ANARCHIST ATTEMPT ON THE BELGIAN KING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3, 3 January 1903, Page 5 (Supplement)

ANARCHIST ATTEMPT ON THE BELGIAN KING.

ALARMING AFFAIR IN BRUSSELS

As the King of Belgium and members of the Royal Family were returning on Saturday, November 14, from a funeral service at the Church of Sainte Gudule, in n'emory Of the late Queen of the Belgians and of the King's mother, a man standing outside the Banque de Bruxelies, in the Rue Royale, fired three shots from a revolver, which he aimed in the direction cJt the third carriage of the cortege. This carriage was occupied by two of the King's aides-de-camp and two ladies of honour, but fortunately no one was nurt. The man was immediately seized by the police, who had some difficulty in preventing him from being maltreated by the crowd,who kept shouting "Kill him!" and "God Save the King!" He proved to be an Italian bookkeeper named Rubino, who was born at Binardo, near Naples, in 1869. He has latterly been living at 21 Rue dcs Bouhers, Brussels, and when arrested he shouted, "I was unhappy at seeing so much wealth pasj." RUBINO'S STORY. The would-be assassin is a short man, very bald, and with a strong black moustache. In reply to magistrate's questions he stated that he had come to Brussels from London, where he had been vainly looking for work. He succeeded in obtaining a few pounds frora one of the Embassies, and was then engaged to watch the movements of Anarchists on behalf of the Italian Government. It was discovered, however, that he was furnishing not his employers but Anarchists with information, and he was consequently dismissed. Thereupon he purchased a revolver and 50 cartridges, and came to Brussels, where he was equally unsuccessful in finding employment, and resolved to strike a blow of some sort for the Anarchist cause. With this intention he went to Sainte Gudule Church in order to shoot King Leopold. Finding troops drawn up at the church he left the building, because, as he said, he was afraid of wounding any of the soldiers, and proceeded to the Rue Royale in order to await the passage of the Royal procession. Asked why he fired on the third and not on the first carriage, Rubino replied that just as the procession reached the spot where he was stationed it started at a trot, and he had also some difficulty in gettting his revolver out. When lie fired THE TWO SHOTS STRUCK THE THIRD CARRIAGE. In reply to further questions, he said that he had been in Brussels since the end of October, and had frequented police stations in the hope of seeing the King. He saw the announcement of the memorial service and of the King's intention to be present in the newspapers. Rubino also declared that it was the money ■which he received from an Embassy in London that enabled him to purchase the revolver at a pawnshop and to make the journey to Brussels. Interrogated regarding two picture postcards with portraits of King Leopold, Prince Albert.and Princess/ Elizabeth, which were found in his possession, Rubino said he bought them in order to be able to identify the personages. In conclusion, he professed himself an Anarchist. He did not regret the act, and hoped that spine one would succeed better than he had done. He would have fired at any King—at the King of Italy just as much as at the King of the Belgians—for kings were tyrants, who were the cause of the misfortunes of the peoples. Not only Kings, but all established authorities and the clergy, were his enemies. All potentates must goi the same way. Rubino di'sclauued all connection with the Socialists, whom he did not like, because they were friends of the police, though he admitted havirjg paid' two visits to the Maison dv Peuple. He resolutely maintained that he had no accomplices. PRISONER'S POSSESSIONS. Besides picture postcards and some documents, all that was found in Rubino's possession was a slice of bread and butter, a ham omelette, and 12 . centimes (about a penny) in money. A police search at his lodgings resulted in the discovery of a number of Anarchist newspapers and letters in Italian. He is said to have resided continuously in Oreat Britain for some years. He stayed first at Glasgow, and subsequently established himself in London, where he was expelled from the Anarchist party, being accused by his comrades of treachery. He was reported to have been still