The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-03-20
MILITARY H0NORS|
FOR SLAIN KING
Body OF Greek Monarch Taken
TO the Palace.
CARRIED ON A STRETCHER

Procession Passed Spot Where RuleI
Was Shot Down BY Lurking Assas
sin.
Salonika, Turkey, March 20. - The
body OF King George of Greece wal
embalmed and removed from the hos
pital to the palace on a stretchel
borne by his son, Prince Nicholas, anC
several superior officers OF the GreeR
army.
The stretcher was followed by
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 kaleido
scopic variety of costumes.
Soldiers of the Greek light infantry
in their quaint kits surrounded the
humble military stretcher as a guard
of honor. The procession on its way to
the palace passed the spot where King
UeOTSe WdS SuOl UOWu.
On arrival at the palace, military
honors were given. The body was
placed on a bier in the main cham
ber and the Greek metropolitan Of
fered prayer AS the civil and military
authorities filed past many OF them
burst into tears. A guard of honor
consisting of Greek captains and
priests, the latter continually chanting
prayers, will be stationed around the
body until it is removed for burial.
Queen Olga, who is now on her way
to Salonika, tainted in Athens when
told of the assassination.
Aleka Schinas, who murdered King
George l. of Greece, appears to have
lived much abroad. He returned to
Salonika only when it was occupied
by the Greek army after the surren-
der of the Turkish garrison.
The premeditation of the regicide
appears to be established by the fact
that Schinas lurked in hiding. He
rushed out when his royal victim Haa
only six feet from his hiding place
and fired point blank into the back OF
the king The shooting occurred only
a few yards from police headquarters.
Lieutenant Colonel Francoudis, the
kings aide-de-camp, was walking. be
side his royal master, and ediateiy
Dire whis revolver. Schinas turned and
fired at the aide-de-camp, but the shot
went wild. Two Cretan military po-
licemen who were acting as an escort
to the king dashed at Schinas and
pinioned his arms before he could -
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 horrified to
find his majesty stretched on the road.
way.
Francoudis 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 to hospital.
He expired on the way without recov-
er1ng consciousness.
When questioned by the police,
Schinas truculently replied: "You
have courts 1 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
Since his triumphal entry into Sa-
lonika the king had been accustomed
to take an afternoon walk, either to
the famous White Tower or to the
cavalry barracks.
The kings confidence in the people
was so great that he went about
freely, attended by a single equerry.
The dangers of this habit were ap'
parent to his encourage, who repeat.
edly but without avail requested his
majesty to permit the presence OF
civil guards.
A few days ago four gendarmes
were ordered to follow the king, but
their presence was considered SO OBJ.
jectionable by his majesty and so out
of keeping with that affection which
he felt for his subjects, old and new,
that the number was reduced to two.
who followed at long distance.
With Colonel Francoudis, he was
returning after a walk to the White
Tower He was in a happy, content
ed mood, and as he walked along he
talked of the war. of the success OF
the Greek arms, of the capture OF
Janina and Salonika, and of this fit
ting climax to his fifty years reign.
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 to have to an
nounce to you the death of our be
loved king, and to invite you to swear
fidelity to your new sovereign, Kins
Constantine.
The officers responded by shouting:
Long live the king"