The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-28


dence adjoining the minister of the in
terror. The carriage surrounded by
mounted gen d'armes passed through
the crowded streets, the sidewalks be-
ing solid mass of people. Even the
cross streets We're black with specta-
tors for blocks. AS if by magic every
body in the city seemed to nave sudden
ly become aware that a frightful catas-
trophe had occurred and to have hur-
ried to the scene As the carriage
passed all heads were uncovered.
The first hurried investigation of the
police seems to connect the crime with
the plot which was frustrated by the
explosion at the Hotel DuNord April 13,
in which case an officer, one of the
conspirators, was killed by the acct
dental explosion of an Internal ma
chine which at the time, il was said,
was intended for Won Plehwe.
On that occasion, companion of
the conspirator who was killed, es-
capped Owing to the frightful force of
the explosion, which completely
wrecked two rooms. blowing the body
of Kasanoff almost to atoms, severing
his head and arms from the trunk,
the heads of the police believe that
the explosive was identical with that
used in todayS tragedy, which was
caused by bomb or internal machine
of similar power with that of the for
mer plot and the perpetrator was the
man who escaped at that time.
AS further indication of the identity
of the tragedy with the Hotel Du Nord
affair there were in each case ex-
plosive bullets in the bomb.
Six Men Implicated
1t is reported that six men are i'm
picated and that five of them fed into
a Httel hotel adjoining the scene of
the assassination, the only one who
was wounded having been captured.
The hotel was surrounded by the po-
lice and all its inmates were arrested.
The wounded man, who is said to be
a Jew. was taken to the Alexander
hospital, so dazed as to be unable to
speak.
His condition was accounted for by
the fact that he took poison imme-
deceased minister's carriage was be-
ing followed by secret service men on
bicycles, but by miracle not one of
them was injured. The force of the
explosion was so tremendous that all
the windows of a hotel facing the
street were blown in and even some
of the large paneS of Warsaw station,
a hundred steps away, were shattered.
Some of the droskY drivers at the cab
stand in front of the station were in
jured.
According to a later account the bomb
was thrown from window of the War
torn of, the lower portion was COM
pletely shattered but the upper part
was untouched. There were only two
conspirators, according to one version,
one OF WnOn Threw Lne DOmD from IIG
window and then bolted. When cap
tured another bomb is said to have been
found in his pocket. A heap of debris
from the carriage was still lying in
ZabalanSky street, where the crime was
committed when the correspondent of
the Associated Press again returned to
the spot this afternoon. For a block
either side of the street was guarded by
police and no one was allowed to ap-
proach-
Talk af GuoceSSor
Even in the midst of the consterna-
ton produced by the tragedy everybody
is talking of Won Plehwe'S probably
successor. Won Plehwe's assassination
was officially announced at about 1
O'Clock and was followed Immediately
by the issuance of extra editions of the
papers. Although they contained only
four lines referring to the tragedy, the
crowds in the streets, SO eager were all
for details of the crime. Intense excite
ment reigned everywhere. Only the as
SaSSination of the emperor could have
his majesty himself. Won Plehwe was
regarded as the most powerful person
ality in the Russian government.
1t transpired that Won Plehwe was
on his way to Krasnoye Selo, 16 miles
southwest of ST. Petersburg, where the
Grand Duke Vladimir's birthday was
to be celebrated. The emperor is still
at the Peterhof palace. When the news
day were of course imm ediateIy cOun-
termanded and instead a requiem ser
vice was held. When the remains of
Won Plehve reached his residence a
requiem mass was celebrated and two
masses will be celebrated daily until
the funeral service occurs
Thursday His Dangerous Day.
The news was broken to the min
lster's wife at Kybinsk, on the Volga,
while on her way to their country seat
with their son. who is 81 years of age
A daughter is married to NJ. Voutch.
Continued on Page Six.)