Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-28

arrived at the telegraph Office fifteen min
,+as after the tragedy occurred, the di-
rector of telegraphs had already been in
formed of the assassination and instruc-
tions had been given. The utmost confu-
sion prevails and the reports of the occur
renee are conflicting.
Regarding the identity of the assassin ana
the cause of the crime, by some IL is sdiu
that the act was that of Finn, and oy otn-
ers that the murderer was partisan VI
the Zemstvos, the curtallment Oh Whose
powers is attributed to the dead minister
Nothing. however, has been definitely es-
tablished.
Emperor Notified.
The project of police notified the emperor
of the tragedy immediatly upon its occur
renee.
The emperor who was at the Villa Alex
andra at Peterhof. was greatly afected py
the news, coming as it did, atop of the bad
tidings from the seat Of war, fears OF inter-
national complications and the strain incl
dent upon the hourly expectation of an
event so close to the fathers heart. The
emperor almost broke down when he was
informed of the minister's murder.
Whatever may have been the motive for
the crime. nothing but the utmost indigna-
is voiced everywhere.
NJ. Won Plehves assassin is said to be a
Jew, who thus far has declined to give his
name.
Senator Won Plehve was appointed min
lister of the interior April is, 1862, succeed
ing NJ. Sipiaguine, who was assassinated
April 16. 1902. by a student named Bal
mashoff He had formerly been director of
the department of police, which position he
practically assumed of his own accord
when in charge of the department of politi-
cal prosecutions. owing to the incompetency
of the official who was in charge of the po-
lice when Emperor Alexander III was killed,
March 13. 1881. NJ Plehve conducted the
prosecution of the regicides and afterward
reorganiZed the police.
From that time the power of NJ.
Plehve increased until it became only sec
ond in Importance to that of the emperor
Several plots to assassinatc the minister
have, according to reports. been discovered
during the last two years, which. period has
been marked by strong political rivalry be-
tween the interior minister and the former
minister of finance, NJ Witte, now presi-
dent of the committee of ministers.
Was Not Scholar.
NJ Plehve was not a scholar, but from
his youth he had been brought up In
official circles, and he slowly but surely
pushed himself ahead Before the emperor
called NJ. Plehve to take the portfolio OF
minister of the interior he had already
spent about forty years in official work
and at the time of his death he was about
sixty-siX years old. The educated youths
OF Russia are said to have been bitterly
opposed to NJ. Plehve, owing. IT has been
claimed to his turning on his own people
and the drastic changes which he 1naugu-
rated or advocated He is said to have re-
garded the common people as either dam
gerous criminals to be repressed or as lnno-
cents to be ignored.
Largely of Polish Blood.
Won PIehve was largely of Polish blood,
vet it Is alleged no man in Russia has so
signalized himself for severity against the
Firms as NJ Plehve. He was regarded as
being in many ways the power behind the
throne and was dreaded on account of his
control of the third (secreD section of po-
lice and also owing to the fact that ne
controlled the press OF Russia throush tHe
CensOrs, who. 1t has been understood diu
NJ Plehves bidding without question.
The deceased minister was laborious IN
the extreme, but had no trace OF brlllancy
and was an Indifferent conversati ationallst.
He was however, fond of music and was ac-
customed to read many French novels DUR
ing his leisure hours.
In Nav, 1903, NJ. Plehve was appolhteu
president of the imperial commission APP
pointed to carry out the emperor's reform
decree.
What part. If any. V. Won Plehve actually
played in the kishineff massacres wiz
probably never be known, but his enemies
have claimed that he had full knowledge OF
the events leading thereto through MS
political friend and agent krou shevah, H.
known as the most extreme anti-seml,e IN
Russia and proprietor OF the Bessarape'z'
newspaper of kishinen.
The latter is said to have prepared the
minds of the people of kishinef for trouole
anti-Semite articles. The object of Won
Plehye in this matter, according 10 1he
charges made at the time. was to divert
the attention of the people at large from
the government
Allegations Not Proven.
1t should be added that the allegations
made against NJ. Won Plehve have never
been proved to be founded on fact, ana III
view of the emperOr's inquiry into the mat
ter and the fact that Won Plehve retained
the emperor's confidence it Is only Just to
assume that the charges were unfounded.
The last great public work of Won Plehve,
so far as known, was the draltne OF inc
peasant code, early this year ms Is "
scheme for peasant reform, ordered by the
emperor in his recent manifesto by TINS
scheme members of the nobility In each
province and district Will be allowed 10 10
elect representatives in local committees. to
be established throughout the empire, but
the representatives of the Zemstvos will be
appointed by the governors.
Freedom of Discussion.
The local committees will be allowed free
dom TO discuss the project and to propose
any changes therein, except on three points.
which the emperor has reserved from DIS
cussion, namely, that the peasant CLASS
must remain entirely separate legally from
the other classes: that the commune is 10
remain untouched by legislation and that
tho neasants' lands are to remain fnalien-
able
ON June 13 of this year it was announced
from St Petersburg that the council of the
empire had approved NJ. Won Plehve's de-
cree for the repeal of the law under which
Jews are forbidden to reside within thirty
two miles of the frontier. This measure
has been approved by the emperor.
Coroner on Hand.
Guarded by police the body remained in
the street until the arrival of the official
corresponding with an American coroner,
even in the case of the most powerful
minister of the empire the law requiring
that this formality had to be observed
before the remains could be removed.
After this official had viewed the body,
| IL was placed in a carriage, covered by
| a robe and was driven slowly to little
| chapel adjoining the railroad station, and
| ,hen TO the deceasedS magnificent town