THE MIDNIGHT MASSACRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 917, 16 June 1903, Page 2

THE MIDNIGHT MASSACRE.

CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS,

By. Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. BELGRADE, June 11.

Press correspondents have been admitted to Belgrade, and further details are now available of the great conspiracy and assassination of the king and’ Queen. Colonel Mischet's party overpowered the Palace guards, killing and wounding 23 of them. Colonel Naumoviuli, King Alexander's adjutant, who was a leader of the rebellion, failing to force the main door of tile Palace with axes, shattered it by means oi a bomb, which killed himself.

The conspirators then killed Captain Maicovitz, aide-de-camp to the King, who barred the approach to the Royal bedroom. General Petrovks, the senior aide-de-camp, and a loyal ollicer, destroyed the electric light, thus giving the Sovereigns time to hide in a store-room.

When caudles had been obtained

iiie conspirators caught l’ctrovies, and forced him to conduct them to

the hiding-place ol the Royal pair, where, upon being discovered, both tile fugitives were repeatedly shot at and brutally mutilated. Their bodies were then thrown from the balcony into the garden, the fall breaking their spines, and rendering them unrecognisable. The Russian Minister to Servia found the bodies of the King and Queen where they had been thrown at 5 o'clock in the morning. Colonel Mischets states that be lost 54 killed and wounded, and that others lost 2I)U. The Queen's brothers were persuaded by the conspirators to leave their residences to join in a convivial party. During the proceedings,

insults levelled at the Queen pro Yoked a scutlle, their entertainer: killing the brothers, who died em bracing one another. Colonel Kaumovitch (the leader o

the rebels who presented the declaration of abdication to the King, demanding that he should sign it, and was instantly shot dead) was accorded a great military funeral, the ■C’cited populace attending in immense crowds. Queen Draga’s sisters were conducted to the frontier, and ordered to leave the country. The mutilated bodies of King Alexander and Queen Draga were buried in one grave, without pomp or ceremony. Two priests only were present. The assassinated Ministers were interred in a common grave, withcut ceremony, and the murdered officers were buried without being accoided the honors due to their rank. ST. PETERSBURG, June Id. The Russian press views the situation in Servia calmly, and announces that it is prepared to acquiesce in the decision o f the Skuptchiua, the Servian Parliament, on Monday.

SYDNEY, June 15

The following cable, dated the 13th, was inadvertently delayed in the Adelaide office King Alexander was shot in the throat, ilis last words were : “ Soldiers, you have betrayed me.” Queen Draga’s sister and two nephews escaped uninjured. The bodies of King Alexander and Queen Draga were laid secretly in Abieuovitoli Vault, St Mark's Cemetery, and interred silently between two and three o'clock in the morning. Four Austrian river monitors have anchored opposite Belgrade. It is reported that the garrison at Nisch have refused obedience to tho new Government.

The Russian and Austrian ambassadors called at the Servian Legation in London, and offered condolences in connection with the massacre. The Servian Minister replied that he was convinced Russia and Austria would respect the Skuptchina’s decision.

FURTHER DETAILS OF THE AWFUL BUTCHERY..

.VICTIMS PLEAD FOR THEIR LIVES.

By Telegraph—Press Association-

Copyright^ Received 10 p.m., June 15.BELGRADE, June 15. Behind the door crouched the victims. King Alexander, on his knees, begged that his life might be spared offering to yield to every demand, sign anything, leave Scrvia, and dis miss Draga. The officers replied “Too late!” and tired. The Queen, also kneeling, asked pardon for any offence she had committed.

An officer used a degrading epithet, and other indignities were offered. Then one with a sword slashed off a portion of tier thigh. Others then fired revolvers at the Queen. King Alexander was similarly slashed, alter whien each body was flung to a lawn enclosed Irom the street by an open iron fence. Both of the victims lived for an hour or two.

another version. Another account states that King Alexander opened a door in the wall Believing that the revolt was due to a report that his married life was unhappy, and that the officers wished to kili Draga, King Alexander contradicted the rumor. lie kissed the Queen, and both were then shot, lets S> pierced numberless bul-

WISE DEMAND OF RUSSIAN

Russian newspapers demand the trial of the Belgrade murderers like other criminals.

POWERS AS ACCESSORIES TO assassins.

The Government of Belgrade, professes to have received assuring advices of the attitude of the Powers and anticipates that Russia will recognise Peter after some hesitation. According to Servian newspapers it has now been discovered that King Alexander s gift to Draga of two million francs at the moment of marriage was abstracted from the national war fund.

THE SULTAN’S SHAM DISTRESS The Porte was stupefied at the tiagedy. Hie Sultan was greatly ' Would not lis len to the

PRESS SUPPRESSION,

Turkish newspapers were ordered merely to refer to the death of the King and Queen.

A’ COLONEL’S SUICIDE

By Telegraph-Press AssociationCopyright. Received 10.21 p. m ., June 15. r , , . BELGRADE, June 15. Colonel Zivanovilch, belonging to the general staff, committed suicide His letter giving warning of plot papers? among King Ale^nder’s

A FURTHER ACCOUNT,

TII nAi S^?n N,S FRAME OFFICIAL TALE OF BUTCHERY a

10R INFORMATION OF WORLD.

By Telegraph-Press AssociationCopyright.) Received 10.21 p.m,, June 15.

LONDON, June 14. A returned Belgrade correspondent states that the officers who executed the plot reported to Avakumonics the following facts which will be embodied in an official protocol for the information of the world : • ‘‘£ arl y in .3lay one of the officers in the conspirators’ council .warned

} the Kinp. who transferred them Jo 1 provincial garrisons. tie tea o take stronger measures. •Simultaneously the conspirators sent a la y, to Geneva to invite Peter promisin that the army would welcome proclaim him if lie would ag liberal constitution similar to U _ of 18SS. Peter accepted the oßtt . thereupon the conspirators decided on the tragedy. Maschm, the leader of the plot, by private summo . brought a number oi the conspiring officers from the provinces t» « city. They supped on the night th<? tragedy at a Belgrade restaurant and arranged the detal.. were executed as last cabled. terms Konam they were two hours searching every room. IL^ r t ■, inert Petrov ins, when hey asem tamed that the King s hiding-place was a secret door in the wall oi hebat room, leading by a staircase to the oof.