The Northern Guardian. — 1898-03-01 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE ATTACK ON THE KING OF GREECE.  A SECRET SOCIETY.  DYNAMITE BOMB DVCOVERED  SENSATIONAL STATEMENT BY  AN ASSAILANT.  •TELEGRAII.I Athens, lloaday.  Karditza, who was arrested yesterday for tl.e attaok on the King of Greece, is about 3,7) ram of age. lie was at one time a non-eommiasioned officer in the army, and belongs to a class of zneu of doubtful repute known locally se Kontzarautia. Although in the employment of the municipality he was very irregular in his attendance at the Town Hall. The authorities having obtained information that he was in hiding in a house of ill-fame, a detachment of police was sent to surround the building, but Karditza, to disarm suspicion, had meanwhile proceeded to th Public Prosecutor's office to voluntarily surrender himself and declare his innocence.  On being closely pressed. however, he confessed that he was one of the King's assa.ilants. He ex! premed no regret for his act, and declared that his accomplice would have infallibly shot His Majesty had not his band treml,led while taking aim. Beyoni this. however, the prisoner firmly refused to make any revelations. He seems to have a very vague idea of the term anarchism, and it is believed that he is a man of very low intellect, whose head has been turned by the abuse daily heaped upon the Royal Family by certain organs of the Press. The " Asti" is informed that for two months past it has been known to several persons that a certain club was holding secret meetings in a locality outside the eapital, and that its members decided upon the assassination of the King as soon as it became known that international finuncial control had been accepted. The decisions of the club were recorded in writing, and copies cf the resolutions passed by members vere sent to King George Mimelf. The name of Karditza figured prominently in these documents, but His Majesty paid no heed to the threats addressed to him. He continued to drive or walk out accompanied only by Princess Marie. His Majesty has also latterly rectived many anonymous letters of a threatening character. The members of the secret club belonged to the lowest classes of society. They accuse the King and his advisers of 'being instruments of foreign Power's. Thousands of congratulatory telegrams have "been received at the Palace from every part of the kingdom and from Greeks residing abroad. The Royal Family has been much touched by these expressions of loyalty. The police have discovered a dynamite bomb near the spot where the attempt was made to shoot King George. Further investigations confirm the particulars given by the Asti" regarding the secret society to which the prisoner Karditza belonged. Karditza declares that he fired six shots, while his accomplice fired two. If his companion had displayed greater coolness, he adds, the attempt would have succeeded, but the King having risen and 'brandished his cane the man was afraid and could not take a steady aim. Karditza says he would have respected the life of Princess Marie, his plan being to kill the coachman and homes and then murder the King with the old large bore pistols which both amassing carried on their persons. The bullet intended for the coachman struck the footman.