The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-01
Queen Draga's Attempt mt Suicide
Brings Court Scandals To No.
tice OF the World.
PUBLIC TREASURY LOOTED
4 LITTLE KINGDOM THAT HAS A BIG
SHARE OF CORRUPTION.
Crown Prince, Who Paints
Town Red, Insults Citizens and
Is Protected by the King.

Correspondence Of the indianapolis Journal
BELGRADE. Nov. 20. The cable dis
patches telling OF Queen Draga's attempt
at suicide after severe maltreatment by
her half-crazed husband. Alexander 1. and
Of the looting Of the Servian treasury by
the King. who is said to have tapped the
public till to the tune OF two millions
these stories OF royal unhappiness and
crime seem less extraordinary in the light
of a Belgrade letter just received. that left
the capital a few days before the above
cable arrived in this city. The letter gives,
in part at least. the keynote TO the situa-
ton. "Draga and her numerous family
have apparently completed the Kings
financial ruin and. i'm addition, set the peo-
pie against the monarchy by trampling on
its rights and provoking riots i'm several
parts of the country. There is. in particu-
lar, the Crown Prince by adoption. Lieut..
Nicodem Lunjewiza.
In the space OF two short weeks this
young blood set the capital and the whole
Balkan talking by half a dozen truly royal
extravagances: An attempt at manslaugh-
ter with the most knightly and trusty
weapon known as the beer bottle. An ef-
fort to loot the Belgrade National Bank,
where he has no account. by forcing its
president TO certify a check for half a
million. Causing a riot i'm a concert hall
by compelling the leader to play the ma
tional anthem every time he enters and
leaves and going and coming fourteen times
in succession. Making men and women
kiss his hand publicly in the street. whip
in hand. and thrashing those who refused.
Shocking a restaurant full Of people-the
Waldorf-Astoria Of Belgrade-by sending
his mistress, stark naked, TO mingle with
the guests
a COMPLAINANT KING.
And the King not only condones these
affairs as harmless pleasantries." but
actually Furnishes persons objecting to
jokes of that kind. The name OF the bank
president, for instance. who refused to
honor Nicodem's fraudulent draft was
stricken from the list of persons eligible
to government or civil honors-such is the
influence Draga and her endless coterie OF
brothers, sisters, cousins. nephews. uncles
and aunts WELD over Alexander.
Lieutenant Nicodem. who takes the place
of the baby which the stork failed to de-
liver last spring, is the Queens brother
and fifteen years younger than her Majes-
ty. Being a good looking chap. idolized by
his sister. he is allowed to do what he
pleases, the King protecting him against
legal prosecution. But autocrat and violent
as Alexander is. he cannot always shield
his adopted son from the fist-cuffs Of en-
ragged subjects, E nd more than once the
heir to the crown of the Obrenovitchs,
this royal highness by the grace of a for
mer chambermaid. got 8 sound licking.
Inst pouy he's limpinp around minus opa
toe. dexterously amputated in a saloon
brawl by a lowly Servian who doesn't be-
lieve in privileged classes.
At the same time il is but fair 10 state
beforehand that Nicodem as well as his
sister and the rest Of the Lunjevizas are
suffering from hereditary maladies and de-
serve pity rather than condemnation. The
father of the present Queen was an alco-
holist and died in a ~lunatic asylum, while
the mother was a w~ell-known d~runkard,
who needed but to show herself IN the
streets to attract a crowd eager to watch
her antics. AS to the abettor Of Draga's
and Nicodem's crimes and rascalities King
Alexander, who was at one time eager TO
elevate an American girl to his throne.
is generally looked uDon as a bundle OF
violence. viciousness and insanity.
NEARLY KILLS HIS MAN.
The attempt at murder happened a few
days ago in Nischa, the second city i'm the
kingdom, where Alexande- has a summer
residence. While the court was temporar-
lily established there Nicodem and his
nephew. Lieutenant Petrovitch. Draga's
sisters son. called upon .their royal rela-
tives and made themselves at home in the
''konak' (palace), also insthe town, which
they proceeded to paint "a bright scarlet
hue. Among other things they arranged
impromptu horse races ip the streets. de-
liberately smashed the sho.v windows Of the
principal stores by running automobiles
into them, insulted womes. thrashed peas
ants that came TO the city 20 look at them
and declared a holiday Eos the school chill
dren without consulting either the calen-
dar or the authorities.
On the afternoon when .he court was 20
leave Crown Prince Nic:dem and young
Petrovitch, styled his adjUsant. entered the
billiard room of a leading hotel and. Sc
Letting the principal tables which was oc-
cupied at the time. orderesHt the players 10
retire and make way for MIN. Seeing that
his royal Highness was dlelnk and fearing
his violent temper. the gentlemen complied
without protest Correct" shouted Nico-
dem. you shall now havi the privilege OF
kissing my hand"
The lackadaisicals consented 20 that in
dignity, too. whereupon hi royal Highness
took of his uniform coas. and. throwing
the same into the face ofkcaptain Kethely
his superior officer. by the way-cried:
Hold that for the prince soyal. You shall
have a liter OF wine at fhe end Of each
hour" The captain NATURALLY objected TO
being made a clothes rack. and. allowing
the coat 20 drop on the >oor. put on his
helmet and commanded lieutenant Lun-
jeviza TO go at once 10 e. barracks and
consider himself under Arrest until further
orders.
Arrest me- Your future King2 Take
this, ana that. and some flore." NicOdem
threw himself on the unsuf |pecting army Of
hcer and belabored him N1th a beer bottle
holding about a quart. II. smashed a hole
in his skull and broke fok OF hts ribs be-
fore he could be dragged kway. As Keith
ely lay on the floor. appa ntly dying. half
a dozen army officers ru bed I'm from the
lobby. and. seeing what had happened.
drew their swords and made for Nicodem