Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-01-29
GERMAN YOUTH
SHOOTS MINISTER
Erzberger Wounded, Watch Chain
DETECTS Bullet, Saves Life.
SHOT IN THE SHOULDER
German Cadet, Son of a Bank Official,
Tries to Kill the Minister Of FL
nance-Assassin Taken by
the Police.

Berlin, Jan. 27.-Germany's militar-
lists and nationals came within an
! inch of celebrating their first great
triumph. since the armistice. An arts
tOcratic wOuld-be assassin who had
posted himself near the criminal courts
building, fired three shots at Finance
Minister DR.. Matthias Erzberger as the
latter was coming out, hOmeward
bound, after hearing in his libel suit
against D. Karl Helfferich. Only one
bullet struck Erzberger, slightly
WOunding him in the shoulder. The
assailant, who gave his name as 0.
Won Hirschfeldt, was arrested.
Herschfeldt is former cadet Off
Ger.
AssaiIant Is Student.
The assailant of the finance minis
ter was seized by the police and TAX
en- to police station, where his name
was discovered. He is twenty years
suburb of Berlin with his parents. His
father is bank official.
Herr ErZberger was engaged in con-
versatiOn with his solicitor, Doctor
Friedlander, outside the criminal court
at 2 80 o'clock when his assailant,
well-dressed young man, approached
and fred pistol at the finance minis.
ter. The shot entered his shoulder.
Doctor F'riedlander sprang at the
youth, who at the same moment fired
second shot, which hit Erzberger in
the region of the stomach, but glanced
off his watch chain and button.
Herr Erzberger staggered into his
mOtorcar, which was waiting to take
him home and drove off at full speed.
While the finance minister is not
seriously wounded, an operation will
be necessary to extract the bullet from
his shoulder.
Prominent in German Life.
Matthias Erzberger, for many years
leader Of the German center party, is
one of the most prominent figures in
German public life.
During the war he was strong sup
porter of the government in general,
but because of his activities with re-
gard to the reichstag peace move in
July, 1917, DR.. Karl Helfferich, former
vice chancellor, accused Herr Erzberg-
er Of high treason.
Doctor Helfferich in the trial of the
libel suit brought by the finance min
lister January 20 stigmatized Herr Err
berger as "a menace to the purity of
our public life."
He also asserted that Erzberger's
fortune had been made during the war
by utilization Of his political and par
liamentary position.
Defended Germany's Peace Action.
The trial of the libel suit has been
replete with acrimony, largely ON
the part of the defense, although Herr
Erzberger has defended himself vigor-
Ously. He declared that his con-
science was clear and that all the
mistakes Of the military and naval bu
reaus now were being charged to his
account. He strongly defended the
peace action taken by Germany in
1917.
He was a member of the German
armistice delegation sent to Marshal
Foch's headquarters, and continued
acting for Germany in various nego-
tiations over the armistice terms after
the truce had gone into effect. When
the peace treaty was submitted by the
allies he favored he signing Of it by
Germany.
When the Bauer cabinet was formed
in juno, 1919, Herr Erzberger was ap-
pointed vice premier and minister of
finance.