ASSASSINATION IN SERVIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 915, 13 June 1903, Page 2

ASSASSINATION IN SERVIA.

I'ALA CIO KUKROCNPKI) liV lii:YOLUTIONLSTS. .MUKDKR OP KINO. OCKKN. AND .MK.MBKKS OP OUYKRN.MKNT, ASSASSINS .MIDNIGHT CONSPIRACY.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. WAKAI’UAKA, yesterday. It is reported that the .Servian army has revolted. The King and Queen and several Ministers have been murdered. LONDON, June 11. A later message eoniirms the news that. King Alexander, Queen Dntga, and the Queen's brothers were assassinated. The Premier, (teneral 7,. iMatko- \ itell, Oeneral Pavloviteli. and several other members of the Court have also fallen. it is reported both at Cologne and Buda-Pesth that the .Servian army has revolted and proclaimed the Pretender, Prince Peter Karageorgeviteh King. The reports state that soldiers last night surrounded the royal palace at. Belgrade, and assassinated King Alexander and Queen Braga. Jt is also rumored that several Alinisters have also been murdered.

BKLGRADM, June ii. •Major Angouvileh beaded the conspiracy, which was executed before midnight. Queen Braga’s brother and sister, tne Queen’s aide-de-camp, and M. Todorovitch (Minister of the Interior) were amongst the assassinated. M. Avakuinovileh, the new Premier, lias issued a proclamation announcing that the King and Queen were shot. T'lie friends of the fatherland in that fateful moment, had combined to form a new Government and they would invite the people to assist m maintaining order and security ; also announcing that the Constitution of BHII would lie restored and the nation’s representatives be summoned on the. 15th. M. Kalievicl is the Minister for Poreign Affairs in the new Ministry. Crowds have, been passing the streets since three in ttic morning, whispering about the tragedy without uttering a reproach. They cheered proticts and spies. LONDON, June 11. Diplomatists in London do not anticipate a civil war. King Alexander lias been unpopular since his marriage, especially since Queen Draga’s attempt to secure the succession of her family. The election of Prince Karagcorgev iteh, who is at Geneva, is not considered the most probable solution of. the situation. In the event of unexpected complications, Austrian troops will probably restore order.

THE KING GETS IN FIRST

SHOT

By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright.; Received June 11, at (i.-H p m. BKLGRADM, June 11. When Colonel Raumovitch asked King Alexander to abdicate, the King shot him. The Sixth Regiment, commanded by Mach in 1., Draga’s first husband’s brother, subsequently occupied the palace. Several of Hie palace guards were killed.

A HOSTILE ARMY.

QUEEN KILLED ON ROOFTOP.

A HUNDRED PALACE GUARDS KILLED.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyrighi

Keccived 12.24 a.m., June 13,

Bolgrado, Juno 12.

The Army had been hostilo since the King’s coup d’etat. Tho plot had been ripening for weeks, and was accelerated lest the new Skuptchiua olectod last week should give tho Premior a great majority to settle the succession to tho throne in favor of Captain Lungyevitza. Draga’s brother was disaffected, The Sixth Infantry, which was garrisoning Belgrade, surrounded the palace at midnight on Wednesday. They overpowered the guard, killing one hundred, including the commander. Colonel Naumovics, Alexander’s adjutant, by moans of a bomb, burst open the Royal bedroom, and entered, accompanied by Colonels Mischets anl Machin and some junior officers. Colonel Naumovics presented tho King with a form of abdication, directing him to sign, because in marrying a woman of ill repute he had degraded the country. King Alexander cried “ Traitor,” and instantly shot Naumovics dead. Mischets again presenting the document the King and Queen, in their night attire, fled to the roof, where they were killed.

Draga’s two brothers were killed in the Palace.

General Nikolich, with eight infantry, tried to come to the King’s aid. They encountered a strong force under Gagoviteh. Tbe latter was killed. Nikolich was severely wounded. Pretending to have an urgent message, soldiers gained access to the premises.

General Pavlovitch, Minister of War, fled to the barracks, where 25 shots were fired, killing him.

M. Todorvics, Minister of the Interior, was murdered in his own house.

OFFICIAL STORY.

KING ORDERS QUEEN TO QUIT

COUNTRY,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrigh Received 12.44 a.m,, June 13 Belgrade, June 12.

The official explanation published in Belgrade is that after dinner the King suddenly directed Draga to leave the country. She refused. The King ordered the military to occupy the Palace. The Queen’s friends thereupon rallied, a fight ensued, and the Royalties were killed.

OTHER ACCOUNTS,

HOW KING AND QUEEN WERE

MURDERED,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright 1 Received 12.50 a.m., June 13 Belgrade, June 12, Other accounts state that when Naumo--1 vies was shot, Draga appealed to Mischets, who replied : “ Let the King abdicate and free Servia from your miserable pretence.” Then Machin, having just murdered Hungyevitza, after heroic resistance against heavy odds, entered the bedroom. The King bravely faced the assailants, and tried to protect the Queen. Major Hazarovitch, a disgraced officer, shut the King in the face. The King fell. He tried to rise to speak, but a second j shot tired proved fatal. Simultaneously soldiers shot Queen Draga, who, falling on her husband’s body, then received a bayonet wound in the neck. The bodies were rolled in a sheet, lowered to the courtyard, and placed in a waggon until removed to the royal chapel. Toborovics’ daughter was murdered whiie shielding her father. The murder of the Queen’s sister is not confirmed. Prince Peter Karageorgevitch declares that he did not participate in the plot, which he regards as a detestable crime. Received 1.2 a.m., June 13. London, June 12. It is stared that Austria is favorable to Karageorgevitch if her interests are not jeopardised.

THE ARMY ACQUIESCE,

STEAD'S CHEAP ADVERTISEMENT

By Telegraph—Props Association— Copyright Received 1.25 a.m., Juue 18. Belgrade, Juuo 12. Though the coup was executed by a few officers, two detachments of troops and the rest of the Army quickly acquiesced. Mach has been appointed Minister for Works. London, June 12. 3lr Stead, of the Review of lvovievvs, asserts that in Match last one of his clairvoyants predicted King Alexander’s murder.

THE SUCCESSION

TIIE ASSASSINS’ REASONS.

By Telegraph —Press Association—Copyright

Received 1.22 a m., June 13,

Belgrade, June 12.

The Skuptschina has been summoned, The one which the King dismissed in March is expected to endorse Peter Karageorgevitch's election, nr appoint his son George, now being educated in the Russian Court.

Radical Servian newspapers declare that the chief causes of the conspiracy were the recent scandalous elections, the King’s uncourteous treatment of utlicers, his intention to remove tho war seho. ' to Shabtza, and the selection of Drag! a brother as heir-apparent.

NATALIE’S GRIEF,

By Telegraph. Press Association. Copyright

Received 1.17 a.m., Juue 13,

Paris, Juuo 12. Ex-Queen Natalie is in Paris. Sho is overwhelmed with grief.

A SKETCH.

As far hack as ISII2, under the heading “ Uneasy Crowned Heads,” the following sketch was written in regard to troubled Servia: — Servia has always been in war—sometimes for right and independence and .sometimes for revenge. Its people would rather light than not. Tiie veterans of the three wars .since ’.Sixty, to whom charges and repulses are a business, find little eon-* ten Linen 1 in the present peace. They long for the reopening of hostilities. Nothing will arouse them till they hear that their ancient, enemies are at their doors. King Alexander is the youngest iuler in the Balkans. He is conspicuous because of his youth and his father’s scandal. He has now passed his sixteenth year. Reared amid most, distressing family squabbles, where King and Queen quarrelled in public, and early taught that l lie crown was soon (o he his, the hoy had an old man’s head. His only associates are gray-haired diplomatists and politicians. lie never goes for a drive hut with some aged instructor. He has no young friends, neither does he want any. He busies himself with lany guages and bids fair to make a iua:;k as 'a linguist,. The circumstances which drove his mother from the country and the carousals of his father which the Servians bore until uune'arable, have made him seriousminded, and, in fact, thrown a damper upon all his court.