The Warwickshire Herald. — 1890-07-03 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

MAJOR PANITZA. _ _  Major Panitza was 0..4 at 10 k on Saturday morning in the military comp en r Sofia, In presence of Major lilarkoff, the Public Pros muter, and all the imolai in camp, comprising five regiments. Major Panitzo was taken to the camp in a closed carriage, accompained by one gendarme. On arriving at the place of execution the garrison chaplain heard the condemned man's confession. Major Panitza, who tied the benders round his eyes with his own bands, walked alone with a firm step to the place where he had to post himself, and after saluting the officers present, was bound to • tree. A file of 21 soldier@ under sub-lieutenant then tired a volley, the major being killed on the spot. Just before the order to Ire was given Major Panitza cried in a loud voioe,, 'Long live Bulgaria." The body was banded ors to the deceased's widow for interment. After the execution the officer in command of the amp ad. dressed the troops. The deceased, he declared, had conspired to overthrow the present Opine. He pointed out the dangers to which tbe country would have been exposed had the plot succeeded, and expressed his approval of the aentence passed upon Major Panitza, which he had well deserved. In conclusion, he declared that& similar fate awaited all traitors to their country.  Major Panitxa wee in his 39th year,though hix look ed much younger. He wasborn atTirnovo.remived a Ifaad education, partly in Russia, partly in Germany, and began life as an advocate. His business having once taken him to Macedonia,he frequently returned there for pleasure, became highly popular with his Bulger co-religionists, and received from them the title of voyode, or chieftain. On the outbreak of , the Servo. Bulgarian war be organised • volunteer legion of law and medical stadenta, and at the head of this force distinguished himself greatly in the short campaign which carried the Bulgarians to Pirot. At tbe close of the war, however, says a Tines correspondent, be stained his honourable record by an act of ruthless savagery. Prince Alexander, knowing that there would be no more , fighting, wished to disband the student legion. ?Ault= refused; and on the students sending him a deputation to say that, as there was no more call for their services, they should like to return to their studies, he abused the foremost among them as a mutineer and shot the young fellow dead. Having shewn first-rate military capacities, Panitza was allovred to remain in the army with the rank of ca_ptain,and his cruel act of homicide was hushed up. He was appointed to the artillery, and is acknowledged to have rendered the greatest service, in disciplining the men under his command. He was also devoted to Prince Alexander, and he shelved it in 1897 by taking summary vengeance on M. Karaveloff, whom be believed to be accessory to the conspiracy which deposed the Prince. Karaveloff having been thrown into prison after a quarrel with M. Stambouloff, Pantoa entered the ex-Regent's cell and flogged him with his own hand on the bare back. Panitza was never favourable to Prince Ferdinand's election. However, be took his oath of fealty like the other officers, and having been promoted to the rank of major conducted himself well for some time as commander of the artillery. Afterwards he was transferred to a Staff appointment and then began to express discontent at not getting further promotion. It must be said, however, that Panitru was always • airman trald. He was a bard drinker, too, and when under the influence of liquor cared little what he said or did. He was a distant relative of M. Btambouloff and brother.in-law of Colonel Nioolaieff, formerly Minister of War.