SHOTS AT A SPEAKER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8143, 10 June 1912, Page 7

SHOTS AT A SPEAKER

HUNGARIAN SENSATION WILD SCENES IN THE LOWER HOUSE. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Received June 9, 0.0 p.m.) BUDAPEST, June 8. Further violent scenes, culminating in tragedy, occurred when tho Lower House resumed its sittings yesterday. Tho members eject-eel at tho previous sitting forced their way into the Chamber, but the police removed thorn. The President, M. Tisza, opened the sitting, but unoxpollcd Oppositionists assailed him with angry shrieks. After noting tho disturbers, M. 1 isza suspended the sitting. Meanwhile, M. Kovacs, who had been expelled during the discussion on the second and third readings of the Defence Bill, enteied the press gallery, shouted ‘‘ There are still Oppositionists in tho Chamber!” fired several shots at M. Tisza, and then shot himself. Tho Government did not prevent ejected members from returning to the Chamber, fearing that cinematograph operators would exploit any tussle with the police and use the films for electioneering purposes. Several Ministerialists rushed and kicked M. Kovacs on tho head and body and belaboured him with their fists, not realising that he was shot in tho head. Finally M. Kovacs_ was removed in an unconscious condition. M. Tisza, unperturbed, hastened to tho gallery to convince Ins wife ho was unhurt, and then resumed the sitting. The Ministerialists adopted eight hundred clauses of the now Hungarian Civil Code in a quarter of an hour. .M. Kovacs is tho son _of a small Jewish landowner. Ho made a large fortune on the Stock Exchange, but had squandered it, and was threatened with bankruptcy. Tho bullet has been extracted, and there is a slight hope cf him living. Ho inquired as_ to M. Tisza’s condition, and on hearing that he was uninjured said: “Now I can die in peace. I shall not cross the border a murderer.”