The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-14
HIS Consort First Subjected to Gross
Indfgnftfes, then SIashed with
Sabres and Shot.
NO FOREIGN INTERVENTION
POWERS WILL NOT OBJECT To
PRINCE PETER ON THE THRONE.
May, However, Insist that the Aassas-
sins of His Predecessor BE Tried
and Punished.


intimate friend OF Avakumovics, new pre-
mier OF the Servian provisional govern
ment the Associated Press correspondent
has received the following account of the
tragedy in Belgrade. and he is assured that
IL Is authentic. These facts will be set forth
in an official protocol which has not yet
been drafted. owing to the pressure of
State business.
Six weeks ago one of the officers in the
secret warned the King of what was going
on. when all Of the officers concerned were
transferred to points in the interior, the
King fearing to take stronger measures
against them. About the same time a GER
tain woman was sent to Geneva to see
Prince Peter Karageorgevitch and submit
TO him a proposal that he go to Servia as
King on his agreeing to accept a new con-
stitution based on liberal principles. Prince
Peter accepted the conditions. AS soon as
the conspirators obtained their assurance
that the kingdom would have a new SOW
ereign they decided to kill King Alexander
and Queen Draga. Colonel Maschini,
Queen Draga's brother-in-law. was the
leader of the conspiracy.
number OF officers came to Belgrade
from the interior posts on the night OF
the tragedy and supped together at the
Serbische Kron restaurant. where the final
details were arranged. At midnight they
proceeded from the restaurant to the pal
ace and forced the door leading to the
royal apartments, using dynamite. When
the officers entered they could find nobody.
the King and Queen, alarmed by the noise
of the attack. having concealed them
selves. For two hours the officers hunted
through every nook and corner Of the
royal apartments without success. They
then found the Kings adjutant, Lazar
Petrovics. and compelled him to lead them
TO ths Kings hiding place He took them
10 the bathroom and pointed to a secret
door IN the wall opening a staircase
leading 10 the roof. Behind this door
crouched the King and Queen. When the
conspirators were assured Of their prey
they promptly shot and killed the adju-
tant.
KING BEGS FOR LIFE.
Meanwhile the King fell on his knees and
begged for life. offering to yield to every de-
mand, sign any document. to agree to leave
the country or to send Queen Draga away
anything. everything. IL only they would
not XIII him.
The officers answered roughly 'Tt is too
late" and fired at him.
The Queen also fell on her knees and
asked pardon for her conduct. but one of
the officers. calling her a degrading name
told her she had been Queen long enough
One OF the conspirators. after submitting
the Queen to gross indignities. slashed her
with his sword and the other officers fired
at her The King was alse slashed with
eabres.
The conspirators then dragged the King
and Queen into the front apartments and
threw then over the balcony on the lawn
In front of the palace. which is separated
from the street by an open iron fence. The
King and the Queen lived for one and two
hours. respectively, afterward-
Meanwhile two OF the officers summoned
the Queens two brothers from their home
10 the house of the commander of the Bel
grade division. where they were offered
glass of water and told to bid each other
farewell. In the very moment they en-
braced each other the officers shot and
killed them.
one hundred soldiers commanded by two
officers. at the same time surrounded the
house OF Minister of War Palovics and sum-
Inoned him to open the door. The minister
looked from a window and the soldiers fired
at him. wounding him. The Russian mill
tary attache, who lived in the same house,
hearing the noise. arose and dressed him
self I'm his Russian uniform and attempted
TO remove the minister to his apartments.
The officers ordered him to go away and he
departed. seeing the hopelessness OF the
situation The soldiers then entered the
house and shot and killed the minister
whose body was left on the floor and was
not discovered until 10 o'clock in the morn
ing when IL found by his son-in-law
and his daughter. who had escaped.
ATTEMPT AT POISONING.
Since the tragedy occurred. the real facts
OF an attempt on the persons of the King
and the Queen a month ago have become
known. The conspirators at that time en-
gagged the services OF young Bohemian.
the son of a tailor living in Belgrade. He
obtained position in the kitchen OF the
Grand Hotel of Belgrade to learn cookery.
He proved so intelligent that little later
he was given emplo lent in the royal
kitchen Here again he proved efficient
and was intrusted with the duty of pre-
pairing the food for the royal table, taking
Ii from the cooking utensils and placing Ii
in dishes. which he handed TO lackeys. He
now began 10 appear prosperous and took
teacher a widow living in Belgrade I'm
jubilant state, wearing new suit OF clothes
and saying that he was earning leo dinars
while preparing a dish for the King. he
mixed poison with the food. The head cook
detected him in the act and promptly In
formed the King, and the youth was shot
Immediately. His parents were brought to
the palace and told the facts OF the case
and were compelled under threats OF death
10 tell everybody that their son had killed
himself Since the tragedy the youths
parents have revealed the plot.
At a ministerial council. this afternoon,
ak ministers voted I'm favor OF the election
of Prince Peter Karage0rgevitch as King
and one In favor OF a republic.
The Norodni Listy concludes an editorial
article regarding the suggested establish
n1ent OF a servian republic thus: .servia
n not vet ready for such an advanced gov
ernnaent, while the army. which Is really
1ou;d not agree to its sstablishmsnt. servia