Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-03-22
MILITARY HONORS'
FOR SLAIN KING.
Body OF Greek Monarch Taken
TO the Palace.
CARRIED ON A STRETCHER
Procession Passed Spot Where Ruler
Was Shot Down BY Lurking Assas
sin.


sin.
King George OF Greece was shot and
MORALLY wounded by an apparently
insane man while he was walking in
the street in Salonika, Turkey, and
died half an hour later.
The body was embalmed and re
moved from the hospital to the palace
on stretcher borne by his son, Prince
Nicholas. and several superior officers
Of the Greek army.
The stretcher was followed BY a
strangely diversified procession. con
sisting OF regular troops In their cam.
paign outfit. officers in brilliant uni.
forms. clergy, civilians. Cretans, Mus.
sulmans, Greeks and people OF the
various Balkan races in a kaleido-
scopic variety of costumes.
Soldiers OF the Greek light infantry.
in their quaint kits surrounded the
humble military stretcher as guard
OF honor. The procession on its way to
the palace passed the spot where King
George was shot down.
on arrival at the palace. military
honors were given. The body was
placed on a bier in the main cham
Der and the Greek metropolitan Of
fered prayer. As the civil and military
authorities filed past many of them
burs; into tears. A guard OF honor,
consisting OF Greek captains and
priests. the latter continually chanting
prayers. will be stationed around the
body until ii is removed for burial.
Queen Olga. who Is now on her way
TO Salonka. tainted In Athens when
told of the assassination.
Aleka Schinas. who murdered King
George /. OF Greece. appears to have
lived much abroad. He returned to
Salonika only when II was occupied
by the Greek army after the surren.
der OF the Turkish garrison.
The generalization of the regicide
appears to be established by the fact
that Schinas lurked in hiding. He
rushed out when his royal victim was
only six feet from his hiding place
and fired point blank into the back OF
the king. The shooting occurred only
few yards from police headquarters.
Lieutenant Colonel F'rancoudis. the
kings aidede.camp. was walking be.
side his royal master, and Immediately
Dire whis revolver. Schinas turned and
fired at the aide.de.camp. but the shot
went wild Two Crctan military pc.
licemen who were acting as an escort
10 the king dashed at Schinas and
pinioned his arms before he could fire
again
When Francoudis saw that the as
sassin had been arrested he turned to
King George. who he supposed had es-
capped unscathed. and was Mortified TO
find his majesty stretched on the road
way.
Francoudls raised the stricken mon
arch's head from the pavement. but
the king was already unconscious and
he never spoke again.
Soldiers who had been summoned
by the shots lifted the king from the
ground and carried him 10 hospital
He expired on the way without recov-
ering consciousness.
When questioned by the police.
Sehinas truculently replied: You
have courts. ! will speak there"
Pressed TO say who he was and
what was the motive of his crime. he
replied: Take me to the police sta.
ton so that the crowd shall not NAL
treat me | will speak there"
On reaching the police station he
gave his name and few particulars
about himself
Prince Nicholas. the kings third
son. and other officers hurried to the
hospital Arriving first. Prince Nicho.
las summoned the officers and. speak.
ing in a voice that was choked with
sobs, said:
IT is my deep grief 10 have 10 an
nounce TO you the death Of our be-
loved king. and to invite you TO swear
fidelity to your new sovereign. King
Constantine.
The officers responded by shouting:
Long live the king"