No. 486.
Mr. Brunetti to Mr. Evarts.
[Telegram.]
Legation of
Spain at Washington,
Washington, October 26, 1878.
(Received October 26.)
The undersigned, chargé d’affaires of Spain, has the honor to place in the
hands of the honorable Secretary of State of the United States, the annexed
copy of a telegram received this morning at this legation, in which the
president of the council of ministers of Spain relates the attempt of
assassination upon the person of the King, which happened yesterday while
His Majesty was in the act of entering Madrid, which attempt happily has not
had any result.
The subscriber avails himself of this occasion to reiterate, &c.,
[Page 820]
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
[Telegram.]
His Excellency the President of the Council of
Ministers to the Chargé d’Affaires of Spain at
Washington.
Madrid, October 25,
1878.
After a truly triumphal journey through the provinces, the King has
to-day returned to Madrid, where he has been received with the greatest
proofs of loyalty and enthusiasm. Near the Plaza de la Villa an
individual, mingled with the crowd, discharged a pistol-shot at the
King, fortunately without any effect whatever. His Majesty, who saw the
flash, slackened the pace of his horse and went on tranquilly to the
palace. The captain-general of Madrid, who was riding at the side from
whence the shot came, arrested the aggressor, who was immediately
pointed out by the persons who surrounded him, and who aided in his
detention on the spot. A cheer arose from the persons who saw the
occurrence, which, however, was not noticed until a few moments
afterward by the rest of the people. There is universal indignation. The
criminal, who is a cooper by trade, has openly confessed his crime,
declaring that he is an international socialist, and that he came four
days ago from Tarragona expressly in order to commit it. It is known,
moreover, that the crime had been premeditated for some time.
