New-York tribune., 1920-01-27
Erzbergger Shot,
Troops Guard
Berlin Streets
Wilsielnassrasse Barricaded
and All Traffic Shut
OFF, AEnaored Cars Mass
as Government Building

BERLIN, Jan. 26 BY The Associated
Press). - Wilhelmstrasse tonight is
barricaded and under the guard of nu-
merous troops. A patrol of eighteen
armored automobiles and a half dozen
huge motor trucks loaded with troops
arrived early in the evening and i'm
mediately took up their positions in
front of the Government Building and
I shut off ali traffic from the thorough
fare.
The precautions were taken by Min
lister of Defense Noske following an
assault to-day upon Matthias Erzberger.
Minister OF Finance, who was wounded
by shot fired at him. Rumors that
the monarchists would attempt an in
surrection on the eve OF the former
Emperor's birthday (Which occurs to-
morrow and that the attack was to be
directed primarily against the Inde-
pendent Socialists and Radicals also
were said to be responsible for the
precautions.
While the government promptly
branded the rumors as wholly unfound-
ed and even ridicuicd them the attempt
on trzberger's life prompted Noske to
mobilize the troops for the protection
OF the government Offices.
Shot While Seated in Auto
Herr Erzberger had left the Criminal
Courts Building where he had attended
hearing OF his suit against DR.. Helf-
terlch, and was seated in his automo-
blie talking to his attorney, DR.. Fried
lander, when his assailant we'll dressed
young man, approached close behind the
lawyer and fired three shots
The attorney was standing on the run
ming board of the motor car, holding
the door open, and the assassin crept up
under his arm to shoot. The first shot
nit vest button and glanced off The
second struck the Minister'S watch and
was detected. The third entered Herr
Erzberger's shoulder Erzberger fell
back in his car, which drove rapidly
away.
The bullet had not been removed at
O'Clock this evening, although it was
said that Herr ErZberger was resting
fairly comfortable.
HIS assallant, who gave his name as
Oltwig Won Hirschfeld, was arrested
and taken to police station, where he
said he was a former cadet officer He
said that he was student twenty
years old, living with his parents in a
suburb Of Berlin, His father, he said
was q bank official.
While the Finance Minister is not
seriously wounded an operation will
be necessary to extract the bullet from
his shoulder.
Erzberger's family physician, VINO
attended the wounded man, reiterated
after the examination that the wound
was not dangerous.
When arrested Won Hirschfeld de-
clared that he considered Erzherger
, dangerous to the empire.
lhe police authorities began an OK
animation of the prisoner at O'Clock
this afternoon and interrogated him
for several hours. Hirschfeld comes
from the suburb of Steglitz, where his
parents live. He attended the gym
nasium,' combination of upper high
school and lower college, until the
war broke, when lie acted as a sub
lieutenant throughout the war. He
then returned to the gymnasium"
"Patriotic Motives" Claimed
Before the shooting Hirschfeld wrote
his parents letter in which he ex.
planned that he was acting from pa
triotic motives.' The weapon he usec
was an oldiashoned revolver of small
calber and capable of only short-range
firing. When taken away from him i,
contained four unused bullets
To-day's attack was not the first at
tempt made to kill Erzberger Las
June at Weimar he barely ESCAPED
capture by handful of troops. who
as was later proved deliberately hac
planned to lynch him. The attack Al
that time was commonly believed ts
h.,- L
tive Militarists. Erzberger escaped
in an automobile and remained in hid
ing for several days.
When the present Helaerich- Erzber
ger trial began the government as
signed two plainclothes men to protect
Erzberger They accompanied him te
court the first day, but their presenc,
was objected to by the Judge, who or