New-York tribune., 1903-06-12
PRINCE PETER TALKS.
Innocent of 4ny Part IN Murders
Insists on Right to Throne

,.enev. rune Il-Prnce Peter Karageorge-
,-,,ch zybo-,, the Seryian Army has proclaimed
king has been living in Geneva since 1881 ne
appeared greatly astonished on receiving tne
news from Belgrade. which he said had reached
hira through a private telegram from vienna"
The Prince did not leave the house all day
over the telephone this afternoon he said to
The Associated Press correspondent he hao not
vet received any official notice regarding the
events which took place in Belgrade last night
He did not even know whether il was true that
he had been proclaimed King. and said he did
NOT know when or whether he would start for
belgrade The new ministry, he added, in
cluded several of his adherents, but he was
unable to speak definitely on this subject, as
number of names had been mutiated in tee-
graphic transmission
Through the Russian Consul an intimate
friend OF the Prince, The Associated Press cor
respondent this evening obtained the following
statement:
Prince Karageorgevitch declares himself in
.,ocent of any knowledge of the tragedy at Bel
grade. He said that through his grandfather
he had undoubtedly the best right to the Ser
War throne and intended taking it, if possible.
for the sake Of his son. but he expected 10 meet
with great difficulties, and hoped for assistance
from Austria.
From other sources it is learned that the
prince will leave Geneva secretly on Friday
morning for Vienna. whence he will proceed to
Belgrade Rumors have been current here for
fhree days of expected trouble in Servia, and
Prince Karageorgevitch has been receiving an
enormous quantity of kilograms for week past.
znany Of them from the frontier of Servia.
The prince has gone freely into society here.
il has been subject OF general remark among
the aristocracy and the people that he has
looked extremely careworn for some months.
The prince is a widower. ffty-three years old.
and appears older. He is Of medium height and
build. and his face, distinguished by long mill
tary mustaches. is rather fierce. He has three
chiIdren-George his heIr sixteen years old;
Alexander fourteen years old, and Helene. nine
teen He lives in an extremely simple manner
and occupies a whole house. unusual thing in
Geneva. in the Rue de Ia Bellotte. The house is
elegantly furnished, although the prince is not
rich and keeps only a woman servant and a
valet He has several times proclaimed himself
heir to che Servian throne, but has encourage,
as his poverty is known, and the presence of a
court would have excited suspicion.
Russian money was undoubtedly used in the
revolution, which. according 10 general belief
was planned here 1t is recalled that when the
Austrian Empress was murdered by the an
archist Lucheni in this city in 1898 Prince
Karageorgevitch openly applauded the deed. He
is extremely popular here with all classes. and
Is described unassunling. sensible and strictly
honest in all private and public transactions.
The prince usually visited Vienna and St
Petersburg every year. but recently the prince
has been several times 10 Vienna and has also
visited ST Petersburg. where his son is at school.
Montenegrin royal family. into which he mar
ned.