New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-03-26

Kolazovits In a letter to Premier Novakovitch
this morning the Crown Prince announced that
n. had taken this step rather than rest under
the suspicion of having murdered his servant.
and that he abandons all special privileges and
Iu7nunities which attach 10 the heir TO the
throne He expresses his willingness TO go
abroad for long stay
4 Cabinet council tonight decided that the
Premier was incompetent TO receive a direct
communication from the Crown Prince. who is
subject only 10 his fathers authority. The
Premier will therefore return the letter and ad-
wise the prince to address himself to the King.
The princes letter reads as follows:
Driven bv uniustifed insinuations. based on
an unfortunate occurrence, I beg in defence Of
nv honor. as well as my conscience, 10 declare
that I renounce all claims 10 the throne, well
as any other privileges to which 1 entitled.
beg YOU 10 take the necessary steps that this
action NAV receive sanction. place my services
as a soldier and citizen at the disposal Of the
King and the fatherN.nd. I am ready TO give
ny life FOR them.
II Is learned that the prince took fhis action
because Of a threatened Interpolation in the
National Assembly regarding Kolakovits. The
prince now says that before leaving the country
he Riu await the final result Of the pending po-
ItiCaI situation. and will join the volunteers as
private IN case Of war
The servant Kolakovits was removed TO a
hospital last week suffering from internal In
turies and died after an operation According
10 the report Of the doctors who performed the
autopsy the man suffered from hernia, and his
death was due 10 injury sustained in falling
downstairs. The press and the public, however,
refused TO accept this explanation. and openly
expressed suspicious that the Crown Prince was
responsible for the murder Of his servant The
scandal grew TO such proportions that 1t was I'M
possible TO hush 1t up According to current re-
L-o1a 17af0
the Crown Prince had caused his injuries
There have been many previous reports Of the
tr1taIities Of this Drained youth since he
came TO Belgrade after the murders Of King
Alexander and Queen Draga in 1893. Statesmen
and officials Of high and low degree are said TO
have been beaten and fred on by the prince IN
fits OF crazy anger. Another story credits to
him the murder Of gamekeeper, and still an
other an attempt 70 kill two footmen who
opposed his efforts 10 force his way into Bel
grade nunnery-
The general public is highly pleased with the
renunciatIon Of the prince, and hopes it will
mean his permanent obliteration- The princes
wild career and contempt Of law have scandal
tzed the country. Alexander the princes younger
brother, is much more intelligent. and would be
q much more acceptable heir 10 the throne
Tho action. Of Prince George OF servia- in recent
years have been the scandals Of the Servian court
He Is twenty-five years old. and was designated
Crown Prince Of Servia when his father, Peter I.
assembled the throne 1909 after the assassination
Of King Alexander and Queen Draga- He has been
O leader OF the party in his country since the
outbreak OF trouble with Austria-Hungary over
the annexation hy the dual monarchy Of the prov
inoes Of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and on visit to
81. Petersburg last October he urged by En-
peror Nicholas abandon his warlike attitude
His riotous living has alenated the affections Of
the Seran people, and II often has been said that
they would welcome the substitution Of his younger
Brother Alexander. heir TO the throne.