Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-06-18
NEW DETAILS OF
SERV|AN CRIME
Ava Kumovics Telle Story Of
the Murder of King Alex
ander and Draga.
PLEADED FOR THEIR LIVES
MercilesslY Shot and Slashed While
Promising All the Conspirators
Demanded Servant Who Pointed
Out Hiding Place Slain.

Semlin, Hungary. June 15.-From
an intimate personal friend of the new
premier of the Servian government,
Ava Kumovics, the Associated Press
correspondent has received an ac.
count Of the tragedy in Belgrade.
which he is assured is absolutely
authentic. These facts are more hor.
rible in their details of the murders
than any story yet brought out.
Six weeks ago one of the officers in
the secret service warned the king of
what was going on, when all the off.
GERS concerned were transferred to
points in the interior, the king feafs
ing to take stronger measures against
them. About the same time GER
tain lady was sent to Geneva to see
Prince Peter Karageorgevitch, and
submit to him proposition that no
come to Servia as king upon his
agreement to accept new constitu-
ton based upon liberal principles.
Prince Peter accepted the condi-
lions. AS soon as the conspirators
obtained this assurance, that the king
dom would have new sovereign, they
decided to kill King Alexander and
Queen Draga.
Colonel Maschin, Queen Draga's
brother-in-law, was the leader of the
conspiracy On the night of the muir
der after the conspirators had enter
ed the palace they searched every
nook and corner in vain for two
hours. Finally they found the kings
adjutant, Petrovics, and compelled
him to show them to the hiding place.
He took them to the bath room and
pointed to secret door in the wall
opening upon staircase leading to
the roof. Behind this door crouched
the king and queen. When the coz
sprators were assured of their prey
they promptly shot and killed the ad-
jutant.
Meanwhile the king fell upon his
knees and begged for life, offering to
yield to every demand. to sign any
document, to agree to leave the coun-
try, or to send Queen Draga away
anything. everything if only they
would not kill him.
The officers answered roughly: 1T
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 de-
grading epithet, told her she had been
queen long enough.
One OF the conspirators, after sub
hitting the queen to gross indignit-
les, slashed her with sword and the
other officers fired at her.
The king was also slashed with
sabres.
The conspirators then dragged the
king and queen into the front apart
ments and threw them over the bal
q 10, tn oft a ma
ace, which is separated from the
| street by an open iron fence. The
king and queen lived for one and two
hours afterwards.
Meanwhile two of the officers sum
| moned the queens two brothers from
their homes to the house of the com
mander of the Belgrade division,
where they were offered a glass OF
water and told to bid each other fare
well. In the very moment they en-
braced each other they were shot
down
The story goes into revolving do
tails as to the murder of Minister OF
| War Pavlovics and the other victims.
II is also learned that the conspira-
tors attempted to destroy the king and
queen by poison month ago A
young Bohemian cook was introduced
| into the royal kitchen and proved SO
efficient that he was speedily entrust-
ed with preparing the food for the
royal table. One evening the head
cook caught him mixing poison in
the food. and promptly informed the
king. The Bohemian was immedi-
ately shot and his parents were noti-
! fed under penalty of death to say that
he had committed suicide. They now
tell the facts.
Belgrade remains remarkably quiet,
but the provisional government con-
tinues to largely increase the garri-
| son.
Belgrade papers, which are entire
ly controlled by the government, de-
clare unequivocally for Prince Peter
Karageorgevitch. They discuss the
questions of republic, but assert
that the country is as yet unprepared
| for such form Of government.
| At a ministerial council held this
afternoon six ministers voted In raw
or of the election of Prince Peter
| Karageorgevitch as king and one In
favor of a republic.
II Is stated that the last words or
King Alexander were: "Zingar Mar
kovics, why have you done this to
| me?"
| King Alexander believed that Mar
kovics was the head of the conspiracy
against him.