THE ATTEMPT TO SHOOT M. DE FREYCINET.

Kumara Times, Issue 2890, 9 January 1886, Page 2

THE ATTEMPT TO SHOOT M. DE FREYCINET.

From a late Liverpool Mercury we learn the cause which actuated the Coisican in his attempt to shoot M. de Freycinet, the popular French statesman, on the 29th October last. The wiiter says “It has now been ascertained that the author of the attempt upon M. de Freycinet’s life is a Corsican named Mariotti. In explanation of his conduct, he has made a statement, according to which he was employed in 1880 on tiie Panama Canal Works, where his daughter was outraged by some of the company’s servants, and died in consequence of the ti eatmeut she received. Rendered desperate by this misfortune, Mariotti returned to Prance, where he vainly demanded justice. He then conceived the idea of attracting public notice by some violent act. Mariotti declares that he never had any intention of killing M. de Freycinet, and that in Bring the revolver he directed the muzzle to the ground and not towards tlie Minister. The Panama Canal Company confirm Mariotti’s statement in regard to his daughter. It is stated that M. de Freycinet has decided to apply for the release of Mariotti in view of the suffering he has undergone through the ill-treatmeut and loss of his child. The endeavours of Mariotti to obtain redress date back to May, 1881, when the Ferry Cabinet was in power. M. de Freycinet never had any knowledge of the matter.” The fact that M. de Freycinet is now reported to have succeeded in the task of forming a new French Ministry lends new interest to the affair.