custom of ancient origin, and extends
not only to the weapons of regicides, but
also to the surgical Instruments employed
by the doctors in treating the injuries Of
the victims of these outrages or for the
purpose of post mortem examination. and
embalmment In olden times the weapons
and instruments used TO be filed away
TO powder or ground to pieces. When,
however the priest Martin Merino at
tempted to murder Queen Isabella Of
Spain, In the manner that ! have de-
scribed above. il was found that the
blade of the poniard which he had used
to wound he. majesty was cf such ex-
quisitely tempered steel that II resisted
every file and stone.
Cabinet Destroys Knife.
This was related in the newspapers,
and tie superstitious Spaniards became
so excited about the matter that the cabi-
net was forced to occupy itself about the
affair, and to take steps for the destruc-
tlon of the knife by means of sulphurie
acid. in order to alIay public feeling, and
TO remove the impression that there was
something supernatural and magical about
the dagger Since then sulphurie acid has
always been used for purposes of this
kind. 1t was used for the destruction of
the sharpened file with which Empress
Elizabeth was assassinated, and Of the
surgical instruments employed by the
physicians who made the post-mortem ex-
animation. the destruction being carried
out in the presence of the AUstrO- -Hunga-
rian envoy in Switzerland. and of the
other representatives of the Emperor Of
Austria, who had been summoned 10
Geneva in connection with the tragedy;
and in the same manner the agency of
sulphUric acid will have been invoked at
Lisbon during the past week to put
out of existence the firearms that brought
about the death of King Carlos and of
the crown prince of Portugal. and of the
instruments used by the surgeons and in
the embalmment of the remains
Thanks 10 this, there is no chance of
their ever falling into the hands of deal
ers in curios, or of their being placed on
exhibition in some more or less reputable
museum or travelling show.
Might Have Escaped.
II is possible that both King Carlos
and the crown prince might have escaped
with their lives the other day at Lisbon
had the carriage in which they were driv-
ing been constructed according to the
fashion of the equipages used by the
present King and Queen of England and
by the late Queen Victoria
For it is related that the regicide who
accomplished the most deadly work had
sprung onto the step of the carriage,
from which he repeatedly shot. while
Queen Amelie in vain endeavored TO dis
lodge him by striking him in the face
with a bouquet which she held in her
hand Caserio, when he murdered Presi-
dent Carnot at Lyons, by means of a
knife thrust, was enabled TO accomplish
his object by jumping on the steps of the
Presidential equipage. In the first two
attempts to assassinate King Humbert
the would-be murderer in each instance
jumped on the steps of the sOvereign's
barouche, and when ex-Lieut. Bean. OF
the English Tenth Hussar Regiment,
struck the late Queen Victoria across the
face with a rattan cane. a blow so severe
that she retained the scar thereon until
the day of her death, he jumped for the
purpose on the carriage steps.
Jump on Carriage steps.
The would-be assassin Of the late Shah
Of Persia made use Of the same means 20
reach his intended victim on the occasion
of the Persian rulers first visit to Paris.
! could state innumerable other cases in
modern and ancient times. comprising the
murder of Henry " Of France and the
attempted assassination of Louis XIV OF
the same country, to show that whenever