The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-06-16
THE TRAGEDY IN THE PALACE.
Guards Overpowered, Door Burst With Bomb,
Alexander and Draga Shot IN Flight.

Vienna, June 11.-Despatches from Bel
grade say that since the late King Alex
ander's last spension of .4e ervian conStl-
tuition the army has been animated by
hostile feelings toward both the King
and Queen.
The revolution was planned weeks ago.
Secret committees were organized IN the
country and worked IN cooperation with
the army. The leaders of the revolution
are said to have been the new Ministers
of Justice and Finance, respectively NJ.
S~chiokovics and NJ. Velikovics, and the
Sixth Regiment of infantry, g%arrisoning
Belgrade, was designated to carry out
the plot. 1t was originally intended that
the plot should be executed later, but
fears that the new Servian Parliament
would settle the question of the success
sion to the throne fastened matters.
Col. Naumovlcs, the adjutant of the King,
was entrusted with the execution of the
plans. While on duty at II o'clock last
night burst IN the door lead
ing to the sleeping apartments OF the
royal couple with a bonn and then en-
tered, accompanied by Mischief and a
number of junior officers. Previously
the palace guard had been overpoWered
and its commander, Capt. PauajoWics,
was killed. Naumovics presented to the
King a form of abdication for his sigma
ture. The document contained the state
ment that by marrying a public pros
titute" the King had degraded Servia and
that therefore he must abdicate. The
Kings answer was to draw a revolver
and kill Naumovics on the spot.
Mischief then picked up the document
and presented it again, and the King,
who perceived his danger, fled with Queen
nro 40 ~ Tho ro1ooa rN0f hD+h h,i,r -
their night clothes. The officers follow
ed, continuously firing and ultimately shot
down the royal couple. Major Luka La
zarewics, who had been under the Kings
displeasure for two years, IS said to
have fired the shot which actually killed
the King.
At 2 O'Clock this morning Queen Draga's
two brothers were SHOT at their homes,
as we'll as Premier Markovitch and his
brother-in-law, M. MLAo,---, the MINIS
ter of the innterlor, M. Tudorovics, and
his daughter, and the War Minister. Gen.
Palovitch.
While these events were proceeding at
the palace the streets of the city We're
already occupied by soldiers and an arm
ed force surrounded the royal residence.
The horses and guns of the batteries of
artillery were all decorated with ever
green's, as for d festival. The soldiers
discarded the badge of King Alexander
from their helmets.
An attempt was made to support the
dynasty by the commander of the Dan
ube Division, who tried to march the
Eighth Regiment of infantry into the
city to help the late King but he was
opposed by a body of troops under Col.
Gagowits. In the fight which ensued both
the officers mentioned were killed.
What purports to be an official explana-
ton of the tragedy was issued at Bel
grade during the day. 1t says:
After dinner Wednesday evening the
King and Queen, with some of their rela-
tives and several ministers, were on the
balcony of the palace. Suddenly the King
demanded that Queen Draga leave the
country. She refused and was support
ed by some of the ministers. When the
King saw this opposition he ordered the
military to occupy the palace. In the
meanwhile the Queens friends were also
active and collected her supporters. 1t
was in a fight between the two factions
that the King and Queen were killed.
A despatch received by the Austrian
Foreign Office this afternoon announced
that the Servian Parliament which has
been summoned for June Is, will only
! elect Peter Karagcorgevitch King in the
event Austria and Russia will not OPP
pose such a step. Austria would not OBJ
! ject because although the Prince was
once the avoWed enemy OF Austria, he
has since given repeated assurances that
III the event of his coming to the throne
of Servia he was desirous of living AMIGA
bly, with Austria.
The question OF Austria's intervention
II the present situation has so far only
been considered in the case Of civil war
breaking out. Otherwise it is regarded as
being Servia's private affair.