Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-02-19

- AN+ -
The shooting took place az 8:55
o'clock this morning as the premier
was leaving his house in the Rue
! Franklin to go to the war office.
The assassin was an ordinary
looking man. dressed as n work.
man. Five shots were fired, Of
which one took effect in the prem
ier's shoulder. The assailant was
arrested.
The premier's wound is not TO
garded as dangerous In itself, but
it is felt that there might be seri-
Gus consequences from #, conEid-
ering the age and infirmiies of the
victim.
At about Il O'Clock this morning,
however, It was officially an
nounced that NJ. C1emenceau was
not seriously wounded.
GrappIes With Assassin.
Policeman Goursat, who was
wounded in the right eye, though
not seriously, by one Of the assass-
ms shots, told a representative Of
. the Associated Press that Premier
! Clemenceau rushed up 70 the
assassin and grappled with him.
1t was learned at the city hall
4that the assailant of PremieF Clem-
enceau was a man named Emile
Coffin, 25 years old and born at
/ Creil. The man said his home was
| in the Montrouse quarter of Paris.
The police, however, do not believe
/ the papers he possesses belong to
him and are inclined to think him
| Russian.
The assailant is fair with long
light hair and is tall Of stature.
Barber Grabs Man.
One Of the witnesses of the
/ shooting, Henry Moulin, a barber's
assistant. told the Associated Press
/ representative that when he heard
! the first shot fired. he believed Il
/ was the Americans firing in the air.
"as they are in the habit OF doing"
/ he said. Moulin rushed out Of his
/ shop when he saw what was hap
| peninE. however, crying they have
! assassinated Clemenceau!" He
| closed with the premier's assailant,
: Moulin added, and the man threw
away his revolver and held up his
hands.
Walters from a nearby restauF-
ant joined in holding the assassin.
whom the police had some difficult
| ty in getting from them, and before
| the police secured the assassin he
was beaten by the crowds. One Of
| the men in the crowd seemed 10
wish TO help the prcmier's assail-
ant and the crowd beat him bad
ly.
/ According to policeman Goursat,
/ the assassin emptied his weapon.
/ All the windows of the premier's
automobile were smashed by the
/ bullets.
Crowd Soon Gathers.
! Policeman GOursat gave his de-
scription OF the shooting to the
l Associated Press representative I'm
the city hall where the arrested
man was brought An enormous
crowd which observed a respectful
silence, assembled near NJ. elem
enceau's residence after the oc-
CuTrenCe. Within a half hour
President Poincaire arrived. He
was quickly followed by various
members of the cabinet. high Off
ciaIs of the government and repre-
sentativos Of the army and navy,
as well as the diplomatic corps,
including General Graves Sharp,
the American ambassador.
Able 10 Smoke and Laugh.
When the first shot was fired
Premier CleWonccau Immediately
tried to open the door of his car.
II was while he was Attempting 10
DO this that he was struck. lie
was able TO 60 on foot into his own
house whore shortly before noon,
the Associated Press was informed,
he was sitting IN an arm chair
smoking and laughing with his
staff of assistants.
The only sign Of trouble from the
wound. II was stated. was a slight
ly increased temperature.
First Reports Contradictory.
First reports OF the shooting
were contradictory as TO some par
ticulars. II seems to have bcen
established, however. that M.
Clemenceau was in his automobile
and he had started and was turn
ing a corner OF the Rue Franklin
into the Rue Del Essert when a
man standing on tho sidewalk
jumped toward the door OF the
automobile and fred several times.
One OF the bullets penetrated the
interior OF tho car and struck the
premier in the right shoulder. The
premier had tried 20 open tho door
OF the car when tho first shot was
fred although tho automobile was