Servia.

Manawatu Herald, 18 June 1903, Page 2

Servia.

King Alexander was shot in the throat. His 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 the Obrenovitch vault, at St Mark’s Cemetery, and were interred silently between two o’clock and three o’clock in the morning.

Four Austrian river monitors have anchored opposite Belgrade. It is reported that the garrison at at Niach has refused obedience to the new Government,

The Russian and Austrian AmW bassadors cabled to the Servian Legation in London their condolences respecting the massacre. The t-'ervian Minister replied that he was convinced Russia and Austria would respect the decision of the Skuptchina. • THE FIGHTING IN THE PALACE

Press correspondents have been admitted to-Belgrade. In the attack on the Palace, Colonel Mischeti’s party overpowered the Palace guards, killing or wounding twenty-six of them, - Colonel Naumovich, failing to force the main door of the Palace with axes, shattered it by means of a bomb, which killed himself. The conspirators then killed Captain Muicovich, aide-de-campj who bailed the approach to the royal bedroom. General Petrovic, senior aide-de-camp, destroyed the electric light, giving the Sovereigns time to hide in a store-roOm.

When Candles were obtained the conspirators forced Petrovic to conduct them to the hiding-place, where both fugitives were repeatedly shot and brutally mutilated. They were then thrown into the garden, the fall breaking their spines and rendering them unrecognisable he Russian Minister found the bodies at 5 o’clock in. the morning. Colonel Mischcti says he lost fiftyfour men killed and wounded, and that the loss of the Royal party was two hundred. The brothers of the lajie Queen Draga were persuaded to leave their residences and join a convivial party Insults levelled at the Queen provoked a scuffle, in which the entertainers killed the brother, who died embracing one another. Colonel Naumovich, who lost his life in the attack on the Palace was accorded a great military funeral. Queen Draga’s sisters were conducted to the frontier.

King Alexander and Queen Draga were burned in :one grave, two priests only being present The Ministers were interred without ceremony, and the murdered officers were buried without honors. OTHELI ACCOUNTS. Another account of the recent murder at the palace says :—Behind the door crouched the victims— Alexander, on his knees, begging for his life, offering to yield every demand, sign anything, leave Servia and dismiss Queen Draga. The officers replied, “ Too late ! ” and fired. The Queen, also kneeling, asked pardon for an offence she had committed. An officer used a degrading epithet towards her, and other indignities were offered. Then, raising his swoad, the officer slashed oft portion of her thigh. The others fired their revolvers at the Queen.

Alexander was similarly slashed. Afterwards the bodies were flung on the lawn—enclosed from the street by an open iron fence. Both of the victims lived for ah hour or two

Another account states that Alexander opened a door in the wall of the palace, believing the revolt was due to a report that his married life was unhappy and that the officers wished to kill Queen Draga

Alexander contradicted the rumour, and kissed the Queen. Both were then shot, and fell pierced with numberless bullets.

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

The Government at Belgrade professes to have. received assuring advices regarding the attitude of the Powers. It anticipates that Russia will recognise Peter Karagergevitch after some hesitation. Accordingto Servian newspapers, it has now been discovered that Alexander’s gift to Queen Draga of two million francs at the moment of their marriage was abstrreted from the national war fund.

ihe Porte is stupefied at the tragedy. The Sultan is greatly affected. He would not listen to details of the murder.

Turkish newspapers have been ordered to merely refer to “ the death of the King and Queen.”

DECLARATION BY THE CHOSEN ICING.

The correspondent of the “ Baity Express” at Geneva states that Peter Karageorgevitch declares that the nation mast average the crime. A King who could overlook it or receive a crown at the hands of assassins would.be their accomplice. The “Daily Mail” asserts that Czar was greatly shocked at the news of the murder, and, with tears in his eyes, said to Count Lamsdorff (Foreign Minister), “ This is our fault. We ought to ■ have had Alexander better watched.” A conference of members of the Senate and Deputies unanimously decided in favour of the Constitution of 1888, and of Peter Karageorgevitch as King.