Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-29
Assassination Of Russian
Minister N. PIehye.
His Death Caused by Internal
Machine at st. Petersburg.
Minister Of Interior Was On His Way
in Carriage to Call on the Gar
Many Arrests but Assassin 10 Be-
lieved to Be a Finn.

ST. Petersburg. July 2S-M. Won
Plehve. minister of the interior, was
assassinated at $50 o'clock. this MORN
ing, by means of a bomb thrown at
his carriage while he was driving Ia
the Baltic station to take a train for
the palace at Peterhof, where he was
to make his weekly report to the EN-
peror.
The assassination is believed to be
the outcome of a 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 a Finn named Leglo and
who is now in the hospital, severely
and perhaps fatally injured by the ex-
plosion Of his own bomb.
An acComplice Of Leglo, also appar.
emily Finn, but whose name in I'M
known. has been arrested. He had in
his possession a bomb which he tried
to throw. but he was overpowered by
tie police just in time to prevent great
| loss of life.
The assassin wore a brown Overcoat
and railroad officials cap. lie 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 a number Of
| detectives on bicycle sand one OF them
| iostled the assassin. who then rushed
into the road and threw the bomb af-
ter the carriage. The missile struck
the hind wheel and exploded with fear
| full force. killing or wounding over a
| r ,g.Az.
and his coachman were killed outright
and an officer of the guard was fatally
! injured.
One of the cyclist detectives arrest
cd the assassin, who endeavored to
| escape though wounded by splinters in
the face, arm and abdomen. He made
no attempt at resistance, however.
when seized by the detective. and con-
tossed his crime, but refused TO give
his name
The police Immediately after the ex-
ploSOn arrested a suspicious individ-
ual who took refuge in a hotel opposite
the scene of the tragedy. He carried a
bomb similar to that thrown by Leglo.
AS soon as the police saw the bomb
they scattered, but an employe of the
hotel rushed up behind the accomplish
and pinned his arms.
The explosive is believed to have
been composed of pyroxylin. as 1t gave
off little smoke.
The force of the explosion was SO
terrific that 1t 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 ironwork
of the carriage across the canal, sever
ing the thick mast of barge. which
fell, stunning the captain of the barge.
Everybody I'm the street was knocked
down and more or less bruised.
When the officers headed by Minister
of Justice Uuravieff, had terminated
the necessary formalities by drawing
up a written report of the crime the
manglcJ remains of the minister of the
interior were conveyed to d humble
chapel adjoining the station, the win
dows of which miraculously escaped
destruction. The priests and people.
with characteristic Russian piety, at
once joined in a solemn requiem. The
square in front Of the station was filled
with a reverent crowd OF peasants and
laborcrs. and the busy hum Of trafric
was silenced. a priest lifted up his
voice and proclaimed: "The eternal
memory Of the departed servant WEN
ceslas' while all those in the congre-
cation dropped to their knees
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