The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1908-06-12
PARIS IS STIRRED
Attempt on Life Of Dreyfus
Makes Profound Impression
TRAGEDY IN THE PANTHEON
France Was Honoring Emile ZoIa,
Which Aroused Some of the Old
Time Animosity--AssaiIant lnflu-
enced by Anti-Semitic Hatred

/ thhO -NiliibOSitI lTlTlu'
enced by Anti-Semitic Hatred
Just at the close of the ceremonies
attending the canoniZation of Emile
lola in the Pantheon, when the Presi
dent of France, the premier and a host
of ministers of state and other nOtables
were taking their departure, Louis A
Gregori, military writer of note, drew
revolver and fired two shots point
blank at Major Alfred Dreyfus, for
whose liberty lola had fought and won
Men distinguished in all walks of
life filled the Pantheon, and when the
shots rang out there was intense ex.
element in the fear that the president
attempt on the life of Dreyfus created
a profound impression. Soldiers
speedily surrounded Gregori and he
was taken, bruised and bleeding, with
his clothes almost torn from his back,
to Jail.
The affair has created tremendous
sensation in Paris and the motive of
the would-be assassin is the cause of
much mystification, for Gregori, instead
of being an ordinary fanatic, such as is
carried away by the political passions
of the moment, is man of mature age,
having been born in 1914, and was
highly esteemed In the circles where
he was known. Although born Of Ital-
ian parents, he has been an ardent
Frenchman for years and has written
authoritatively on military subjects, en-
joying close relations with many high
French officers.
Major Dreyfus was not seriously in
jured. A bullet entered his forearm,
but did not injure the bone. The Off
cial statement is made that his cOndi-
ton is very favorable and that no COM
plications are feared.
With regard to the reasons for
Gregori's act, the opinion prevails in
Paris that there is much truth in his
avowal that he was driven to the deed
by the appeals to hatred with which
the anti-Semitic papers have been filed
since the government resolved to place
the body of lola in the Pantheon. The
state of this feeling can be gagged by
an interview with Henri Rochefort,
editor of The Patrie, in which he says:
at would have been glorious death
for Dreyfus. 1t would have been his
first and only time under fire."
1t was definitely established at the
reconstruction of the scene in the
Pantheon that Gregori fired the first
shot from behind Dreyfus, the ball pen
etrating the sleeve of his coat and bury
ing itself in a fiower-pot at the base Of
the catafalque. When Dreyfus
wheeled at the sound of the defamation
he threw up his left arm over his heart.
The second shot was fired point blank
at his breast, the bullet entering the
wrist and ranging upward. 1t was To-
Gated by means OF a kaleidoscope, but
was not extracted.
During the course Of the day the po-
lice made several hundred arrests, but
no serious Importance is attached to
these, as the prisoners are mostly stu
dents and rowdies who took part in nu-
merous street brawls.
A curious feature OF the ceremonies
in the Pantheon was the absence Of
many OF the foreign ambassadors. 1t
is understood that the Turkish ambas-
sador was the prime mover in the plan
to induce the members Of the diplo-
matte corps from going to the Pantheon.
Rumors were afloat of possible trouble
and the feeling that the French people
were divided on the issue exercised
considerable influence in the matter.
The japanese ambassador, Kurino,
British Ambassador Beetle and Ger
man Ambassador Won Radolin re-
Trained from attending the ceremonies.
Henry White, the American ambas-
sador. who was present, said: II re-
ceived an invitation from the French
to meet President Fallieres
at an important state function, and, as
the representative Of the American peo-
pie, considered 1t my duty to CO."