Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-14
STORY OF MURDER RETOLD
Grave of Alexander and Draga, His
Queen, Killed Thirteen Years
Ago, Uncared For,
VICTIMS OF A CONSPIRACY

BELGRADE. Jan. d-Ths last Of the
house Of obrenovitoh. the murdered
Alexander lies in q little chapel in the
Belgrade cemetery. forgotten by con-
aueror and conquered alike. Beside him
rests Queen Drsea, the woman for whose
sake he broke off relations with his
father and whose influence upon him I'M
doubtedIy led 10 the sordid tragedy that
eStinguished this royal line.
The chapel stands IN the center Of a
neglected grave yard. It II = primitive
building. a larger sample Of the typical
Serbian PEASANTS cottage. without orna-
nsntation Of any kind. n IL Of brick.
rudeiy piastered on the outside. Only
cross carved into = tablet giving the date
Of erection shows that n IL not an
ordinary house or even = substantial
barn. Bullets have bored holes through
two Of the plain glass windows. and have
made biisters IN a half dozen places on
the plain sheet4ron doors The street
fighting was a half mile away. but the
modern infantry rifle has a long range.
and the chapel stands on ground elevated
somewhat above the scene OF the street
battles
A few Hungarian soldiers are ouaYtered
IN . building 100 yards away from the
chapel. None % thsm had any idss
whore the key TO the chapel was 20 -
found. The Associated Press representa-
tive finally crawled through small hole
IN the wall. which appeared 10 have
been made by q shell which failed to sx-
plode Scattered bricks and mortar lay
on the floor inside.
sacred Vestments Torn.
The scene was depresslng. In the middle
Of the floor lay a box containing books.
dust-covered and in disarray. The high
altar had been showed back into a small
ante-room The sacred vcstmenta. soma
OF them torn and muddied. were strewn
about the floor ana on the altar. a pic
ture OF saint. its protecting glass
splIntored. lay face down. A bullet had
found its way into one Of the crude
mural paintings. Mortar dust lay deep
over everything.
/ The correspondent had been informed
that the murdered king and queen wers
buried IN this chapel but there was moth
ing IN sight even remotely resembling a
royal tomb. Near one corner was 4
plain iettered slab. fianked by two wooden
crosses. In cyriilian letters on the slab
were the names OF two OF the older mem
bers Of the obrenovitch family. Right
and loft stood a crude Roman Cross OF
wood. on the cross-bar OF the cross at
the right was rudely lettered Alexander
obrenovitch." The corresponding bar on
the cross et the left bore the name
''Dragn Obrenovitch." There was not an
other letter on either cross. no date OF
birth nor death. no word 70 indicate that
the persons buried here had once been
king and queen Of the country.
In the more than thirteen years that
have elapsed since the murder. the crosses
: have not even been set upright They
ar simply leaned against the whitewsshed
wall. A niekeied candlcstick stands near
} the squaiid tomb; at the other side IL q
J tall. cylindrical sheet iron stove. SOLD
! means Of heating the chapel. No guard
ran separates the tomb from the piace
. loccupied ~ the vorshippers.
Tragedy is Recalled.
The mean tomb IN the little chapel re-
} calls the rogicide that stirred eli the
world. with the exception. according 20
the contemporary reports OF Serbia It.
, self. IN Juna. 1903. Trouble had been
J accumulating for years at tho Serbian
court. Alexander had aiienatad his
} father Milan and offended various uuro-
: pean courts BY marrying Draga Maachin.
J widow Of an engineer and a former
, woman-in-waiting OF Queen Natalie Ne
, potim and general favoritism atill fur
/ ther emblttered the old court party AZ
/ Belgrade Particularly was there wide
diuaffection among the army officers.
What gavo greater impetus to the
{ growing conspiracy eEainst King Alex
. ander was his act IN suspending the con-
{ utitution ON April z. 1908. declaring void
the mandates OF the senator's and council
lcrs OF state. dissolving the skupshtina
and setting aside various laws. includlne
The prcss law and the election law.
Late IN ths night of June 10. 1908. q
! band Of oonspirators. chiefly officials and
. army officers. and including coioue
! Maschin. brother OF DrAsA'e dad hus-
! hand. oveFpowssee OF shot down the veal
!. palace guard and forced their way "a
: the door Of the royal apartments. Tnii
door was blown down with dynamite and
the king ana queen were shot OF stabbed
}. TO death. and their bodies thrown orl
: . tho window into the small garden sur.
|. rounding the palace.
!, Murder House TOrn Down.
: Contemporary reports describe the mur
der as taking place IN the old Konak
~rAaN"lfaAfNANNAN bNta
srade. however. that the tragedy occurred
In small garden house which stoot
midway between the old and new Konaka
Thia murder house." a. Il was termed
y said 10 have been torn Down at ths
) order Of king Petsr. who did not carr
to have a perpetual reminder OF ths
j, tragedy before his eyoa.
I. The mutilatsd bodies Of the murderos
- king and queen. Il was reported at IN,
!. time were thrown into rude wooden cot
- fins. carried 70 the chapel on the hand
Il cart OF = sewer cleaner and buried un
l. tremendously few hours after the muir
y der
4 Thus ended the rule and the line OF tn
~ oorenovitehs. thirty-five years to a da,
!. after the greatest Of the line, Primo,
4. aichaei. had been murdered IN the Top
- elder park west OF the city. Primo.
I. Alexander OF the house % RarageorEe
! witch. father OF the present King Peter
"A was thrice tried IN Hungary for partiol
y patton in that murder. but after q con
viotion In one court. was acquitted b!
two others
The oonspiraoy OF isss was planned q
restore the karageorsevitch dynasty, an,
u the murdern Of Hfna rona x.,hefha. :.