The San Francisco call., 1907-01-04
POLICE PREFECT
FALLS BEFORE
ASSASSIN
Major General Won der Lau-
nitz Slain in st. Peters
burg by Young Terrorist
CRIME IS COMMITTED
IN COLLEGE CHAPEL
Murderer Shoots Himself
and Wild Disorder Seizes
Aristocratic Assemblage

ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. BIN the
midst of a brilliant assembIage, graced
by royalty, in the sacred interior OF a
place of worship, Major General Won
der Launitz, Prefect of Police of ST.
Petersburg, was shot dead by a ter
rorist this afternoon. The paIe-faced
youth who performed the bloody deed
lived but a moment afterward.
The heavy saber of a member of the
murdered Projects escort crashed into
his skull, and as he sank down the
assassin fired the one remaining bull
let in his revolver into his own
stomach and his body wallowed beside
that of the Prefect.
AS the first shot from the terrorist's
revolver desecrated the holy atmos-
phere of the chapel and the body of
Major General Won der Launitz tumbled
to the floor screams from the women
rang in the place. Princess Eugenia
was among the score of fainting ones.
Grand Duchess Olga sister of Emperor
Nicholas, shrieked at the sight and was
supported by her attending women.
When the body of the terrorist. slain
by his own weapon, fell to- the floor.
the members of the projects escort. in
wild rage. swung their sabers and
hacke5 tie corpse In savage giuttopy
of revenge. springing TO the scene
with sword drawn, the Duke of Olden-
burg struck high the, blades Of the
escort and shouted to them to desist.
The scene was one of the most tragic
in all the red history of Russia.
MURDER IN THE CHAPEL
The crime occurred in the chapel of
the Institute of Experimental Medi-
cine. Won der Launitz, at the invi-
tation of Prince Peter Androvitch, was
attending the conservation of the insti-
tute chapel During the services, and
while mingling with several hundred
officials. the Prefect of Police was ap-
terrorist. who drew a revolver and
shot him in the base of the brain. Won
der Launitz fell forward and died in
two minutes. The assassin turned his
revolver on himself while he was fall
ing under the sabers of the Projects
escort.
Prince Peter AIexandrovitch. Duke
Of Oldenburg, is patron of the insti-
tute. Among the guests present were
his wife. Grand Duchess Olga, young
est sister of Emperor Nicholas; Prin-
cess Eugenia Amilianova and num-
Der of other persons prominent at
court.
The fact that General Won der Laun-
itz was to attend the conservation of
the church was not generally known
and the terrorists must have learned
of this fact from sources within the
police department
The murderer's toil-stained hands
were completely out of harmony with
his faultless evening clothes. a garb
which everybody attending official
ceremonies in Russia must don.
The fall of General Won der Launitz
was followed by a scene of indescriba-
BILE hysteria and confusion. The Duke
men who retained their composure,
seized the assassin's hands after he
had fired twice, and several succeed
ing shots We're fired into the ceiling.
He fell beneath the guards saber,
shooting himself as he went down and
dying instantly.
In addition to two arrests made
within the church. the doors of which
were closed after the shooting. sew
custody in a neighboring instrument
factory. which is believed to have
served as headquarters fo- the terror
lists