Would-Be Assassin

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 803, 25 October 1929, Page 11

Would-Be Assassin

ITALIAN SHOOTS'AT PRINCE

Betrothal-Day Sensation CROWD MANHANDLES ASSAILANT (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) Australian and .Z. Press Association (United Service) Received 10 a.m. BRUSSELS. Thursday. AN attempt to murder the 25-year-old Crown Prince Umberto of Italy was made in Brussels this morning by an Italian. The Prince is visiting' the Belgian capital in connection with his engagement to Princess Marie-Jose, He was in the act of placing a wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier when a shot was fired at him, The bullet missed.

The shooting occurred while Umberto was shaking hands with a high personage. When the Italian fired the shot, the crowd was dazed, and then it made a wild rush and seized the prince’s assailant, who was madly flourishing a revolver. He was roughly handled before the police broke through. Prince Umberto calmly walked to the tomb and laid the wreath. His assailant has-been identified as a native of Milan. He is a student named Feruado Dirosa, aged 21. He admits that he only arrived from Paris that morning. Immediately on hearing of the attempted assassination, King Albert visited the Italian Embassy and expressed sincere regret. Interrogated by the examining magistrate, Dirosa declared that lie had vowed to kill the King of Italy or the Crown Prince or Signor Mussolini, “because they had betrayed the Italian Constitution.” He fired the first shot in the air in order to test the weapon, which then jammed. He was unable to fire again. Dirosa struggled like a wild beast, and it took ten policemen to convey him to the Palais de Justice. A crowd gathered outside, shouting, “Death to the assassin.” Dirosa informed the police that he came specially to shoot the Crown Prince, and admitted that he was a member of the Second Socialist International. At Brussels last Monday evening, a sensation was caused by the firing of shots in the direction of the Italian Embassy. Stones were also hurled at the building. Several of these fell in a room where the Italian Ambas sador, the Marchese di Durazzo, was sitting. Crowds of people rushed to the scene. Amid the excitement several men tried to gain access to the Embassy. The police had to discharge their revolvers over the heads

of the people in order to clear the approaches. ' An explanation of the affair was offered by the Brussels correspondent of the “Daily Chronicle.” He said the outrage was believed to have been connected with a protest against the official announcement of the engagement of the Crown Prince Umberto, of Italy, to Princess Marie-Jose. BETROTHAL CEREMONY SCENE OF SPLENDOUR AT BRUSSELS PRINCE UNPERTURBED Australian ami X.Z. Press Association (United Service ) Reed. 11 a.m. BRUSSELS, Thurs. The gala banquet at the palace in celebration of the Royal betrothal was a scene of great splendour. There was only one speech, when King Albert briefly proposed the couple’s health, the Assembly drinking to them and acclaiming them. The attempt on the Prince’s life was naturally the chief topic of conversation. Prince Umberto showed ‘no sign of the ordeal, but chatted gaily to the princess. She wore gold and blue brocaded mousseline with long train of gold lame, gold shoes, a pearl and diamond diadem and a pearl necklace. Her only ring was the ruby and diamond engagement ring. Prince Umberto and Princess MarieJose will be married in the Church of Santa Maria of the Angels, where the present King and Queen were wedded. Cardinal Gulseppe Gamba, Archbishop of Turin, will officiate. The wedding will be marked by an exhibition of the worship of the famous relic, “The Holy Shroud,” in which, it is claimed, the body of Christ was wrapped, in the tomb. The relic is kept at Turin, and is only exhibited on occasions of marriages in the House of Savoy.