The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1923-07-26
PLOT TO FREE FORMER
CAR FORCED EXECUTION
DethrOned Ruler and Family I'm
warned of Doom, Herded Into
Room and Shot Down

Romanoff and his family at Ekater-
inburg, the Soviet government has
given out an official announcement
containing details Of the killing.
After the arrest and interment of
the royal prisoners at the palace at
TsarkOe Sele, sentiment of the work
ers, soldiers and sailors became so
strong against them that they had to
be moved to TObolsk, according to the
announcement. At Tobolsk, authen-
tic reports of a plot by counter revo-
lutionaries for the escape of the Gar
and his family caused the decision to
move them to Ekaterinburg.
The Matching of another plot for
the Cars escape from Ekaterinburg
is alleged in the Bolshevik official
statement, which says in part:
"Although the district Soviet de-
feated attempts of various people to
communicate with the prisoners on
divers preteXts it soon became evil
dent, even to the mass of the popu-
! lation, that the monarchist groups
were focking to Ekaterinburg to or
ganize a plot for Nicholas's release
At one time the district Soviet was
faced with the prospect of a spon-
| taneous uprising Of workers against
the Gar and those around him,
which necessitated at first an endless
watch by members Of the Soviet.
Later connection between so-calleC
members of the Red Cross present in
Ekaterinburg and the Czchslovaks
was definitely established.
During this period the movement
Of Orenburg Cossacks and of Czechs
created a threat of attack on Ekater-
inburg, which the fighting line was
now approaching. The Romanotf
family in the city had increased.
From Viatka were brought the for
mel, Grand Duke and Princes Sergy,
lIichaeloyitch, Igor, Constantin, Ivan
Constantinovitch and Prince Paley.
Also were sent from Moscow by de-
cision of the All-Russian EXtraordin-
airy Commission (Cheaka) the widow
of Grand Duke Sergy AleXandrovitch
(former Governor Of Moscow, -assass-
mated in 19O5,) Elizabeth Fedora
vora.
The danger Of their presence in
Ekatcrinburg, in proximity to the
battle line, led the district Soviet to
send them to Alopayevsk under re-
sponsjbility Of the local Ispolcom
| With them We're sent two Serbs
Migichi and Vogevich, who had come
to Ekaterinburg with { mission from
the Serbian Charge d'Atfairs, to COM
municate with Nicholas. They pre-
tended that they had received per
mission from Moscow for this, which
was untrue. Therefore they were
arrested.
Gas the battle line approached, the
| activity Of the ,monarchist elements
increased. The following extracts
show the types Of letters for the pris-
oners seized by the vigilant guard
ians:
The hour of liberation approa-
ches, and the days of the usurpers
are numbered. Slavic armies are now
within several versts of Ekaterin,
burg. The moment has come. 1t is
necessary to act.
another runs:
Your friends are not sleeping
and hope the hour so long awaited
has struck
"In June information reached the
Ural Soviet that an organization
formed to liberate the Romanoffs was
about to act. This led to discussion
of executing the prisoners. Social
Revolutionary members of the Soviet
Hotimsky and Sokovitch, and Others
insisted on the earliest execution
accusing the Communists of incon,
sistency.
"The question of shooting Nicholas
Romanoff and all with him was de
cided in principle early in July. The
organization of the execution and the
date were left to the Presidium Of the
Soviet.
"The sentence was carried out OF
the night of July 10th. Two days
later the President of Ekaterinburg
Ispolcom Golohekin, announced from
the stage of the town theatre: or
the night of July 10th Nicholas the
Bloody was shot by order of the Elk.
aterinburg Soviet of workers anc
peasants
"In a session of the AlI-Russiar
Central Executive Committee hello
July 18 Chairman Sverdlov reported
the execution of the former Gar
After discussion of all the circum-
stances of the case, the Presidiumj OF
the Central Committee approved the
action of the Ural Soviet.
"When the Presidium of the Dis.
trict Soviet signed the death warrant
of Nicholas Romanoff and his family
|