The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-26
BULeARIA,s oFFicIAL MURDERS.
Konstantinon's Assassination Traced to
Members Of the Government.

Members Of the Government.
Scarcely has the excitement created BY
the Boitscheft murder trial at Philippe
polls subsidized than fresh case occurs
( 70 show how corrupt and unclvilized the
Buigarians eth are. At Phinppopo.is.
the poet Alcko konstantinoff and the
lawyer DR.. Takeff. were intimate friends.
The latter took an active part In poll
tics, was once a member OF the Sobranye.
and, as such, violently attacked the
Prince. sharply censuring the extravag-
ance of tie court. In Bulgaria such ac-
ton Is dangerous. and Or. Takefs friends
warned him to take care. On May 23rd
last, Or Takef and Konslantinoff were
carrying on an agitation In the district
OF Tatar Bazardshik In view Of the APP
preaching municipal elections. Late that
evening the two friends left a village not
far from the town OF Ta;ar Bazardshik,
DR. Takem sitting on the left side Of the
carriage. During the drive they hap
pened 70 change seats. About a quarter
Of an hour later a whole volley was fired
behind them, no fewer than fifteen empty
cartridges being afte.ward found on the
spot Konstantnon was instantly killed,
but Takeff remained unhurt
The lawyer drove with his dead friend
10 Tatar Bazardshik, and informed the
Police Project, Pisanoff OF what had oc-
CURED; but tho Project would not let him
finish speaking. lie appeared very ner-
vOus, and. finally, rudely dismissed him.
Pisanon did not report the case at all
10 his superiors. But Dr. Takeff knew
no rest till he had won the people over
10 his side against the authorities. who
continued 10 ignore the murder. At last
the excitement grew so great that the
court Of Justice was obliged to take up
the case, and as II happened that there
was a very energetic and honest Public
Prosecutor at Tatar@ BazardshE. the adj
ministrative authorities interfered and
did their utmost TO get the casn referred
10 court-martial, which would have
been equivalent 10 hushing Il up But
the Public Prosecutor would not give way
and finally the affair was brought before
the Court Of Cessation, which decided
that a court-martial would not be com
petenr Then the Government ATTEMPTED
10 influence Public Prosecutor Never by
sending Deputy Public Prosecutor Mil
kon from the Appeal Court at Philippe
polls TO Tatar Bszardshik. nOminally to
assist but really 10 thwart Public Prose.
cutor Meyer by doing his utmost 10
confuse the case, and 20 suggest 70 Meyer
ENnEfIUtlnOl.
Milkons intentions were so obvious
mat Meyer was on the point Of having
him arrested Police Project Pisanon.
when the affair had already created a
great sensation, was transferred 10 an
other district After that transfer one
or hsanons former subordinates had
me courage to tell the examining Judge
mat Pisanon had, as he alleged. directly
asked him If no could not have DR. Takef
murdered. When the subordinate de-
cIined to do anything Of the sort Pisanoff
SAID 10 him, Perhaps YOU have no pro-
per gendarmes; II so, send some Of yours
away and l will give you some Of mine
who will do the deed" The subordinate
refusing TO make the exchange. was SUBJ
sequsnuy transferred 10 n post else
where. Public Prosecutor Never wished
10 have Police Project Pisanon arrested.
but the Government would not give mn
its favorte. and as Meyer Insisted on his
demand, he was dismissed tho public
service. AT PhilippOpolis a rich burghcr
erected a monument to the poet Kon-
stantinon with an epitaph distasteful TO
the authorities. which was shortly after
ward erased by their order. As yet only
n so-called preliminary investigation has
taken place, but the trial itself may be !
expected 10 throw as much light ON the |
state OF affairs In Bulgaria as did the |
Boitschen affair. unless. after an. the |
action Is quashed. which the Government |
conduct with regard 10 Public Prosecutor /
Meyer makes likely enough Here we /
have a striking confirmation Of the per
iect accuracy OF Dr. Stoion's recent /
statement that in Bulgaria 10 is neces- |
sary 10 make Police Projects OF scoun- /
drcls.-LOndon Standard.