The way in which sensational crimes always produce imi- tators
was illustrated this week by the attack made on the Shah, who is now visiting the Paris Exhibition. As he was driving in the Avenue du Bois de Boulogne in an open carriage at 9 o'clock on Thursday morning, a man in artisan dress pushed through the police, jumped on the step of the carriage, and pointed a revolver at the Shah's breast. Fortunately, the man hesitated to fire, the Shah and the Grand Vizier had time to seize him, the latter knocking the revolver out of his grasp. The would-be assassin was then knocked down by a detective and secured. The Shah pluckily continued his expedition to visit the Sevres factory. The criminal appears to be a Southern Frenchman of about twenty-five, but will make no statement as to himself. His revolver had six barrels, all loaded. In all probability he is merely a crypto-lanatic. We do not imagine that the regular Anarchists would conspire to kill the ruler of Persia. It is curious, however, that the Shah received a warning letter professing to be written from Naples, though posted in Paris. It is said that the Shah has abandoned his visit to England, which is unnecessary, as we believe he would be safer here than in any other country. Sir E. Bradford and the London police have a better knowledge of, and a firmer hold on, the Anarchists than the police of any other nation.
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