The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-08-17
KING PETER. Of SERBIA, PASSES
AWAY; BIC FIGURE IN THE WAR

Greece, his son Alexander. took his
fathers place as commander OF the
army. .kleXa ndcr was later dcSjEna ;cd
Prince Regent by tho elder kar&gcOrSe-
witch and on November IS. 1918. TIC Ma
t!onal Council OF JuEoslavia a. hEram
Croatia. confirmed the choice. thus rc-
'ievinE the venerable kIns Of the ruler
ship OF Serbia, Montenegro. Slavenia-
BOSNIA. Herzegovina, Ialmat.a and rro-
tia. which united after their liberation
from Austria.
Lived tn Sh-Room House
Early IN 1919 the aged King was re-
moved to L quiet retreat near Athens
Greece, where he lived in a small STA
room house overlooking the Bay OF
fhaeleron. \ personal secretary and
his physician were his only companions.
He had only one diversion. An occasion
a early morning ride around the creek
capital in the side car Of motorcycle
driven by a Serbian soldier. 10 avoid
tho gaze of crowoS ne disguised him
self with mask and a pair OF goggles.
Later. his health became SO fteple thai
he passed musL of his time in bed or
wheel chair.
When a correspondent for The Asso-
ciated Press called to SEQ him in May,
.l91S, the king consented to carry on 4
conversation only through uc person Of
tn" Serbian minister TO Greece. 1t was
the last Interview granted hy the for
mer ruler of the Serbs. CroatS and Slo-
ycncs. To meet his long cherished wish
that he might die on his native soil. the
Serbian authorities IN 1920 brought tn:
Invalid king back 20 his beloved Bel
grade. He avoided society, however
and kept aloof from all court and pub
hc functions
King Pater was tall. erect and musc,i.
lar. and in spite or bis age had the aP-
pcarance OF much younger man. He
had all the rugged quantities Of one
Co. -. Fall
rapher. ''Hc took pride In referring ~
his humble origin and throughout his
life lived modestly and unostertauous-
~. He was extremely democratic ana
affab!c. Hts tastes were stmplc 70 the
point Of severity. He was beloved by
his people. particularly tho peasantry.
who called him Father Peter.
Under Suspicion
But his royal career was bcclouded
by a grave and terrible traEcdy--the
assassination OF his predecessor, King
Alexander and tho latter's wife, Queen
ORA ea--in the palace at Belgrade on
June 10. 1908. 4 suspicion that mcm-
bers Of the KaraE eorgevLtch family.
ot which Fethr was member. wern
implicated in the conspiracy which eK-
terminated tho rival ruling Ohrenn-
Witch dynasty of which Alexander and
placed Potter on tho throne 1--WE days
later. was never entirely removed. In
1911. whom King Fcter made tour or
Europe ne received somewhat OF cold
reception from other ROYALTIES.
All told. more than 20 persons ware
killed or wounded IN tho r7!ncc MT Rel
rradc whrn 4n nrmy officers forced
their wny in with dynamite. shot down
all who stood In their way aF they
pressed toward tho apartments or King
Alexander and Queen IrraER. and mur-
der~d their rnaje%rIes ms they "ronChrd
IN eorner Of their rcnr, ciaar-d IN
zach rthe-'s arms Their hodI"s were
cast through window. glass and al!,
into tho IA Iare rdrk ~ 'hr 81 me- limo
twn cabinet minister's Uare aSsaHainat Ad
+. THAR homes