New-York tribune., 1903-06-14
THE BELGRADE TRAGEDY.
Kings and Queens Prayers for
Life Unheeded.

Senlin. Hungary June 13-From an intimate
personal friend of the new Premier of the Ser
Wan provisional government Avakumovics, the
following account Of the tragedy in Belgrade
has been received. Assurance is given that 1t
is absolutely authentic. These facts win be set
forth in an official protocol which has not yet
been drafted owing 10 the pressure of State
business. all that is yet known officially being
contained in the verbal report made TO the Pre-
mier by the officers concerned in executing the
plot.
Six weeks ago one Of the officers in the secret
warned the King of what going on, when
all the officers concerned were transferred to
points in the interior. the King fearing TO take
stronger measures against them. About the
same time certain woman was sent to Geneva
TO see Prince Peter Karageorgevitch and submit
TO him proposition that he come to Servia as
King upon his agreeing TO accept a new constl-
tuition based upon liberal principles, Prince
Peter accepted the conditions. AS soon as the
conspirators obtained this assurance that the
kingdom would have sovereign. they de-
cided TO kill King Alexander and Queen Draga.
Colonel Maschin,- Queen Dragas brothersin-law,
was the leader of the conspiracy.
number Of officers came to Belgrade from
interior posts the night Of the tragedy and
supped together at the Serbische Krone restau-
rant. where the final details were arranged. AT
midnight they proceeded from the restaurant to
the palace, and forced the door leading TO the
royal apartments with dynamite When the
officers entered they could md nobody, the King
and Queen, alarmed by the noise of their ap-
proach. having concealed themselves.
TWO HOURS HUNT THROUGH PALACE.
For two whole hours the officers hunted through
every nook and corner of the royal apartments
without success. Then they found the Kings
adjutant, Lazar Petrovics. and compelled him
70 lead hem TO MIA He
took them TO the bathroom and pointed to a
secret door in the wall opening upon stair
case leading to the roof. Behind this door
crouched the King and Queen. When the con-
spirators were assured of their prey they
promptly shot and killed the adjutaht-
Meanwhile, the King fell upon his knees and
begged for life offering TO yield to every de-
Inand, TO sign any document, TO agree to leave
the country to send Queen Draga away-any-
thing. 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 degrading name, told her she had
been Queen long enough. One of the conspra-
tors. after submitting the Queen to gross indig-
mites. slashed her with his sword, and the
other officers fired at her. The King was also
slashed with sabres.
a
The conspirators then dragged the King and
Queen into the front apartment and threw them
over the balcony upon the lawn i'll front Of the
palace, which is separated from the street by
big open iron fence. The King and Queen lived
between one and two hours afterward.
Meanwhile two of the officers summoned the
Oueen's two brothers from their home to the
house Of the commander Of the Belgrade divi-
sion, where they were offered glass of water
and told to bid each other farewell. In the mo-
nlent they embraced the officers shot and killed
them.
one hundred soldiers, commanded by two off-
GERS. at the same time surrounded the house OF
the Minister of War NJ. Pavlovics and sum
,,,oned him 10 open the door. The minister
lacked from a window. and the soldiers fired
AZ him woundiHg him The Russian Military
At+ache. who lived in the same house. hearing
the noise. rose and dressed himself in MS Rus
sis,, Uniform and attempted TO remove the min
ister 70 his apartment The officers ordered MN
tn go away and he. seeing the hopeIessiless O
The ei+pation. departed The soldiers then en-
,ered 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'Qorning when
;. ,s found bv his son-in-Iaw and daughter
" no had escaped
The partjculars Of the killing Of the other MIN
listers have already been published
ANOTHER PLOT a MONTH AGO.
Since the tragedy occurred the real Iac's oI
an attempt upon the persons Of the hlis anu
oueen a month ago have become known ne
conspirators al that time engaged the ser 'e7s
of a Young Bohemian. the son OF 2 taIoF HN'ns
j., F2elgrade He obtained i place IN me hitcneH
of the Grand, Hotel Of Belgrade to learn cooh-
cry. He proved 50 intelligent that iitt'e I@t@
he was employed in the royal kitchen Here
-, he rroved efficient and to him was IN
,,,..ad tbe duty of preparing the food Tor the