The Penn's Grove record., 1904-08-05

O
Explosion Kills Minister'S Coachman
and Injuries Others-Is Felt For Blocks
Gear Deeply Affected by the Affair.
st. Petersburg, Russia. = M. de
Plehve, the Minister of the Interior,
was assassinated by means of a bomb
thrown at his carriage while he was
driving to the Baltic Station to take a
train for the palace at Peterhof, where
he was to make his weekly report to
the Emperor.
The assassination is believed to be
the outcome of a widespread plot, the
existence Of which had been suspected
for several days. Numerous arrests
have already been made, including that
of the assassin, a young man who is
believed to be a Finn named Leglo,
and who is now in a hospital, severe
ly and perhaps MORALLY injured by
the explosion of his own bomb.
An accomplice of Leglo, also appar-
emily q Finn, but whose name Is UNI
known, has been arrested. He had in
his possession a bomb, which he tried
to throw, but he was oyerpowered by
the police just in time to prevent great
loss of life.
The -ssassin, who wore a brown
overcoat and a railroad officials cap,
stood on the sidewalk just Is NJ. de
Plehve's carriage was about to cross
the canal bridge lear the station. The
Minister was escorted by a number OF
detectives on bicycles, and one of them
jostled the assassin, who then rushed
into the road and threw the bomb after
the carriage, crying "LOng live free
dOm!'
The missile struck the hind wheel
and exploded with fearful force, kill
ing or wounding owe a score of per-
sons. NJ. de Plehve and his coachman
were killed outright, and an officer OF
the guard was MORALLY injured.
One of the cyclist detectives arrest
ed the assassin, who endeavored to
escape, though wounded by splinters
in the face, arm and abdomen.
The explosive is believed to have
been pyroxylin, as it gave off little
smoke. The force of the explosion was
so terrific that it not only broke every
window within a radius of half a mile,
but reduced the heavy paving stones
to powder, heaved up the pavement,
and flung a heavy piece of the IRON
work Of the carriage across the canal,
severing the thick mast Of a barge,
which fell, stunning the captain of the
barge. Everybody in the street was
knocked down and more or less
bruised.
Immediately there ensued a scene Of
the widest confusion. Police and
gendarmes hurried up from every d.
rection and vast crowds gathered
about the spot where the body of the
Minister lay. 1t had been partially
covered with a police officers Overcoat.
A few yards from NJ. de Plehve's
body lay the coachman's remains.
The news of the tragedy spread like
wildfire throughout st. Petersburg,
causing CONSERVATION everywhere. Po-
lice reserves were hurried to the scene
from all parts Of the city.
Guarded by the police, the body re-
NAMED in the street until the arrival
Of the judicial officials, ven in the
case of the most powerful Minister Of
the empire, the law requiring that this
formality be observed before the body
could be removed.
When the officers Of the law. headed
by Minister of Justice Muravief, had
terminated the necessary formalities
by drawing up a written report of the
crime, the remains were conveyed to
an humble chapel adjoining the sta
ton. The priests and people, with
characteristic Russian piety, at once
Joined in a solemn requiem.
The body was then placed in a car
rage, covered by a robe, and was
taken to the deceased's magnificent
town residence, adjoining the Ministry
Of the Interior, where it was complete
ly covered with a write shroud which
concealed the CHASTITY mutilation. 1t
lay in a black and silver casket in a
corne of the vast hall surrounded by
luxuriant palms.
The news was broken to the Min
ister's wife at Kybinsk, on the Volga,
while IN her way to their country seat
with their son, who is thirty-seven
years old.
The Czal almost broke down when
he was informed Of the Minister'S
murder.
The Czarina was not informed of
the tragedy in view of the hourly ex
pectation Of the birth of an heir to
the throne.