The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-28
"
AS IT'S DONE
. IN SERVIA
Dramatic Story Of an Attempt to
Poison King Milan, Told by
4 Himself.
He Handed the Poisoned Cup to the
Would-Be Regicide, Who
u Drank It.
New York Sum Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service.
Chicago, July 2S-Walterg Wellman In
a Washington special to the Record-Her-
aid says
One of the most dramatic stories of royal
life 1 ever heard was told me by Moreton
Frewen, the English traveller and econo-
omist, shortly before he sailed for home
few weeks ago. Mr.. Frewen Is a good deal
of a sportsman and has visited many coun-
tries in search Of big game. Some years
ago he was one OF a party that occupied
hunting lodge in the depths Of a Hun
garian forest Among the other sportsmen
there was King Milan OF serv1a. one
evening while they were all gathered
about the supper table In the hunting
lodge, Milan told this story:
II had not been long upon the throne
OF Servia," said the king, - before my Sc
cret agents brought me the details of a plot
that had been formed against my lie.
The conspiracy embraced many men In
military and civil life that my advisers
were very much alarmed and wanted me
to cause them all to be summarily re-
moved. 1 replied that it was not the bust
ness of a king to depOpulate his kingdom,
and If 1 executed every man who Joined
plot against me it would not be long be-
fore I had no people to rule over
According to the plans of the conspira-
tors, I was to be put out Of the way by
means OF poison. An annual ceremonial
banquet was soon to be held, and one Of
duty it was to hand me a golden goblet of
wine, was to see tina the cup contained
the poison. Declining to accept the advice
of my ministers to make immediate ar
rests and telling them to leave the whole
matter in my hands, went to the BAN
quet. At the proper moment In the cere-
monies the aide camp came up to me-
extended the golden goblet and made a
very pretty speech commencing my reign
as blessing to the Servian people and
wishing me many years Of health and hap
piness.
II took the goblet continued Milan,
sand held it aloft moment while I gazed
about the banquet hall. You may imagine
gentlemen, the tension of that moment
Probably a third Of the people in the room
knew that the wine poisoned, many Of
the conspira tors being present as well as
those of my trusted people who had been
informed Of the plot. AS looked into the
eyes of the hundred men who sat watching
me, it seemed to me 1 could distinguish
the friends from the foes, tho 1t was not
difficult to tell which were in the ma
jority. Probably I was the calmest man
of them all. for knew all that they knew
and something more besides.
" MOBILES and gentlemen of SerV1a,' I
exclaimed, it gives me great pleasure
to receive this mark of affection and sup
port of my people. It is with the hap
piest feelings of good will to all and love
toast
g cat this juncture touched my lips to
the golden goblet and watched with keen
interest the involuntary shudder that ran
round the room. Pausing then, without
having tasted the wine, you may be sure,
! resumed:
Upon second thought, I will not drink
this toast myself. I see around me scores
of my loyal officers ministers and friends.
There Is one among them who has given
me such marked proof of his devotion
that I now propose to pay him the I'M
usual honor of asking him to be my dep
uty and to drink this toast In my stead
$50 saying, I turned to Colonel Blank,
the aide camp and wouldbe regicide,
who stood by my side, and handed the
goblet to him. 1 shall never forget the
look upon his face. In his eyes could
read his thoughts; he had been betrayed;
his plot was known to me; he had his
choice between drinking his own poison
or being executed by my orders before
daylight. He hesitated a moment, but
only for a moment then he bowed to me
and to the company, and drained the cur
to the last drop. A few moments later
he fell dead at my feet.
"And that" concluded the king, ais
what I call the death of a gentleman
He took his own medicine with bravery
worthy of a better cause" '7
asked Mr. Frewen if he had reason
to believe this was a. true story. He sai6
he had. He had questioned some OF
Milan's attendants and they declared
they had been present at the banquet ant
had witnessed the episode precisely a.
Milan had told it. For obvious reasons
the affair was not permitted to get int
the newspapers.