The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-29
A HUGE CONSPIRACY.
The Russian Minister Surrounded by
a Guard of Detectives on Wheels,
is on His Way to the Peterhoff Pal
ace When the Assassin Leaps into
the Road Hurting His Death Bolt.
(By the Associated Press )

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 was 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, young man
who is believed to be Il Finn, named
Leglo, and who is now in a hospital
, severely and perhaps fatally injured
by the explosion of his own bomb.
An accomplice of Leglo, also ap-
parentIy a Finn, but whose name is
unknown, has been arrested. He had
in his possession a bomb which. he
tried to throw, but he was overpow-
cred by the police just in time to pre-
vent great loss of life.
The Throwing of the Bomb.
The assassin wore a brown over
coat 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 sta
ton. The minister was escorted by Il
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 eX-
ploded with fearful force, killing or
wounding over a score of persons.
Ola1,x h.
man were killed outright, and an Off
Ger of the guard was fatally injured.
Detectives arrested the assign who
endeayored to escape though wound
ed by splinters in the face, arm and
abdomen. He made no ATTEMPT at re-
sistance however. when seized by. the
detective, and confessed his crime,
but refused to give his name.
The police Immediately after the
explosion arrested a suspicious IN
dividual who took refuge IN a holei
opposite the scene of the trageily.
He carried a bomb similar to that
thrown by Leglo. AS soon as the po-
lice saw the bomb they scattered, put
an employe of the hotel rushed to De
,,.nu the accomplice and pinned MS
arms.
Force of the Explosion
The explosive is believed to have
Deen COIlDOSeu VI lOAy III eeN' = - =
off little smoke The force of the eX-
plosion 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 heavy piece
of the iron work of the carriage across
the canal. severing the thick mast OF
a barge which fell. stunning the cap
tain of the barge. Everybody in the
street was knocked down and more
or less bruised.
When the officers of the law
headed by Minister of Justice Mura-
yieff had terminated the necessary
formalities by drawing up a written
report of the crime, the mangled re-
mains Of the Minister of the Interior
were conveyed to a humble chapel
adjoining the station. the WlndoWsgo o.
which miraculously escaped destruC
ton. The priests and people, WIFI
characteristic Russian piety, at once
joined in solemn requiem. Ihe
square in front of the station was
filled with a reverent crowd of peas
ants and laborers. and the busy nun
of traffic was silenced. priest llftee
up his voice and proclaimed 'The
eternal memory of the departed ser
want wenceslas, while all those IL
the congregation dropped to theil
knees.
An Impressive Service.
no less impressive service was
conducted at the minister's stately
residence this evening, to which only
intimate friends were invited by M
Won Plebve's assistant, NJ. Durnove
who is temporarily in charge of the
ministry of the interior. The mag
nificent staircase and the reception
rooms were draped in black. The
body of the minister was completely
covered by a white shroud which con-
cealed the ghastly mutilations 1t
reposed in a black and silver casket
in a corner of the vast hall sur
rounded by luxuriant palms. Gen.
darmie and on-commissioned off
GERS stood sentinel at the head of the
casket while at its foot was two high
officials of the ministry.
The hall and the adjoining rooms
which are decorated in the Byzantine
style somewhat resembling church
were crowded with distinguished
personages, including Grand Duk,
Alexis, the high admiral. the Admira
AvelIan, chief of the admiralty
Prince HiIkoff. minister of railroads
Minister Won Plehve's associates M
Wahle, M, Durnoyo and M. Sevas