Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-14
Anarchist Fires Three Shots
at ItaIy's Ruler From
Crowd in Street.
POLICE SAVE WOULD.BE
ASSASSIN FROM LYNCHING
Officer Of Royal Escort Is Seriously
Wounded by Bullet.
MONARCH REMAINS CALM
Reassures Queen, Who Throws Arms
Around Neck to Protect-Au
Rome Excited-Pope
Is Regretful.

Rome Excited-Pope
Is Regretful.
ROME, March 14-An attemnt IN a.
sassinate King Victor Emmanuel Of
Italy was made by an anarchist In
Rome this morning. The would-be
regicide chose for his attempt the anni-
versary Of the birthday of the late
King Humbert, the father Of the pres
ent king. who died the victim of an
assassin's blow at Monza June 20, 1900.
King Victor Emmanuel was fortunate
enough to escape the shots fired at him
from revolver. They were several
In number and were aimed from q very
short distance. One of his ma: s.y's
bodyguard. however. who was In the
immediate vicinity Of the king. vas
dangerously wounded.
King Cool and Unrufaed.
The king was cool and unruffled amid
all the excitement. He continued on
his way after only brief stop and
sat through the Pantheon services with
out sign OF emotion.
The populace handled the would-be
assassin SO roughly before the police
could intervene that the youth was hard
ly able to speak when he reached the po-
lice station.
He gave his name as Antonio DafDa. and
declared that he was an "individuaIist
anarchist"
The attempt on the kings life was made
as his majesty. with Queen Helena, was
going from the palace to the Pantheon to
take part in the annual memorial service
in honor OF the late King Humbert. The
royal carriage was preceded and followed
by an escort of cuirassiers. The process
sion was passing along the Via Lata when
three shots rang out from amid the
crowd. The soldiers following the car
riage Immediately dashed forward. and as
they did SO their commander fell from his
horse.
Anarchist Nearly Lynched.
The wounded officer was moved to one
side by some Of his men. while the others
dashed up to the royal carriage. where
| they found the king and queen sitting
| calm and unmoved. Meanwhile the crowd
seized the man who had fired the shots
| and attempted to lynch him. He was
| so badly handled that he was scarcely
| able to answer questions when he was
handed over to the police. The royal
procession was scarcely interrupted, but
| proceeded toward the Pantheon, where
| the mass for King Humbert was COM
pleted without further incident, and after
the conclusion OF the service the king
.-sd queen returned to the Quirinal along
fat1bc same route.
Il On their arrival at the palace tho king
learned for the first time that the COM
mander of his escort, Maj. Lang. had
been seriously wounded, and his majesty
at once started for the hospital. where
the major was lying. He travelled in an
| open automobile, and showed no signs
| Of having passed through an ordeal.
No Organization in Plot.
The man who had fired the shots had
| in the meantime been taken to the police
station, the policemen having great diff
Guilty in passing through the crowds OF
people, who showed intense anger and
/ desired to wreak immediate vengeance.
At the police station. in spite OF the
mans condition owing to the mishandling
he had received from the crowds, he
was subjected to keen interrogatory.
He declared that his name was Antonio
| Dalba, that he was twenty-one years or
age and that he was a stonemason. He
| described himself as an ''individualist
anarchist" and said that he had made
the attempt on the kings life as pro-
| test against the organization OF society.
| He had, he said. taken up position
| in the crowd near the Odescalchi palace
and waited the klnS CouuuS lHOHi
| the Quirinal. When the royal carriage
| arrived opposite the place where he was
standing he fired three shots at the king.
| None of the bullets however. reached its
mark.
Kings Popularity Increased.
All the circumstances lead to the be-
lief that the assailant OF his majesty
was not concerned in any plot OF an
organization. but that his deed was the
outcome of his own individual aberra-
| tion.
In all quarters OF Rome demonstra-
tions have been prepared to protest
against the outrage. the effect of which
| has been to increase Victor Emmanuels
/ popularity among all classes.
| People who were present in the Pan
| theon say that despite the narrow es-
| cape he had just had the king went
| through the service without tremor.
| the queen likewise showing no signs OF
| emotion. .
When the king and queen left the
Pantheon in their closed carriage the
| news Of the attac on his majesty had
! spread and immense crowds had gath
| cred in the open space In front.
The kings appearance gave the sfgnaf
| for an overwhelming outburst of cheer
ing from the crowd. and the excitement
| the time their majesties had attained the
Corso, near the spot where the attempt
had occurred a short time before.
Throughout the return journey the peo-
pile along the streets and standing at
the windows and on balconies waved
their handkerchiefs and cried enthusi-
astically. Long live the king! A large
number OF people also proceeded to the
Quirinal, where they made another DEM
onstration.
News Shocks Queen Margarita.
most touching scene occurred be-
tween King Victor Emmanuel and his
mother. the dowager Queen Margarita-
She had arrived At the Pantheon and
was waiting for the coming Of their
majesties When King Victor Emmanuel
and Queen Helena came in they gave no
hint Of what had occurred.
All assisted at the mass, and when IL
was over the king himself anu u8unced -