ANARCHIST PLOT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 83, 15 April 1913, Page 5

ANARCHIST PLOT.

TO KELL KING ALFONSO.

THREE SHOTS FIRED. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] Madrid, April 13. While King Alfonso was returning from a review and was passing the Bank of Spain, three shots were fired, which struck his horse in the chest. The escort quickly formed a circle round the King, who escaped unhurt. His assailant, Rapael Alegre, is a Catalonian, aged 25. He has been arrested. THE KING’S COOLNESS.

King Alfonso had presented the colors to the recruits, and was returning at a walking pace. Alegre, quitting the front of the crowd, darted forward, seized the bridle of the King’s horse, and flourished a Browning pistol. King Alfonso, with his usual admirable coolness, realising the position, with a sudden pull on the bridle, raised Ins horse at the moment that Alegre fired, and, thanks to his Wonderful horsemanship, only the horse’s chest was hit. A policeman seized Alegre and threw him, deflecting two other shots.

A dozen people were injured in the ensuing stampede. The King received an enthusiastic popular ovation. DETAILS OF THE ATTACK. A SENSATIONAL SCENE. Madrid, April 14. Persistent rumours that for days past an attempt on King Alfonso’s life was planned for Sunday wn-e officially discredited. They were attributed to a desire to deprive the ceremony of Taking the Oath of its customary splendor and brilliancy. The Queen and the Princess ol Batten burg witnessed the ceremony. Tney followed the King in an open carriage. The Queen heard the sluts, and guessed what was happening. She was terrified until the King’s aide-de-camp arrived and reassured her. Alegre sustained a gash on his forehead and nose from a policeman’s sabre. There was a terrific struggle before ho was mastered.

The crowd shouldered-high the policeman who arrested him. The unlice had difficulty in protecting Alegre from the crowd’s fury. King Alfonso, seeing his assailant overpowered, rose in the stirrups and saluted the crowd in military fashion, loudly shouting “Viva Espanal” The cry met with an enthusiastic response. “IT IS NOTHING!’! The King then dismounted smiling, and not betraying the least emotion. Replying to the eager questions of his entourage, ho exclaimed, “Gentlemen, it is nothing.” Then ho lightly vaulted on his horse and proceeded to +he palace. There was a renewed outburst of cheering on his reaching ihe palace, where he related the incident in jovial terms to the Queen. Ten minutes later the great Plaza Vearmas was crowded by all classes. The King had an indescribable ovation when he appeared on the balcony, which was renewed when ho brougnt the Queen to the balcony, and was continued long after they retired. THE ANARCHIST. Alegre is a native of Barcelona. He was expelled from France six weeks ago as an anarchist, and obtained workin Madrid as a carpenter. He v i,shed to avenge the death of M. Ferrer. Documents were found in his domicile showing that the outrage was the lesult of an organised plot. Numerous arrests have been made.

Alegre informed the Magistrate thai on seeing the King he was seized v ith an irresistible impulse to use his revolver.

An unarmed French professor >landing by, also a Spaniard and Alegre’s mistress, have been arrested. Ihe professor protests his innocence.