Evening star., 1917-05-20
MURDER OF RASPUTlN
| MADE HERO Of DM|TR|
Grand Duke Sent to Persia, But
Populace Does Him Great
! Homage.
Special Correspondence to The Sunday Star and
New York World.

Special Correspondence to The Sunday Star and
New York World.
LONDON May 5-No member of the
house of Romanov was more popular
in Russia on the eve of the revolution
than the Grand Duke Dmitri, for 1t was
generally known that he had hand in
the murder of Rasputin, the charlatan
who had imposed on the empress and
made her believe that he was a saint. :.
Soon after the murder the Grand
Duke Dmitri left Petrograd suddenly,
and all that the public knew was that
he he'd gone to the army on the Per-
sian front. 1t is now possible to re-
veal the extraordinary story OF the
manner in which the grand duke was
forced to leave the capital by ms
cousin. the emperor, acting under the
influence of the empress.
The day after the murder of Rasputin
the grand duke spent quietly. visiting
a few friends. and went to the Frencn
play in the evening. He arrived after
the curtain had risen and soon noticed
that his presence in the house was re-
marked by all. and that, indeed. there
was excitement when he entered the
imperial box.
He was soon warned that the pub
lie was so thankful to him for his
share in the murder of the favorite,
who was leading Russia to the edge
of a precipice, that there was bound
to be demonstration at the faii OF
the curtain and that he would receive
a great ovation. He therefore left the
theater at once.
Late that evening he telephoned to
Tsarskoye Selo, where the tzarltsa
was staying, and offered to come out
and explain matters. She peremptorily
refused to receive him.
Ordered to Remain at Home.
The next day. January 1. Gen. Maxi
movitch telephoned to the grand duke
fn1a
him to remain at home. and half an
hour later he came to the grand dukes
palace.
Her majesty begs you to remain at
home" said the general.
What does this mean?" asked the
grand duke. Am I arrestedg'
you are not arrested" said the gen.
eral. II have not the right to arrest
ASK. ASK: you Uus to aer remain ' at home"
And I say that you have my ar
rest in view" said the grand duke.
raising his. voice.
Gen. Maximovitch was at the palace
very early the next morning; so early,
indeed. that the grand duke was stfll
in bed. He got up Immediately.
dressed quickly and received the gen.
eral. whose message was brief
by order of the empress you are
arrested" he said.
The truth was that the night be-
fore the emperor had arrived at
Tsarskoye Selo, and. under the In
f1uence Of the tsaritsa, had determined
to have his cousin punished for his
share in the murder of Rasputin.
Sent at Night to Persia.
Apparently there was some hesita-
tion as to the exact form of punish
ment which should be inflicted on the
grand duke. At any rate. it was not
until three days after his formal house
hnV In Due hat
Maximovitch sent for him at o'clock
in the evening and told him that by
order of the emperor he was to leave
at night for Persia.
you the time at which your train will
leave said the general laconically.
The grand duke returned to his pal
ace. and by II o'clock was ready to
start on the long journey. when the
governor Of the city arrived to tell
him that the train would start at 3
o'clock in the morning. When he ar
rived at the railway station. attended
by one oficer and Count Kutaisov. an
aid-de-camp Of the czar. who was to
be his gaoler during the journey. he
was informed that he would not be al
lowed to telegraph or to send letters
until he arrived in Persia Not even
the station authorities knew what
route the train was to take. Directions
were sent by superior authorities from
point to point.
One thing the tsaritsa dreaded, and
that was meeting between the popu-
lar Grand Duke Nicholas and the young
Grand Duke Dmitri. There had been
too many palace plots in the history
Of the house of Romanov. and these
two might possibly put their heads
together and one Of them might seize
the throne. And SO. instead Of going
to Tidis, where the Grand Duke
Nicholas had his headquarters, the
train went to Baku.
The citizens knew he was there, ana,
rejoicing in the murder Of Rasputin,
gave him an enthusiastic welcome.
Aeroplanes did homage by soaring over
the waiting steamer on which he was
to sail. and when the vessel actually
left port. thousands gave the imperial
exile a rousing cheer.