Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-27
MANUEL'S
THRONE IS
WA VERLNG
MAY PROCLAIM REPUBLIC IN
PORTUGAL
BOTH SIDES SEEK TO FORGET
CARLOS MURDER
SIayers of Late Ruler May Never Be
dentified-Reactioni Seek to
Clear Their Skirts of
Blame
By Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
LISBON, Portugal, Feb. 26.-The
throne of young King Manuel of Por-
tugal is tottering. Already the fires
of republican agitators have spread
throughout the country. That re-
public will be proclaimed soon is ad-
mitted; it's success is doubted.
The recent assassinations and their
consequent results have had a pro-
found influence on the nation.
The mystery behind the murder of
King Carlos and Prince Luiz is not
likely ever to be completely lifted.
The new Portuguese government pre-
fers that the crime should be regarded
both at home and abroad as the deed
of individuals carried away by the
political passions of moment, and mas
much as the republicans are so anxious
to clear their skirts of responsibility
for the regicide, both sides are glad
to see an investigation which would
probe the affair to the bottom smoth-
cred.
Yet there is undoubtedly much that
could be cleared up. 1t is a matter
of common knowledge that there were
intrigues In high places as we'll as low
before the tragedy occurred and the
rage of the leaders and lieutenants of
the two "Rotative" parties, against
which Premier Franco and King Carlos
were warning, exceeded all bounds.
There is no suggestion that there
was a repetition of the Belgrade plot
aimed at the kings person, but that
some desperate political leaders were
involved in the series of abortive plots
against Frances life which preceded
the murder, is believed in we'll informed
circles here. Franco himself told d
friend the day before he left Lisbon
(virtually upon the order of the gov
ernmen) that 1t was impossible to
reveal to the world what he had
learned of the intrigues of the enemies
of the king.
Conspiracy Falls
The entire conspiracy fell through, it
is related, because of treason by a
young lieutenant who, after the assas-
sination of the king, confessed to his
father, an officer the role he was to
play. Whether the plot aimed at the
murder of the entire royal family is
also likely to remain in dispute, as the
official view attempts to make it ap-
pear known that Prince Luiz was killed
by a mistake.
This view, however, is not supported
by the testimony of eyewitnesses. One
of these, the tutor of the prince. was
standing in the arcade at the center Of
Black Horse square as the royal car
riage approached. He stood with his
shoulder against the shoulder of Bois-
sa, the man who fired the shot that
killed the king.
AS the carriage reached a point al
most directly opposite him there was
report from the curb, thirty or forty
feet behind the carriage. The tutor
saw the king straighten up, but he had
no idea that shot had been fired or
that the king was hit Thinking the
report was the report of firecrackers,
he turned to the man at his side and
said:
take off your hat. 1t is the king"
King kilIec
The words were not out of his mouth
before the man darted forward, re-
volver in hand, and running up to
within five fet of the rear of the car
riage, fired point blank. The king sank
down and his head fell forward. In
the confusion which followed the tutor
saw the man who had fired first kneel-
ing in the street with carbine at his
shoulder, firing shots in rapid sue
cesSion.
The crown prince was on his feet as
the king received the fatal bullet, and
the tutor is certain that it was he who
killed the murderer of his father. Bois-
So was shot from the front through the
heart. Whether 1t was the crown
princes bullet which killed him or not,
it is certain that the prince fired twice,
for two chambers Of his revolver We're
I'M tn
that the plot was to kill the entire roy
al family, thus obliterating the dynasty
and precipitating a change in the re-
pine