The San Francisco call., 1904-07-29


Minister Of Justice Muravief was
driving TO the Peterhof Palace this aft
ernoon 10 report TO Emperor Nicholas
the assassination Of the Minister Of the
Interior, Won Plehwe, stones were
thrown at him and his carriage win
dows were broken. The identity Of the
Minister'S assailants has not yet been
discovered.
The assassination Of Viatsheshaf
ConstantinoVitch Won Plehwe. Minister
OF the Interior Of Russia, at $3.50 o'clock
this morning, with a bomb thrown at
his carriage while he was driving to
the Baltic station TO take a train for
the palace at Peterhof, is believed TO
have been the outcome Of a widespread
plot, the existence OF which has been
suspected for several days. Numerous
arrests have already been made, in
Guiding that OF the assassin, a young
man who is believed 10 be a Finn Of
the name Of LeglO, and who is now in
q hospital, perhaps fatally injured by
the explosion OF his own bomb. An ac-
complice Of Leglo, also apparently a
Finn, but whose name is unknown has
been arrested. He had In his possess
sion a bomb which he tried to throw,
but he was overpowered by the police
Just IN time to prevent great loss Of
afe.
BOMBS AWFUL FORCE.
The assassin wore a brown overcoat
and railroad officers cap He stood
on the sidewalk just as Minister Won
Plehwe's 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
gosteo the assassin, who then rushed
into the road and threw the bomb
after the carriage. The missile struck
che hind wheel and exploded with fear
ful force, killing or wounding more
than a score Of persons. Minister Won
Plehwe and his coachman were killed
outright and an officer Of the guard
was fatally injured.
one OF the detectives seized the as
sassin. no had attempted 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 confessed
his crime, but refused to give his
p name.
The police. Immediately after the ex-
plOsiOn, arrested a suspicious individ-
nal who took refuge in a hotel near the
scene Of the ira gedy. He carried a
bomb similar TO that thrown by Leglo.
AS soon as the police saw the bomb
Nhey scattered, but an employe of the
hotel rushed I'D behind the accomplice
and pinned his arms.
The explosive is believed TO have
been composed Of pyrOXlin, as il gave
of little smoke. The force of the ex-
plOsion was so terrific that it not only
broke nearly every window within a
radius Of a half mile, but reduced
heavy paving stones to powder, heaved
UP the pavement and flung a heavy
piece OF ironwork Of the carriage
across the canal, severing a thick
barge mast which fell, stunning the
captain Of the barge. Everybody in
ne
bruised.
BODY REMOVED To CHAPEL.
When the officers of the law, headed
by Minister Of Justice Muravieff, had
terminated the necessary fOrmalities
by drawing up a written report of the
crime, the mangled body of the Minis
ter Of the Interior was conveyed TO
humble chapel adjoining the railway
station. the windows Of which had es-
capped destruction. Priests and people,
with characteristic Russian piety. at
once Joined in q solemn requiem. The
square IN front Of the station was filled
with a reverent crowd of peasants and
laborers. and the busy hum of traffic
was silenced. A priest proclaimed the
memory of the departed Minister. while
all those in the congregation dropped
10 their knees.
A no less impressive service was con-
Quoted at the Minister'S stately home
this evening, but only intimate friends
were invited by Won Plehwe's assistant,
DurnOvO, who is temporarily in charge
OF the Ministry Of the Interior. The
magnificent staircase and the recep-
tion-rOoms were draDed in black. The
body Of the Minister was covered with
white shrOud, which concealed the
CHASTITY muulations- 1t reposed in
black and silver coffin in a corner of the
vast hall. surrounded by luxuriant
nal lreuNaTTu erie and nOu-pOrf1r0iS-
stoned officers stood sentinel at the
head Of the coffin, while at it's foot were
two high officers Of the Ministry.
A special edition Of the Official Mes
senger. which was distributed late this
afternoon. contained only a brief an
nOuncement Of the death of Minister
won Plehwe and the intimation that
requiem would be conducted.
Gar Nicholas did not leave the pal
ace during the day, although he had
arranged to go to Oranienbaum, nine
teen miles from St Petersburg. to at
tend the conservation Of the new har-
bOr. The CZarina has not been informed
cf the tragedy in view of the hourly
expectation Of her ACCOMPLISHMENT.
The news was broken TO the Minis
ffer's wife at Kybinsk. on the Volga
while on the way TO their country seat
with their son. who is 81 years old. A
daughter is married TO Voutch, an Of
fetal attached 70 the Council Of Minis
1ers. who was the sole relative of Won
Plehwe able 20 attend the first requiem
mass for the reDOse of his soul Won
PlehWe saw his son and wife off last
night and then drove to the residence OF
General Bogdanevitch. an old friend
and associate, with whom he remained
until a late hour. The Minister ap-
reared TO be preoccupied, and some of
the guests asked him If he had received