The Penn's Grove record., 1912-11-15
ASSASSIN KILLS
SPANISH PREMIER
Canalejas, Great Anti-CIericaI
Leader, Shot by Anarchist
DEATH WAS INSTANTANEOUS
Murderer, Threatened by Crowd, Then
Attempts Suicide-NotabIe as States
man-Formerly a Strong Opponent
of Clericalism, Won Admiration.

Madrid.-Jose Canalejas, the Prime
Minister of Spain, was shot and killed
here as he was walking through the
busiest part of Madrid at II o'clock
in the morning. His assailant, Manuel
Pardinas Sarelato, fired two bullets at
the Premier, one entering his head
just below the right ear. The Premier
died instantly. The police seized the
assassin, but he flung loose long
enough to turn the revolver on him
self.
Senior Canalejas was on his way to a
Cabinet meeting in the offices of the
Ministry OF the Interior.
The big square was crowded at
that busy hour. The street was choked
with a slow moving procession of cabs
and carriages and from all the ten
side streets into the square modern
Spain was pouring it's people to hurry
and jostle along the sidewalks. The
Premier had always been careless of
his personal safety. Formerly he had
no bodyguard, but recently he allowed
w oNISObAbS6 ~ 1O11OM 1ll1 AL dDOut
him in the crowd were civilian guards
and the regular police.
AS C~analejas took a few steps and
came directly in front of a bookshop
from the shadows of the store came a
man who a moment before had been
turning over the leaves of IN old book
in an absent way, looking up every
now and then as though he were wait
ing for some one.
The man shouldered his way direct
ly behind the Premier, who had stop
ped to look at the books in the win
dows of the San Martin library, at
the corner of Carretas street.
The man with n quick move drew
a revolver, pressed it below the Pre-
mier's a and fired. He fired again
as the Premier fell over on his face.
The Premier died Immediately.
The police, caught in the rush, we're
helpless for a while. Around the Pre-
mier's body those in the front ranks
fought to get at his assassin, who was
buffeted about in the midst of a group
of shouting, cursing civilians and po-
lice.
AS the hand of the first policeman
fell OF the shoulder of Manuel, who
vas standing as if dazed with the
smoke hung revolver held stiffy in his
hand, he whirled about and pointed his
revolver at the faces of those nearest
him. They drew back and then he
turned the weapon on himself.
Canaleas had been conspicuous fig
r in public life for 35 years, but it
vas not until II years ago that he
arose to the front ranks as the result
Of his stand against the c~lericals.
To him more than any other man
was due the antagonistic stand of the
government against the Vatican.
1t was at the Academy of J%urispru-
dence in 1905 that King Alfonso, who
previously had looked upon Canalejas
in tne light Of a dangerous man, heard
him make a speech which caused the
King to revise his opinion.
The assassination seems to be no
part of a widespread political plot or
revolutionary movement, but an iso-
lated crime. The assassin, who was
of Spanish birth, came recently from
Buenos Ayres, by way of Paris. Prac-
tically nothing is known about him.
Rome.-The assassination of Pre-
mier C~analejas caused a deep impress
sion at the Vatican where he was re
garded as something akin to an anti
Christ as a consequence of his attitude
toward the religious orders. The Pope
expressed horror, adding. This is the
result of stamping out religion" The
Pope prayed for the Premier.