The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-07-16
GUN KNOCKED
TO STREET
AT PARADE
Monarch Is Surprised,
ButUnfrightenedB BY
Attempt on Life
Continued from Page y

automobile to Cannon Row police
station adjoining Scotland Yard,
he declared:
Its all the fault Of Sir John
Simon, 1 wrote him last night
and phoned him this morning.
"The King was not hurt in
any way, was he? / didn't want
to hurt him. 1 only did it as a
protest"
Mcmahon was remanded in
custody for eight days to allow
police to continue enquiries.
Had Extra Ammunition
Sands added he had been
handed a five-chamber revolver
with ball ammunition. loaded in
four chambers. He said:
ut was not loaded in the
chamber which gave immediate
access to the barrel"
The inspector said he also OBJ
tanned, presumably from McMa'
hon two additional rounds of am
munition and a postcard por-
trait of King Edward. He ex-
hibited the latter in court in a
black-bordered envelope.
AS Mcmahon entered the dock,
someone in the back of the court
made what London newspapers
will delicately term ian offensive
noise" It actually was a razz-
berry.
Prisoner Trembles
Mcmahon shook from head to
foot as Sands, in cold, dispassion-
ate tones, testified as to the ar
rest. Among the articles found IN
his possession, the inspector stated,
was a copy Of the London Daily
Telegraph with the words: May l
love" written in pencil on a mar
gin.
The prisoner made no reply
when told he would be detained
charged with possession of a fire
arm with intent to endanger
life"
AS Inspector Sands produced
the revolver, the magistrate, in low
tones scarcely heard across the
court room, said:
"That will be exhibit one"
The prisoner had a lawyer pres
emit, who obtained from the in
spector confirmation of his pre-
vious statement the revolver had
not been fired today.
Lightning action by foot and
mounted policemen saved the
King from injury or death. The
asSallant's pistol was knocked to
the roadway. A second later, &C
cording to reliable reports, mis-
sile of some sort was flung at the
Kings horse but missed its target.
Attack Follows Peace Plea
The attempted assassination,
first recorded effort to take his
life in all Edwards years as Prince
of Wales and King, occurred as
the monarch was returning to
Buckingham Palace from Hyde
Park.
There, in a colorful ceremony,
he had presented new colors to
three regiments of Royal Life
Guards hallowed tradition fol
lowed by each new sovereign OF
the British Empire.
In brief speech he had pleeded
against bloodshed and violence
told his gallant soldiers, standing
straight as ramrods on the parks
velvet green, that humanity cries
out for peace"
Five minutes later. he came
within a hairs breadth of falling
victim to violence himself.
Pistol Fails to Explode
The assailant was about 40
years old, shabbily dressed, and
wore eyeglasses.
He stood, with countless thou
sands, on the sidewalks lining Con-
stitution Hill. Mounted on his
huge horse, the King had just
passed through wellington arch
with a glittering detachment of
brass-armored horse guards be-
hind him.
The assassin moved forward,
lifted a nickel.plated revolver and,
according to one version, actually
pulled the trigger before policemen
and outraged bystanders set upon
him.
But the pistol did not explode.
and split second later it fell clatter-
ing to the roadway.
King Merely Surprised
Then occurred the missile-throw-
ing incident. still Shrouded in
mystery. One eyewitness said it
was dirty package" and that it
struck the Kings horse on the
flank. The Evening Star said the
missile was "about the size of an
orange and missed the King by 20
yards"
But while this particular Incl
dent was not entirely clear, King
Edwards bravery was manifest.
Although his horse veered slight
1y in the excitement, the King dis
played extraordinary GOODNESS. A
look Of surprise on his face quickly
changed to one of annoyance, and
he then proceeded to ride to the
palace as IL nothing had hap
pened, taking the salute from his
guards cool and unperturbed.
Leaves For Country
The King then motored to his
country home, Fort Belvedere to
hgein his regular suburban week
end-with a round of golf prob