The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-02-28
TRUE STORY IS
STILL HIDDEN
FACTS AS 70 MURDER OF PoRTu.
GuEsE KING SUPPRESSED.
AN UPRISING INTENDED
X Is Believed That Radical Republic
cans~ Were Ready to Rise on the
Night Of the Murder But Plans
Were Frustrated by 4 Detection.


Night Of the Murder But Plans
Were Frustrated by 4 Detection.
Lisbon. Feb. 26.-The mystery sur.
rounding the murder Of King Carlos
and Prince Luis is not likely eve to
be completely lifted.
The new Portuguese government
prefers that the crime should be re
garded both at home and abroad as
the deed Of individuals carried away
by the political passions OF the mo
ment, and inasmuch rs the republicans
are 20 anxious to clear their leaders
of the responsibility for the regi-
eide, both sides are glad to see, an
investigation which would probe the
affair to the bottom. Yet there ID
great dif1culty in gaining evidence.
There is no suggestion that there
was a repetition of the Belgrade plot
aimed at the kings person, but that
some OF the desperate political lead
ers were involved in the series Of
abortive plots against Francois life,
which preceded the murder, is be-
lieved in well informed circles here.
Franco himself told a friend the day
before he left Lisbon VIRTUALLY upon
the order Of the government) that 1t
was impossible to reveal to the world
what he had learned Of the intrigues
Of the enemies Of the king and him
self, and therefore, it will he neces-
sary for him to retire from the politi-
cal arena.
Leaders Keep Silent.
The disclaimers of leaders like Der.
nado Machado must be accepted so
far as the peaceful wing" is con.
cerned, but this cannSt be said of the
advanced, or radical wing, IS there il
plenty Of evidence that they had plan.
ned q rising on the night Of the crime.
Signals to the ships in the harbor and
Lu0 fUd1l dCh6 VII kAV 6AORO. vi 0ks
Georges hill were shown toward ma
tional liberty. The signals brought no
responses and the doors Of the bar,
racks were found locked.
The entire conspiracy fell through,
1t is related, because Of treason Of a
lieutenant. The young lieutenant
claimed that he had been deceived;
that he did not know regicide was
contemplated, having been led to sup
pose that only the life Of the dictator
was to be taken. This advice enabled
the military authorities to take the
necessary precautions and thus frus.
trate the military support.
Notwithstanding the betrayal, some
Of the advance republicans assert that
IL the active leaders confined In the
Baxia fortress had been free that
night in Lisbon, history would have
told a different tale.
Another Mystery.
Whether the plot was aimed at the
FsG4&428&#EEW E9MA4A&N El&Rt4mfI H%T3fg&E
murder of the entire royal family is
also likely to remain in dispute, az
the official view attempts to make II
appear that Prince Luis was killed by
mistake. This view, however. Is not
supported by the testimony OF eye
witnesses. One Of these, the tutor, Of
the prince, wal standing in the ar
cade at the corner Of Blackhorse
square as the royal carriage approach,
ed. He stood with his shoulder
against the shoulder Of Boissa, the
man who fred the shot that killed the
king. AS the carriage reached a point
almost directly opposite him, there
was q report from the curb about 81
feet behind the carriage The tutol
saw the king strengthen up, but hi
had no idea that q shot had taken of
feet. Thinking the report was a re
port of fire crackers. he turned t.
the man at his side and said:
Take OF your hat. It is the king
The words were not out Of hi
mouth before the man darted forward
revolver in hand. and running up t
within five feet Of the rear Of the car
riage fred point blank. The KIM
sank down and his head fell forward
In the confusion which followed, TIL
tutor saw the man who had fired ars
kneeling in the street, firing shots y
rapid succession. The crown prime,
was on his feet as the king received
the fatal bullet and the tutor Is Ger
tain that 1t was he who killed the muir
derer OF his father. Boissa was sho
from the front through the heart
Whether it was the crown prince
bullet which killed him or not. It 1
certain that the prince fred twice. 70
two chambers Of his revolver wer'