The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
@CRANK' TRIES
TO Pull BEARD
OF FALLIERES
RoyaIist Waiter Throws Arms
Around Neck of President
of France
AssaiIant Is Promptly Dragged
Off and Executive Goes on
With Walk
Attack Probably Inspired by
ReactiOnary Campaign of
ViIIifcatiOn

PARIS. Dec. 25.-While Armand Fal-
Heres. president Of France. accompanied
by NJ. .Ramondou. his secretary. and
Colonel Lasson, military attache at the
EIysees palace, was taking morning
stroll near Rue de rEtoil today,
poorly clad individual, who evidently
had hoen lying in wait, suddenly
jumped on the president from behind
and threw his arms about NJ Fallieres
neck in an effort to seize his beard.
colonsl Lasson and Secretary Rom
ondoo sprang TO the assistance of the
president, dragged off his assailant and
turned him over to two special detec-
tives who had been following the party
on BICYCLES.
President Fallieres cane was broken
in the struggle, but beyond scratch
on the ear he was not injured, and in
sisted on continuing his walk.
WANTED TO PULL BEARD
As the detectives slipped the hand
cuffs on the man he cried:
I am unarmed. I simply wanted TO
pun AAS pIeSluSuA : bS6iN
When searched at the station house
the presidents assailant proved to be
Jean MATHS. a cafe waiter. "a years
old and native of the department Of
savoie. Medals of General Mercier, the
former minister Of war. stamps bearing
the head of the duke OF Orleans. a card
OF membership on the Patrie Francois
and other royaIist documents were
found en- his person.
During the examination MATHS
boasted OF being a royalist, and talked
confusedly of having done his duty
and oheyed the dictates OF his con
science" Heaps OF royalist reactionary
literature were found by the police
when they ransacked his residence.
The investigation reveals the fact that
Maths was in close relation with the
roysist organization. and this gives
color to rumors that he was the instru-
ment OF royalist plot.
REGARDED AS A CRANK
Serious evidence in this direction
however, is lacking up TO the present
time and 1t is more likely that he is
only = crack Drained individual seeking
notoriety. whose head has been turned
by the campaign OF scandal and villih-
cation which reactionary newspapers
like the Libre Parole and Faction have
recently been conducting. They used
the scandal in connection with the
Steinheil affair to make every conceiv-
able charge against the government
even TO its being guilty of political
murders, and insisted on the insinua-
tion that the late President Faure was
killed because he sided against Majol
Dreyfus
PAPERS STIR STRIFE
Early this week the height OF auda-
city was reached when the reactionary
papers printed circumstantial stories Il
make it appear that President Fal
lieres' son, when found in the compan.
OF the wife OF Philippe Astresse. al
advocate of the court OF appeals. a yea
ago, shot and killed the attorney. ans
that the police had hrshed up thi
scandal Authoritative information sub
seouently proved that young Falliere
did not even know Mime. Astresse.
Mr.. White the American Ambassador
and ether. members of the dIpIonati
corps and OF the cabinet. and a Dumbe
Of high officials called at the Elysee
palace today to tell OF their indigna
ton at the attack on Fallieres
Mathis has been formally charge
with assaulting a magistrate in tn
exercise OF his functions. This Grim
Is punishable by from two to nv
years imprisonment.
The leaders of the reactionary oppo
sition to the government and the news
papers championing their cause dis
avow the assault. and claim that /
was instigated by the police to thro.
discredit upon their cause and distrac
public attention from graver question,