Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1890-07-05 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

MAJOR PANITZA.  Major Panitza was shot at 10 o'clock on Saturday morning in the military camp near Sofia, in presence of Major Markoff, the Public Prosecutor, and all the troops in camp, comprising sve regiments. Major Panitzs was taken to the camp in a closed carriage, accompanied by one gendarme. On arriving at the place of execution the garrison chaplain heaid the condemned man's confession. Major Panitza, who tied the bandage round his eyes with his own hands, walked alone with a firm step to the place where he had to post himself, and after saluting the officers present, was bound to a tree. A file of 21 soldiers under a sub-lieutenant then fired a volley, the major being killed on the spot. Just before the order to fire was given Major Panitza cried in a loud voice, "Long live Bulgaria." The body was handed over to the deceased's widow for interment. After the execution the officer in command of the camp addressed the troops. The deceased, he declared, had conspired to overthrow the present regime. He pointed out the dangers to which the country would have been exposed had the plot succeeded, and expressed his approval of the sentence passed upon Major Panitza, which he bad well deserved. In conclusion, he declared that a similar fate awaited all traitors to their country. Major Panitza was in his 39th year,though helooked much younger. He washorn at Tirnovo,received a good 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 he organised a volunteer legion of law and medical students, and at the head of this force distinguished himself greatly in the short campaign which carried the Bulgarians to Pirot. At the close of the war, however, says a Times correspondent, he 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. Panitza 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 ehewn first-rate military capacities, Panitza was allowed to remain in the army with the rank of captaimand his cruel act of homicide was hushed up. He was appointed to the artillery, and is acknowledged to have rendered the greatest services in disciplining the men under his command. He was also devoted to Prince Alexander, and he shewed it in 1887 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, Panitza 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, lie 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 priimotion. It must be said, however, that Panitza was always a cerveau bride. He was a hard drinker, too, and when under the influence of liquor cared little what he said or did. He was a distant relative of 1. Stambouloff and brother-in-law of O'olonel Nicolaieff, formerly Minister of War.