The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-01
BELLS TOLL FOR THE DEAD. Official Mourning For VOn
 Plehve. GEAR FOLLOWS COFFIN ObseQuieS Imposing at Burial or Murdered Minister. Police Learn The Alia. Under Which The Assassin Travelled, But Are
 Not Satisfied As to His
 Identity.
GEAR FOLLOWS COFFIN

St. Petersburg, July 31.--M. von Plehve. the minister of the interior who was assassinated Thursday morn Ing, last was buried today and in ey- cry city and hamlet of this vast em- pire church bells were tolled and mass- es and prayers said for the repose of the soul of the murdered minister.
 The services. which were according to the rights of the orthodox chuch were of an impressive and imposing character. At Il o'clock this morn iLg high mass was said in the stately chapel adjoining the ministry of the interior Emperor Nicholas and the Dowager Empress stood with the brok- en-hearted widow and the children of the minister at the foot of q great mound of flowers on which rested the casket.
 Badges of Honor Exhibited. N
 To the right. on gold embroidered cushions. before a mass of wreaths banked to the ceiling, were ranged the decorations which had been won by the statesman during his notable career. To the left were the Metropolitan of the 1 St. Petersburg and the officiating bish- op and priests in their igo1d eblazoned vesments. Screens of flowers con- cealed the famous imperial boy choir.
 Among those present were the mem- bers of the imperial family, the for eign representatives, including Spencer Eddy, charge de affairs of the Ameri- can embassy, ministers of the empire. generals. admirals nobles, governors of distant provinces. like those of As- trakan and Irktutsk-in fact all high officials in the kingdom, not even omit ting Genghis Khan, lineal descendant of the Napoleon of Asia, who is now a major general in the Russian ser- vice.
 Perfume Fills The Air.
 The entire assemblage was in full uniform and on the arm of each one present, was Il badge of mourning All held lighted tapers throughout thu, service and the air wao heavy with tie perfume of flowers and incense from the censers.
 At the most solemn moment when all knelt and many were affected by tears, the widow was overcome and tainted. The Emperor came to her assistance and she was carried out by gentle hands.
 The emperor was visibly moved and upon the conclusion ot the mass he followed the casket. which was taken upon the shoulders of the ministers and borne down the marble staircase to the sreet. The funeral procession was formed and the body was placed in a great white open hearse. drawn by six coal black horses which were blanket ed from their ears to their taus in sombre trappings black garbed groom otsod at each bridle and in ad- vance went sixteen similar clad lan- tern bearers.
 MOurners Follow on Foot.
 Behind the hearse walked the mem bers of the minister's family. then came a long and distinguished body of mourners, it being the Russian GUS tom to follow the dead to the grave on fot. The emperor himself walked short distance, but as the Novodavicky monastery, where the burial took place. was five miles away and also because of the condition of the em- press his majesty soon entered his carriage and returned to the Peterhof palace
 The cortege proceeded slowly through the streets preceded by squad of mounted police and passed within sight of the place where the tragedy occur red.
 Police Clear the Streets.
 The sidewalks along the course werar| crowded. but lines of police kept the streets clear to the curbs, As the body passed every head was uncovered and thousands crossed themselves.
 The monastery stands on plan be- yond the Narva Gates and at these gates fully fifty thousand persons were gathered.
 After q burial service in the church, l the body was inferred in the adjoining | cemetery where repose the remains of many of Russias greatest men and at | a point within a stones throw of the | grave of M. Sipiagune, who as NJ von | oIc faI hxyl the hand of an assassin less than two | years ago.
 The murderer of NJ. von Plehve has | been removed from the hospital to the l Wyborgsky prison.
 Identity Yet a Mystery.
 The police know the alias under | which he travelled. but say that they are not yet satisfied regarding his | identity and decline to reveal the alias | nthe ground that 1t might defeat the | ends of justice.
 There is no longer any doubt that the l police for some time have had know | ledge of the existence of a plot by ! band of international anarchists in Paris and Vienna. The leading con spirator. it is said, was a man whom | the Russian Government tried to ex- lTdulL ITOlH ItlIlo lust AeNlA' opHtS | of these conspirators arrived here a week ago, and the police thought that all of them had been taken into GUS tody.
 The far reaching character of the machinery of the interior department and the urgent necessity for dealing | with many pending matters render 1t Imperative that the imperor select q | successor to NJ. von Plehve immediately. | and 1t is considered that he will do so | this week.
 Hostility to M. Witte.
 Influences hostile to NJ Witte, Presi- | dent of the Council of Ministers, in | spite of his knowledge great ability and | the general belief that he is man for | the position seem to render his ap- pointment Increasingly improbable. | Prince 5. Vtatopolk Morsky Governor | General of Wilma, Grodno and Kovno, is | now prominetly mentioned together | with M. Muravieff. minister of justice. | Lieutenant General Kleigel. Governor General of Kiek Podolia and Volhynia |