The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-24
Bold Attempt Made to Assassi-
nate Lord Lieutenant
French
BOMBS AND PISTOLS
WEAPONS USED
One Of the Assassins Killed in
Fight With Police Escort

Dublin, Dec. 10 (By the Associated
Press).-A determined but unsucess-
full attempt was made today to as
sassinate Viscount French lord lieu
tenant Of Ireland.
The attack evidently had been most
carefully organized at spot in a
narrow winding road with high walls
and hedges, affording the assassins
good hiding places. One Of the at
tacking party was killed and a de-
tecrive seated with the chauffeur of
the viceregal car was slightly injured
in the hand. Viscount French was
not injured. Some distance away a
policeman. patrolling his beat was
shot in the ankle.
Both bombs and revolvers were
used by the assassins, the number Of
whom is variously estimated at from
FIVE to Is. The smaller number, how
ever, is considered more probale. The
viceregal party fired on the assassins
as they fed across the fields, but all
escaped except the one man killed
who was shot through the head.
Viscount French had been visiting
Boyle and Roscommon and returned
today by train at o'clock. He al;ght-
ed at the suburban station ct Phoer::x
Park. near the spot where in 1852
Lord Frederick Cavendish, chief Sec
retary for Ireland, and Thomas II.
Burke, his undcrsecretary. We're as
sassinated. The station is about
mile from the viceroyal lodge.
The. anlbuscade had been carefully
planned. the asassins placing ob-
siruction in the narrow part of the
road. horing TO compel the motor cars
in which the viceregal party was
travelling to stop. Behind the hedges
and walls. in favorable positions, they
had stationed themselves for firing
upon the lord lieutenant and his
party.
When the automobiles appeared re-
vo!vers were fred and bombs We're
! thrown. The assassins evidently ex-
pected Fiscount French would be in
the second car in the line, and at il
most Of the shots were aimed. He,
however. was in the first car, into
which only few bullets penetrated.
4 shot, however, directed at the first
car. struck the detective who was sit
ting beside the driver. in the head.
Almost Immediately the viceregal
party opened fire on the aa1buscaded
men, who took fight on bicycles
across the fed. During this shooting
one Of the men, later identified as
having fired directly at Viscount
French's car, was seen to throw up
his hands and fall. Several Of his
friends stopped and lifted the body in
. tending to carry it away, but they
abandoned it when they found the
man was dead.
Around the fingers Of the fallen
man was found the ring Of a discharg-
ed hand grenade and in his pockets
were two revolverS-one Of Spanish
make and the other an old German
model. Also there was found in his
pockets a bank book; which identified
| him as Savage, the clerk Of a spirit
and grocery dealer, employed or
North Strand. Dublin. From this
book it was ascertained that he had
deposited a sum Of money early in
the day belonging to his employer
The police hope through this ldenti-
fcat;on to track the mans associates.
During the shooting a police con-
stable patrolling the neighborhood on
bicycle was shot in the ankle. The
entire affair lasted about half a min
ute. but during this time the firing
from both sides was rapid.
Viscount French proceeded ilnne
diately to the vice regal lodge. where
he had luncheon as usual. The police
went out and searched the roads and
fields in the neighborhood Of the
shooting. but late tonight had not
reported making any arrests. They
found some untischarged hand Sren-
AIDES in the vicinity. Viscount French
received numerous kilograms during
the day congratulating him on his es-
cape. Among the first Of these were
messages from King George and Pre-
niier Lloyd George.
That the attack.on viscount French
had been carefully and coolly planned
IS indicated by the fact that his as
SailantS played hand bali at u public
park near the scene of the shooting
while awaiting the viceroy's arrival.
Further evidence of this is conveyed
by the fact that the assa ssins flung
a cart across the road at the scene of
the ambuscade, which stopped the
viceregal procession of four cars.
After the attack case of Mills
bombs, similar 10 those used in the
war. was found
The viceroy had with him foGr
armed policemen. These men had or
Gers not to leave the viceroy. no mat
ter what happe,1ed. Accordingly, they
we're unable to pursue the attacking
party Police and soldiers today raid
eri the premises Of a grocer named
t,>irk in South Strand. Dublin. where
savage was employed, and seized some