Evening star., 1936-09-14
argued with the defendant, but did not


see him later throw the pistol.
Special Constable Andrew Gordon
Dick, who in private life is a COM
mercial traveller, said he unfortunately
had been made the hero of the oc-
casion." He testified that when the
King approached, II saw the prisoners
hand in the air. I just managed to
knock his arm, then get hold of him."
Mcmahon was brought to Old Bailey
from Brixton Prison, where he had
been held sine he "slithered" q re-
volver at King Edward July 16, as the
monarch rode near Wellington Arch
at the Crown of Constitution Hill.
Three charges were preferred against
Mcmahon. They were: Presenting
near his majesty revolver with intent
to break the public peace, producing
revolver near the person of his
majesty with intent to alarm his
majesty" and being in possession of
a revolver with intent to endanger
life"
The King. who had just presented
new colors in Hyde Park, was in uni
form astride his horse at the head OF
a column of troops parading back to
Buckingham palace.
The scuff1e was short as alert police
grabbed Mcmahon and rushed him to
the Bow street station.
Cheering throngs packed both sides
Of the roadway as Edward, followed
closely by his brother, the Duke of
York, rode by. The occasion, one Of
the first such appearances of Edward
after he succeeded to the throne, had
started out a joyous, colorful cele-
bration.
Then the revolver skidded close to
the horses feet, police closed in to
grab their man and women screamed
and tainted.
Monarch Undisturbed.
The King remained calm through
out, although several witnesses said
they believed he saw the armed man
before the beginning of the confused
events. He rode on to the palace and
went on with his days routine-in-
Guiding round Of golf.
Official investigation showed, four
of the revolver's five chambers were
loaded. Police discovered two rounds
of ammunition in McMahon's posses
sion.
Varying versions indicated McMa-
hon was standing in the crowd near
the arch until a few seconds before
the King approached. He pushed
through the heavy crowds to the front
rank despite the Gordon of uniformed
police and detectives scattered through
the throng.
From there, Scotland Yard itself
said: Exactly what followed has not
yet been ascertained, but revolver
fell in the roadway section between
the King and the troops following
him"
Most of the witnesses declared-as
Mcmahon himself has steadfastly In
sisted-he threw the gun.
At a hearing in Bow Street Police
Station July 81, when the Scottish
born Irishman was committed for trial,
he denied any one had knocked the
revolver from his hand.
IT could have escaped easily had I
wanted to because the people did not
realize what had happened" he
averred.
Weeping in the witness box, Nc
Mahon testified he had planned to kill
himself but, instead, decided to toss
l., 90 hn 70 vHrnfncf
against wrongful imprisonment"
He drew a clenched fist across his
eyes as he related how he had suf-
fered as a result Of unjust" imprison-
ment on criminal libel charge, later
quashed.
Mcmahon always had carried gun
for his own safety, he explained.
"I remembered about the gun, I
stopped down. I waited for a few
moments and when the King was ap-
preaching I threw the gun"
Mcmahon said his unjust" arrest
resulted from two letters he had
written to Scotland Yard relating to
the conduct of two detective sergeants
Mcmahon said he was torn to dis
traction by his inability to arouse the
home Office to act in his behalf and
blamed his plight on Sir John Simon.
home secretary.
Constable Ernest Daniel Mayne testi-
fled Mcmahon was running hard into
the roadway straight to the King when
I grappled with him He was then
about 10 yards from the King"
Attorney General Sir Donald Somer-
veil, in charge of the prosecution,
quoted the prisoner as telling police:
II wanted to shoot myself in front of
the King but lost my head"