The Grit-advocate., 1904-08-05
WORK
RUSSIAN MINISTER KILLED.
Won PIehve, Russian Minister Of In.
terror, Terribly Mangled by
Bomb Thrown at His
CarriaQe

st. Petersburg, July 29.-Viatschia-
seff Constantinoyitch Won Plehve. min
lister of the interior of Russia, was as
sassinated at $3.50 O'Clock yesterday
morning with bomb thrown at his
carriage while he was driving to the
Baltic station to take train for the
palace at Peterhoff. where he was to
make his weekly report to the Car.
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 Finn of the name or
Leglo, and who is now in hospital
perhaps fatally injured by the eXplos-
ion of his own bomb. An accomplice
of Leglo, also apparently a Finn. but
whose name is unknown, has been ar
rested. He had in his possession
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 railroad officers cap. He stood
on the sidewalk just as Minister Won
Plehye's carriage was about to cross
the caual 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 wounding more than a
score of people. Minister Won Plehve
and his cOachman We're killed outright.
and an officer of the guard was fatally
injured
One of the cyclist detectives arrested
the assassin, who endcavOred to escape,
though wounded by splinters in tho
face, arm and abdomen. He made no
attempt at resistance. however, when
seized by the detective. and confessed
his crime, but refused to give his name.
The police Immediately after the ex-
pOsion arrested a suspicious individual
who took refuge in hotel near 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 empoye or the
hotel rushed up behind the accomplice
and pinned his arms.
The explosive is believed to have
been composed of pyroxlin, as it gave
off little smoke. The force OF the ex-
! plOSlOn was SO terrific ludL IL HoL olliy
broke nearly every window within a
radius of half mile. but reduced heavy
paving stones to powder heaved up the
| pavement and flung a heavy piece Of
the ironwork of the carriage across the
canal, severing thick barge mast.
which fell, stunning the captain OF the
barge. Everybody in the street was
| knocked down and bruised.
AS Minister of Justice Muravieff was
driving to the PeterhCH palace this at
ternoon to report to Emperor Nicholas
| the assassination of the minister OF the
INTERIOR, Van Plehve. stones were
| thrown at him and his carriage win
dows were broken. The identity or
the minister's assailants has not yet
been discovered.
Every possible measure of precaution
has been taken to prevent news OF the
tragedy reaching the CZarina Her
health is delicate and it is feared If
| she learns of the fate of Van Plehve
the shock may have serious conse-
quences. not only to the Empress. but
to the child which is soon to be born,
and which it is universally hoped Will
| be the heir to the throne of the Car
and all the Russias.