The Warwickshire Herald. — 1887-12-15 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE M. JULES FERRY.  The insane and unreasoning hatred fomented by the enemies of M. Jules Ferry has at last found vent. A man named Aubertin, alias Berckheim, apparently about 50 years of age, went to the Chamber of Deputies on Saturday and sent in the card of M. Herv4 by an usher to the ex-Premier. Something in the appearance of the man struck the official as suspicious, and he respectfully hinted to M. Ferry that he might do well not to see him. M. Ferry disregarded the warning, and went straight to the door of the rotunda, where his visitor awaited him. The stranger drew a yellow pamphlet from a portfolio under his arm, handed it to M. Jules Ferry, and while the statesman was examining the document suddenly pulled out a revolver and fired at him three times. Happily the revolver was a small one, and as M. Ferry's pockets were crammed with letters he escaped with three slight wounds—in the breast, the side, and the hip. The three shots struck, but did not penetrate. The statesman, who remained calm and unmoved, called an usher and pointed to his breast, from which the blood was flowing. He was theu taken to an ante-room by Baron de Soubeyran, and another usher ran ran to summon the deputies who by profession are medical men, one of the first to arrive being M. Clemenceau. M. Floquet, who is M. Jules Ferry's uncle, went at once to the side of the wounded statesman and offered him the hospitality of the Palais Bourbon. M. Ferry declined this with thanks, and after a short consultation with the eminent Dr. Trelat, who had specially been sent for, imploringly asked to be taken home without any fuss so as not to alarm Madame Jules Ferry. He was then put into a carriage and on reaching the Avenue de l'Alma was able to climb the staircase to his apartment on the third floor.  The news of the attempt soon spread over Paris, and the house was besieged by visitors of all classes. Aubertin was nearly lynched by the bystanders and then dragged off to the police office in the Rue de Varennes. He is a strange hysterical creature, but there are hundreds of Frenchmen like him. He seems to have been possessed by the idea that M. Jules Ferry, is a coward, a friend of Prince Bismarck, and a rogue of the school unmasked by recent revelations. He says he had accomplices, and that 19 others had sworn to kill M. Ferry. They drew lots, and the taak fell to him. This is not at all improbable. The hatred against M. Ferry has become an epidemic. One may dispute the policy of M. Jules Ferry, but he is undoubtedly the most hardworking and single-minded statesman in France. Yet it is not too much to say that he is the best-hated man in France. His strong hand h feared by the Extreme Left and by the revolutionary crew. But it charms the party of order, and this attempt will produce a favourable reaction. Aubertin seems to have been an unsuccessful inventor and the author of various pamphlets. He is a " patriot ", and is known in Paris as "Le Lorrain ". The failure of his efforts, and the great poverty which consequently overtook him, had, it I. added, embittered the man's character, and produced an insane exaltation of mind. The journals of all shades of opinion indignantly protest against the murderous attempt, and the Radical organs emphatically declare political assassination to be inexcusable.  Latest telegrams from Paris eay that M. Ferry is progressing very satisfactorily, but his medial advisers prohibit him at present from leaving the house. Aubertin, on being brougtiL before the examining judge, did not appear to be in possession of all his faculties. It appears doubtful whether he had any accomplices.