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The article below was published in the daily newspaper The Amballa Tribune, Amballa, India, page 1, October 18, 1954.
See the case file here.
LILLE (France), Oct. 16. -- The "Marsian" craze in France nearly cost a farmer at Sinceny (north France) his life.
He was trying to repair his car last night when a neighbour, taking him for a Marsian, fired two shots at him with a hunting rifle. They whizzed past his head and struck the body of the car.
The farmer, Mr. Maurice Ruant, complained to the police who soon identified the huntsman as Mr. Faisan.
Explaining what happened, the latter said: "When I saw a sihouette moving in front of the headlights, I thought it was a Marsian repairing his flying saucer. I went for my gun and opened fire".
Despite his good faith, Faisan will be prosecuted. - U.P.I. - A.F.P.
