The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-12
PRINCE PETER AsToNIsHED.
Says He Was Ignorant of Plan For
 Coup at Belgrade.


 Geneva, June 11.-Prince Peter Karage- orgevitch. whom the Servian army has proclaimed King, has been living in Ge- neva since 1891. He appeared greatly as- tcnished on receiving the news from Bel grade, which, he said, had reached him through private telegram from Vienna. The prince did not leave the house all day. Over the telephone this afternoon he said to the Associated Press corre- spondent he had not yet received any official notice regarding the events which took place In Belgrade last night He did not even know whether 1t was true that he had been proclaimed King and he said he did not know when. if at all, he would start for Belgrade. The minis try, he added, included several of his adherents, but he was unable to speak definitely on this subject as a number of names had been mutilated in tele- graphic transmission.
 Through the Russian Consul. an inti- mate friend of Prince Karageorgevitch, the Associated Press correspondent this evening obtained the following state ment:
 Prince Karageorgevitch declares him. self innocent of any knowledge of the tragedy at Belgrade. He said that through his grandfather, he undoubtedly had the best right to the Servian throne and in- tended taking it if possible for the sake of his son. but he expected to meet with great difficulties and hoped for assist ance from Austria"
 From other sources 1t is learned that the Prince will leave secretly Friday morning for Vienna, whence he will pro- ceed to Belgrade. Rumors have been current here for three days of expected trouble in Servia and Prince Karageorge- witch has been receiving an enormous number of telegrams for a week past many of them from the frontier of Ser via.
 During his residence in Geneva, Prince Karageorgevitch went freely into so- ciety. It has been a subject of general remark among the aristocracy and the people that he has looked extremely careworn for some months.
 The Prince is a widower, B years of ago and appears older. He is of medium height and build and his face dtstin- guished by long military moustache is rather fiery. He has three children George, his heir. 16 years of age: Alex- ander' IA years of age, and Helene 19 years of age. He lives in an extremely simple manner and occupies a whole house. an unusual thing in Geneva, in the Rue de Ia Belote The house is eIe- gantly furnished. though the prince is Hot Flch ana Keeps only a woman ser want and valet. He has several times proclaimed himself heir to the servian throne, but has no entourage, as his pov- erty was known and the presence of a court would have excited suspicion.
 Russian money was undoubtedly used in the revolution. which. according to general belief. was planned here It is recalled that when the Austrian Empress was murdered by an anarchist. Lucheni. at Geneva in 1898, Prince Karageorge- witch openly applauded the deed He is extremely popular here with all classes and is described as unassuming sensi- ble and strictly. honest in all private and public transactions,
 The prince usually visited Vienna and St Petersburg every year. but recently he has been several times to Vienna and las also visited St. Petersburg. where his son is at school
 He is still received as a member of the Montenegrin royal family. into which he married.