Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1904-08-04
MINISTER IS
ASsAsS|NATED
-. Plehve, Russian Secretary
of Interior, is Instantly
Killed.
THE ASSASSIN THROWS BOMB
Is Captured and Thrown Into Prison
The Explosion Was Terrific
Hundreds of People See the Horri-
BILE Deed and Are Panic Stricken.

st. Petersburg. July 29.-Minister
of the Interior Won Plehve was as
sassinated yesterday morning while
driving to the Baltic station to visit
the emperor at the Peterhof palce.
A bomb was thrown under the min
listers carriage, completely shatter-
ing it. M. Won Plehve was terribly
mangled. The assassin was arrested.
The coachman was killed and the
wounded and maddened horses DASH
ed wildly away with the front wheels
of the carriage, the only portion Of
the vehicle remaining intact. I'M
mediately there ensued scene of the
widest confusion. Police and gend-
armes hurried up from every direc-
ton and vast crowds gathered about
the spot where the mangled body OF
the minister lay weltering in his
blood
The Associated Press correspond.
ent was at the scene of the tragedy
within five minutes after it occurred.
M. Won Plehve's shockingly mangled
body was lying in the middle of the
road. 1t had been partially covered
with police officers overcoat, with
the left arm, the bone of which was
broken off, projecting. A policeman
came up and raised the overcoat in
order to re-arrange it, revealing for
an instant the strong features of the
dead minister, whose head was bat.
tered almost beyond recognition.
The roadway was strewn for hun
dred yards with the wreckage of the
carriage and pieces of the red lin
ing of the minister's official over
coat A few yards from M. Won
Plehves body lay a shapeless heap
of the coachman's remains.
The assassination is believed to be
the outcome of a widespread plot, the
existence of which has bean suspected
for several days. Numerous arrests
have already been made, including
that of the assassin, young man who
is believed to be Finn named Leglo,
and who is now in hospital seriously
and perhaps fatally injured by the ex-
plosion of his own bomb. An accom-
plice of Leglo, also apparently 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 overpowered by the police just in
time to prevent great loss of life. The
assassin wore a brown overcoat and
a railroad officials cap. He stood on
the sidewalk just as Minister Won
Plehves carriage was about to cross
the canal bridge near the station. The
minister was escorted by a 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 wouhdins
over a score of persons. Minister Won
Pfehve and his coachman were killed
| outright and an officer Of the guards
| fatally injured.
st. Petersburg, July Ex-senator
| Won Plehve, who was assassinated'
was appointed minister Of the inter-
ior April Fl, 1902, succeeding M.
| Sipiagune. who was assassinated
| April 16, 1902, by a student named
Balschaneff. He had formerly been
director of the department of police,
| which position he practically assum-
| ed of his own accord, when in charge
| of the department of political prose
cutions, on account Of the incompe-
| tency Of the official who was in charge
of the police when Emperor Alexander
III was killed March H. 1881.
NJ. Plehve conducted the prosecu-
ton of the regicides and afterwards
recognized the police. From that
time on the power of M. Plehve in
creased until it became only second
in Importance to that of the emperor
| He was regarded as in many ways
being the power behind the throne
and was dreaded on account of his
| control OF the third (secreD section
| of police and also owing TO the fact
| that he controlled the press of Rus
STA through the censors, who. is has
been understood. did M. Plehves
| bidding without question. SO