The article below was published in the daily newspaper La Liberté, Nord, France, page 7, on October 17, 1954.
See the case file.
Saint-Quentin, October 16. - Mr. Maurice Ruant, farmer in Sinceny, near Chauny (Aisne) almost fell victim to the panic that is caused to some people by the appearance of saucers or other flying objects.
Last night, he was busy repairing his car, in a meadow near his home, when two shots from a hunting rifle were fired in his direction. The pellets crashed onto the vehicle body, not far from his head. Mr. Maurice Ruant filed a complaint and the investigation immediately opened made it possible to quickly find the author of the two shots, who was neighbor to Mr. Ruant, Mr. Faisan.
The latter said to the police: "I thought, seeing a silhouette moving in the light of two headlights, that I was in the presence of a Martian repairing his flying saucer. I went to get my gun and I shot."
Despite his good faith, Mr. Faisan will be prosecuted.