Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-20
FRENCH PREMIER RESTS AND JESTS
IN SPITE OF WOUND IN SHOULDER

Premier yesterday for about half an
hour. This was about 8 o'clock In the
afternoon. and NJ Plchon reported the
Premier as doing we'll" He added that
after the first shot NJ. Clemenceau said;
He has missed me" Not thinking
that other shots would follow.
Premier Clemenceau partook OF food
yesterday afternoon and was cheerful,
despite fits of coughing.
Coffin, the Premier's assailant. stated
as his reason for attacking NJ. Clemen-
ceau that he planned to kill the Premier
because NJ. Clemenceau was the enemy
of humanity and was preparing for
another war.
Coffin describes himself "a solitary
and scientific anarchist"
Describing his attack on the Premier,
Coffin said:
"When I reached Clemenceau's hous
I saw 1t was guarded, and 80 decided
TO make an attempt further on. at the
corner of the Rue Franklin n Boule-
ward De Essert. There I hid. awaiting
the automobile. When 1 saw the car
I advanced and fired sideways. the first
bullet piercing two windows; then as
the car continued to advance I ran after
1t and continued firing until my revolver
was exhausted. Most of the bullets hit
the car. II seems TO me that 1t was
the last or last but one, which hit the
Premier.
About seven months ago I thought
or killing Clemenceau as the greatest
enemy of humanity. l determined TO
carry out this project n few days ago
and for this purpose went to the Rue
Franklin to see how ] could attack the
Premier with the least possible risk.
had taken care to find out his habits
and identity his house, which seemed
very simple for such a personality, and
very ugly" .
Coffin boasts of having read many
works on social science and claims sole
responsibility for his act.
81 wished the man who was preparing
for another war to disappear" he said
81 am an integral anarchist, a friend
of men, not excepting the Germans, anI
a friend OF humanity and fraternity"
AS the first shot struck the automobile
Premier C'emenceau leaned forward and
began TO open the door. 1t was in this
clearly visible position that Coffin fired
the shots which took effect. The Pre-
mier continued his movement TO open the
door, which lie did with his wounded
arm. The chauffeur. although Slightly
wounded, stopped the machine and thu
Premier stepped to the roadway. The po
lice agents already were struggling Will
the Premier's assailant.
After getting out of the automobile II
which he was iding when shot. TIT
Premier, without a glance in the direc
ton Of Coffin, started to walk TOWARD
the front door of his home. Before h
reached the door q number Of persons
came running up TO assist him.
at Is not serious this time said TIL,
Premier in reply to a sympathetic in
quiry.
Leaning on the shoulder Of one of tn
domestics of his household. the Premie
walked up one flight of stairs to his bed
room, NJ. Clemenceau sat down on tn
big armchair and began to joke with tn
servants, who were in tears, saying 4
them:
"Ce nest rien lit is nothing"
second arrest in connection wit,
the shooting of Premier Clemencea
was made by the police: The. prisoner
named Dreyfus, protested his innocenc
and said that lie had been merely
spectator of the shooting. He reside
in no Sixteenth Ward, not far from tn
Premier's home.
Policeman Goursat. who was wounde
in the right eye, said:
"The bullet which struck me wer
through the limousine, as l was directl
in line with the assassin. who was rush
ing toward the Premier's car. Thi
ma surely was not a Frenchman hi
whole appearance is much like the n
hilists who are familiar on the LEI
bank Of the Seine