The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-08-03
THE MURDER Of MINISTER
OF Interior V0N PLEhVE.
Deadly Work Of Anarchist.

Most important
In Govern
r1ent.
ST. Petersburg, July 2S.-M. Won
Plehve, minister Of the interior, was
assassinated at $50 O'Clock this morn
ing by 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 twas to make
his weekly report to the emperor.
The assassination is believed to be
the outcome of widespread plot the
existence of which has been suspected
for several days. Numerous arrests
have already been made, including
that of the assassin, a young man who
is believed to be Finn named Leglo
and who is now in a hospital severely
and perhaps fatally injured by the ex-
plosion of his own bomb. An accom-
plice of Leglo. also apparently Finn,
but whose name is unknown, has
been arrested. He had in his posses
sion bomb which he tried to throw,
but he was overpowered by the police
just in time to prevent great loss Of
life.
The assassin wore brown overcoat
and a railroad officials cap. He stood
on the sidewalk just as Minister Won
Plehve's carriage was about to cross
| the canal bridge near the station.
The minister was escorted by 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. The missile
struck the hind wheel and exploded
with fearful force, killing or wound
| ing over score of persons. Minister
Won Plehve and his coachman were
killed outright ard an officer of the
guard was fatally injured.
One of the cyclist detectives arrest
ed the assassin who endeavored to
escape, though wounded by splinters
in the face, arm and abdomen. He
made no attempt at resistance, how
ever, when seized by the detective
and confessed his crime but refused to
give his name.
The police Immediately after the
explosion arrested a suspicious indi-
vidual who took refuge in a hotel op-
posite the scene of the tragedy. He
carried bomb similar to that thrown
by Leglo. AS soon as the police saw
the bomb they scattered, but an en-
ploye of the hotel rushed up behind
the accomplice and pinned his arms.
The wounded assassin was taken to
the Alexander hospital so dazed as to
be unable to speak. His condition
was accounted for by the fact that be
took poison Immediately after throw
| ing the bomb.
The deceased minister's carriage was
being followed by secret service men
on bicycles, but by miracle not one
of them was injured.
The explosive is believed to have
been composed of pyroxylin as It gave
off little smoke. The force of the ex-
plosion was so terrific that it not only
broke every window within radius Of
half a mile, but reduced the heavy
paving stones to powder. heayed up
the pavement and flung heavy piece
of the iron work of the carriage
across the canal, severing the thick
mast Of barge, which fell, and stun
ming the captain of the barge. Every
body in the street was knocked down
and mere or less bruised.
Capt. Tzvetskinsky Of the guards,
who was driving in cab, sustained a
fracture to the skull. It has been
trepanned but the captain is not ez-
pected TO recover.
The outrage is connected by the
police with an explosion at Kharkoff
three days ago. It was supposed the
bombs were manufactured there.
The crime is believed to be the out
come of an international anarchist
movement with which Gerschunin,
the Russian revolutionary agitator,
who was arrested at Kief in June.
1903, was Connected.
Gerschunin, it is asserted, was the
organizer of the murder of NJ.
Bogoliepoff, formerly Russian minis
ter of public instruction. and of NJ.
Sipiaguine, who was minister Of the
interior before M. Won Plehye.
Won Plehve's assassination was otfi-
cially announced at about l O'Clock
and was followed Immediately by the
issuance of extra editions OF the
papers. Although they contained only
FIVE lines referring to the tragedy,
the newsboys were fairly mobbed by
the people in the streets, so eager were
all for the details of the crime. In
tense excitement reigned everywhere.
Only the assassination Of the emperor
could have created more of sensa-
tion, rs next to his majesty himself
Won Plehve was regarded as the most
powerful personality in the Russian
government.
find nothing better for liver derange-