The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-30
DRAMATIC MURDER TRIAL.
BULGARLIN OFFICIALS AIDED IN
A CoLD-BJoODED ORIME.

- l
rnsy Thought It was the Command Of Prince
Ferdinand That = Beautiful YounG We
mas should ne Kiiled-Her Lover ana the
Chief OF Police Convicted or Murder.
spectai Cable Dsspatoh to The Sun.
PBtLiPPoPoLIs, Bulgaria, July 29.-Lat last
evening there was concluded here one of the
most dramatic trials ever held in a court of law.
II was the trial of Capt. Boitscheff. formerly
aidc-deIcamp to Prince Ferdinand Of Bulgaria,
and his accomplices In the tragic death Of q
young girl named Anna Szimon.
The girl, who was exceptionally handsome,
was a public singer. She went from Budapest
In 1894 to Sofia, where she met Dctscho Bolt
,cheY. He was a fne-looking man, a Captain of
tho guards, and nide-de-camp to Prince Ferdi-
nnnd, and the girl was at once infatuated with
him and became his mistress, and later tho
mother OF his child.
Burdenod with debts, Boitscheff engaged him
self TO marry . wealthy heiross and repudiated
his promise TO marry Anna, whom he sent
20 Budapest with orders not to return to Sofia.
She returned. however, and in her efforts to see
Boitscheff caused q scandal within tho environs
OF tho palace Of the Prince Of Bulgaria.
Boitscho6 became enragod at this and deter
mined to get rid of the girl by numbering her.
He accordingly wrote to his victim summoning
her to meet him in Philippopoiis, at tho Same
time protesting his love for her. Having COM
ploted his plans to lure the girl to her death, he
called to his aid M. Novelic, Project Of Police,
and o gendarme named Wassalieff.
tryst was appointed at the Martha Bridge,
to which place the murderers drove In q
carriage. Three men. Novelic, wassalieff, and
another seized tho girl and s~tupe6ed her with
choroform in the carriage. Boitschoff then
mounted tho box Of the vehicle and drove q
short distance when, with the assistance Of
Novelic, he dragged tho insensible girl out of
tho carriage with his own hands. Boitscheff
placed the girl on the ground and strangled her
TO death. after which he weighted tho body with
stones and cast It into the river.
The friends OF tho girl became suspicious at
her failure to return and raised an alarm.
Novehc and Wassslieff were soon afterward ar
rested, and from their statements Boitscheff
and o number Of others were accused of murder
and tho whole tragic story was unfolded in
court.
Boitsohef's wife was present at the trial, ele-
gantly dressed. Boitschef himself was dressed
In the latest fashion and wore Q number
Of medals and insignia of orders. he was gay
and witty, and frequently laughed. He denied
all knowledge of tho girl or her whereabouts,
and It was not until Mile. SIMMONS landlord told
that Boitscheff had spont the night succeeding
his marriage with tho girl that no ceased his
gayety and appeared to realize the gravity OF
his position.
In tho course Of tho trial Novelio and Was
salien confessed and adhered to their state
mentp that Boitscheff alone strangled tho girl
\wassalion declared that Boitscheff had said;
"The Prince knows all. Anna made q scandal
at tho palace and the Prince cannot allow it."
Novelic said that Boitscheff had summoned
him 10 the palace and said: She must be killed
It In tho Princes command"
Tbs cabman. Alexieff. who drove the party o.
4 -u.As-- H. - Il.
Bridge, testified that Boitschef had approached
him saying that Prince Ferdinand had ordered
the murder of the girl upon the ground that sh'
was planning tho Princes assassination. Alex
ieR refused to have anything to do with tn,
affair unless the Prince personally ordered II
whereupon Boitscheff threatened to shoot hin
unless he kept silent about the matter.
BoitscheI was placed upon the stand and de
MED every detail of the testimony against him
He suggested that Novelic had murdered tn
girl, thinking to do him a service. While Bolt
sche6 was making these statements Novelic re
peatedly made the sign of tho Cross upon hi
breast.
The most horrifying feature of the evidenc
was tho calm obedience Of police official
In tho commission of q cold .blooded murde
when told that 1t was by tho Princes ordert
The Jury returned q verdict finding Boitschei
and Novelic guilty Of murder and conyictin
Wassalien as an accomphce. NoVehc ID SUI
posed to have had a hand in tho murder of e.
Premier Stambuloff In 1895.
Boftscheff and Novelic were each sentenced
death, but 1t was Immediately announced tha
tho sentence in each case would be commute
to imprisonment for life, with deprivation {
OWL rights. Each of the prisoners was ais
condemned to pay the sum of 5000 francs Il
dsfray the expenses of rearing the victims chill
wassalief was sentenced to six years an
eight months imprisonment. to be followed b
sight years deprivation of civil rights.
BoitscheR collapsed when his sentence WI
pronounced and sobbed convulsively. His wi
rushed to tho dock and embraced and kisss
him, exclaiming that he was innocent