MURDER OF CZAR FAMILY.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1920, Page 2

MURDER OF CZAR FAMILY.

ALLEGED DETAILS. AUSTRALIAN ( fc N.Z 2ADI.E ASSOCIATION! LQNDOfN, August 16. The “Standard” publishes what purports to be the final and conclusive details of the murder of the Czar family at Ekaterinburg in 1918. The facts were collected by General Diederichs, Commander of the Czecho-Slovakian and Siberian troops, who carefully investigated the circumstances. The victims were harshly treated while prisoners. At two o’clock in the morning on July 17th a Russian named Yourowskyh, with ten Letts, and five Soviet deputies, all Jews, entered the rooms were the victims were guarded. Yourowskyh, addressing the Czar, said: ‘•Ypur life js finished. The Czar repled: “I am ready,” while two ladies and Doctor Cotkine made the sign of the Cross. Three Gram}, Duchesses fainted. The Czarevitch remained standing, her eyes seeming as if they would start from their sockets. She appeared to have lost her reason. Yourowskyh gave the signal and fired the first shot with a revolver. The Czar fell dead. Killing of others followed. Those who did not succumb from the revolver shots were killed with bayonets and the butts of rifles The Grand Duchess Anastasia- was lastly stabbed dead with bayonets. These facts have beep proved by a pripst and the wife of one of tiip murderers. The bodies were afterwards burnt, and what remained was thrpwu into a mine containing water. On the day following the Grand Duke Serge and his three sons were executed at Alapaevka, and the bodies thrown into a mine.