The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-11

a'n ana oeIS uIn, which since
the accession OF kins Albert
have been on the mend, cannot fail to
receive severe setback by the cleo
tion of Sipido equity of the oaly at.
tempt ever made on the lite OF Ed
ward Wild to the office OF aiderI;ia n
OF the city OF Brussels. AS such, he
VIII be called upon TO assist the mayor,
or burSomaster, in welcoming foreign
rulers 10 the Belgian capital 1t may
even fall to his lot to replace the
mayor. in the event of the latter's alb.
sence; and were George V. to go to
Brussels. he would run the risk of haY-
ing the municipal welcome TO the Bel
sian metropolis extended TO him By
the very man who shot at his father
and mother.
The attempt on their lives took place
on April 4. 1900. King Edward, then
Prince of Wales. and his consort. were
on their way from Calais TO Copen-
hagen. and while their special train
was hating for about thirty minutes
at Brussels, % admit of the change Of
locomotives and the dispatch and re-
ceipt OF kilograms through the Eng
lish legation. Sipido. then seventeen
years OF age. approached the car and
hred two revolver bullets at the very
spot where the British heir apparent
was seated at the window. One hull
let missed the princes head by about
half an inch. as shown by the hole in
the window, while the second went wide
of the mark.
Sipido was arrested, and the police
had TO difficulty in ascerta!ning that
he had three Anarchist accomplices.
who had ins,igated him to make the
attempt on the life of the then Prince
and Princess OF Wales. pointing out
TO him the fear of the Anarchist cause
that he would inspire, the world wild
notoriety which he would win by the
attempt. and the necessity OF doins
something to help the Beers. who wero
then lighting for their independence In
South Africa.
or course the attempted assassina-
ton would not have taken place had
It not been for the fact that despite
the warnings of the English legation
at Brussels no measures had been
taken by the Belgian authorities to as
sure the protection OF the Prince and
Princess OF Wales during their brief
stay at Brussels. by preventing the
public. and especially people known TO
be affiliated with the Anarchist cause.
sucn as Sipido, to approach the royal
railroad car. To the indignation OF
the English people, which was shared
in many parts of the Continent of Eu-
rope. sipido was acquitted. largely ow-
Ing to the Indifference manifested by
the Belgian government prosecutors
which encouraged the jury to decide
in his favor. his three Anarchist accom-
plices also escaping all punishment
Instead of retrying him, the Bel
yian authorities. deaf to Englands
strongly worded diplomatic protests
against the grave and unfortunate
miscarriage OF Justice" set him at
liberty. OF which he made use. first OF
all to make his way to Switzerland.
and thence TO France. In the F'rench
capital he became at once Identified
with the very worst Anarchist element.
and having had his head completely
turned by the notoriety derived from
his attempt to assassinate the Prince
and Princess of Wales. made ND his
mind TO seek fresh laurels by an at
tempt on the life OF some other royal
parsonage He made no secret OF the
fact that he had resolved to make the
late King Leopold the next object OF
his regicidal attentions, and when ar
rested at the instance of the Belgian
government, by the French police, on
a warrant OF extradition. he was in
the act OF leaving Paris for Brussels.
armed with particularly wicked
looking poignard and loaded revolt
yer.
The Belgian government. instead OF
placing him on trial, committed him to
an asylum for the insane. where he re-
NAMED until the age of twenty, when
he vas incorporated in the army, with
out any protest by tha men or the Of
fcers OF his regiment On completing
his term of service. he went into busi-
ness as dealer In butter, tea, ETC.,