Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-02-20

This man surely was not Frenchman,
his whole appearance is much like the Nj
lilsts who are familiar on the left bank
Of the Seine"
Huge crowds gathered around the pre-
m'er's house and kept repeating This Is
= Russian" Despite the fact that they
were Informed that the premler's assail-
ant was French, they refused to believe it,
At police headquarters the Associated
Press was informed that Coffin had a rec
ord there, with Bertillon measurements
He was regarded as mild sort of anarch-
.st. The authorities did not believe that
ne would be reckless enough to attempt
such n terrible act.
Coffin lived at Mont Rouge. a suburb
of Paris, in small hotel which had
long been under police supervision. as
it is frequented by anarchists who are
more notorious for the spreading Of
literature and for speeches than for
acts of violence. The police refuse to
say whether they believe the attack
on the premier is the result of a plot
or merely an individual act They
are working. however. apparently on
the theory that it was plot. at the
little hotel was encircled and a thor
ough search of the building is being
made for discriminating documents.
Secretary Lansing called at the Gle
menceau home to convey the sympa-
thy OF the American commission and
the American people. After his visit
he said that in order to alJay the very
natural apprehension that might be
created as to the effect of the attack
upon the French premier on the work
of the peace conference. 1t was his
opinion and that of others with whom
he had conferred that the conference
work has been so well organized by
NJ. Clemenceau and had progressed to
such an advanced stage that most of
it now was in committee and would
continue virtually without Interrupt
ton.
COTTIN'S STORY
Paris. Feb. 19.--According to the first
examination of the premiers assailant,
Emile Coffin. generally called "Milou"
was born at Crel (32 miles north of Paris)
in 1886. He is French. He has done no
military service having been excused
owing to the state Of his health. He lived
with his family at Compiegne until they
| removed to Paris. where he worked as a
carpenter. Coffin declares himself to be
"a solitary and scientific anarchist"
Describing his attack on the premier,
Coffin said
when I reached Clemenceau's house
] saw it was guarded. and so decided to
make an attempt further on. at the corner
! OF the Rue Franklin and the Boulevard
Delessert. There hid. awaiting the auto
mobile. When / saw the car l advanced
and fired sideways, the first bullet pierre
ing two windows; then, as the car con-
tinued to advance, l ran after it and
continued firing until my revolver was
exhausted. Most OF the bullets hit the
car. 1t seems to me that It was the
last, or last but one. which hit the pre-
mier.
About seven months ago ! thought of
killing Clemenceau as the greatest enemy
OF humanity. | determined to carry out
this project few days ago. and for
this purpose went to the Rue Franklin
to see how I could attack the premier
with the least possible risk. had taken
care to find out his habits and Identity
the house, which seemed very simple
for such personality and very ugly"
Coffin boasts of having read many
works on social science and claims sole
responsibility for his act
Il wished the man who was prepar-
ing for another war to disappear" he
said. II am an integral anarchist. a
friend of men, not excepting the Ger
mans, and friend of humanity and
fraternity
police official told the Associated
Press that Coffin had informed him that
he had gotten his first good look at NJ
Clemenceau at a reception in honor of
the King of Italy.
From that moment the old mans
doom was sealed" said Coffin TO tho
police. why did | choose this davq
Well. there is always a red letter day in
mans life This was my red letter
day"
! Coffin was under the escort of three
plain clothes men when he arrived at
police headquarters.