The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-07
Career of One OF the Most Pronigate
and Dissolute Members of Royalty
on the Continent.
RECEPTION At AMSTERDAM
PEACE CONFERENCE DELEGATES
BANQUETED BY HOLLANDS QUEEN.
Toast by Her Majesty and Reply by
Baron De Staal-Transvaal Con-
cessions to Uttlanders.

BELGRADE, Servia, July 6.-Former King
Milan, father of King Alexander of Servia.
narrowly escaped assassination here this
evening. The would-be murderer is under
arrest. He fired four revolver shots, one
of which slightly grazed his Majesty, an
other wounding in the hand Adjutant Luz
kitch. who was with him. AT the time the
attack was made, about half past O'Clock,
ex-King Milan was driving through Michael
street in open carriage.
The would-be assassin is about twenty
eight years old and has not yet been iden-
titled by the police. On his return TO the
palace ex-King Milan received the congrat-
ulations of the members of the Cabinet and
the diplomatic corps on his escape. Later in
the evening King Alexander drove through
Michael street and was enthusiastically re-
ceived by the populace.
1t was learned later that King Milan
was slightly wounded in the back.
Milan's life has been full of trouble. While
he was at worship In the cathedral in Bel
grade, Oct %, 1882, the widow Of Col. Jefrew
Mark0witch, who was executed with several
other rioters in May, 1878. by order of Milan,
made an attempt to kill the sovereign. The
woman was crazy, and her action was for
the purpose of personal revenge. Other at
tempts have been made on the ex-King' S
life. but all have so far failed.
Milan Is probably the most profligato of
all the European royalties, and he has been
classed IS the greatest spendthrift in Eu-
rope. He is said to have owed 10,000000
francs when he was compelled to resign the
throne Of Servia in favor of his son,
and he Is alleged to have borrowed cash
from everybody within his reach while SELL
ing crosses and stars to anybody willing to
purchase them. The palace at Belgrade,
under King Milan, was looked upon as be-
ing nothing more than a gamblers resort.
The King. upon one occasion, imported
whole troop of burlesquers to the palace,
and kept them there in festive style for
period, and upon another occasion he is al
legged to have similarly entertained the
chorus of a Vienna opera company. His
wife, Queen Natalie, had put up with a
great deal, but the advent of the Vienna
chorus girls was more than even this long
suffering woman could endure, and she
created so much trouble that his Majesty
eventually caused her to be expelled from
Servia. which action upon his part had
great deal to do with bringing about his
own forced abdication, for which he was
paid a very large sum of money, and
promptly proceeded to Paris, Nice and
London, where he gambled and enjoyed
himself to the utmost limit.
In Paris the disreputable ex-King was ex-
PEELED from club for cheating at cards,
and he made himself more notorious by Law
ishing his money upon a dancer who was
we'll known to the gay world of all the capt.
tails of Europe. But when Milan's money
was gone his course of dissipation received
a check, and in his efforts to raise further
funds he threatened to return to Servia.
The mere suggestion raised such a storm
at Belgrade that King Alexander was COM
PEELED to raise sum of money sufficient to
bride his father to stay away from Servia.
BY similar means the ex-King has succeed
ed In raising large sums in other quarters,
and by such practices he has succeeded in
enjoying life in his peculiar way. When
he inherited the fortune of the late Baron
Batch it was intimated that the former
King would surely enter upon another
period of extravaganza and dissipati ton, but
he seems 20 have decided to take a hand
In the politics of Servia. for a change.
King Alexander of Servia, was born Aug
IA. 1876, was proclaimed King by his father
on the latter's abdcation, March g. 1882
the country remaining under a regency
until Alexander should attain his majority
eighteen years of age. But on April Is.
1898, when he was seventeen years old,
Alexander took the royal authority into
his own hands, and from that time on it
may be said he has been searching all over
Europe for a wife If reports are to be
believed, Alexander is worthy son of
Milan