MUSSOLINI SHOT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 109, 8 April 1926, Page 8

MUSSOLINI SHOT

SECOND EDITION

WOUND NOT SERIOUS. IDENTITY OF ASSAILANT. (From Our Fei.lding Correspondent.) Received 'April 8, 12.35 p.m. ROAIE, April 7. •It is officially stated that the wound sustained by Signor Alussolini when he was shot by a woman perforated his nostrils and is not serious. Miss Gibson, who was responsible for the deed, is 50 years of age. She was the central figure in the Holy Year drama at Rome in February, 1925. She is a devout Catholic. She attended tho ecclesiastical ceremonies, and later, while under the influence of a fit of religious exaltation, shot herself in tho chest in a bedroom in a pr’vato hotel. Her father was the first Lord Ashbourne and was prominent in Irish politics. Signor Alussolini, holding a handkerchief to his bleeding nose, ordered tho police to protect Aiiss Gibson from the crowd’s fury. A member of the family states that Aiiss Gibson had been residing at Rome for 18 months. After the attempted suicide she was discharged from hospital under tho care of friends. She has no political sympathies in any direction, but is moody and deeplv religious. Her mother died a fortnight ago.—Sydney Sun cable. ESCAPE CELEBRATED. Received April 8, 1.35 p.m. ROAIE, April 7. Flags are flying throughout the city in celebration of the Premier’s escape. An enormous throng is stationed in front of Signor Alussolini’s residence. Signor Alussolini telegraphed to the King, reassuring His Majesty in regard to his health.—A. and N.Z. cable.

An earlier message relating to the incident appears on page 7.