The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1908. A HOOLIGAN PRINCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 384, 12 May 1908, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1908. A HOOLIGAN PRINCE.

We published a news item last week in reference to the Crown Prince of Servia finding amusement by shooting the ash off a soldier’s cigarette. The bullet missed its mark and penetrated the unfortunate soldier’s brain. His body was put in a coffin and sent home to the father without any explanation. If all the stories told of the Crown Prince of Servia are true, that young gentleman can scarcely be regarded as a suitable candidate tor a Throne. It was rumoured a few months ago that King Peter was tired of the incessant struggle to maintain his position against intrigues inside and outside the Court, and intended to abdicate in favour of the heir-apparent. Perhaps he thought that the threat would be sufficient to silence his enemies, but it had quite the opposite effect, because the enemies of the present ruling house realised that if Prince George ever succeeded to the Throne their task would be an easy one. One London journal refers to the Prince as “ His Highness the Hooligan,” a title that sufficiently describes his character. The act which aroused the anger of the people against him more than any other of his deeds of folly was a raid on the convent of the Blessed Trinity, outside Belgrade. With three companions he drove from the city restaurant in the small hours of the morning, battered in the convent wicket gate, and ran a sword through a faithful watchdog. As the young men started on a tour of the cloisters, they were suddenly confronted by the Mother Superior, Then they seemed to have been brought to their senses; they got no further. The sacrilege caused the greatest indignation among the intensely religious people of Servia, and the insult will not be easily forgotten. The convent has since been re-con-secrated. A more recent episode is now being related. A mouse was caught in Prince George’s room. With the animal in his hand he went to the two sentinels at the main entrance of the Royal Palace, and lifting it upi near the mouth of one of them commanded him to bite off the mouse’s bead. The startled soldier refused, whereupon the Prince began to cudgel him terribly and threatened to shoot him down. On hearing the shrieking of the crowd which had meanwhile assembled, the officers on duty came out of the Palace, and it was only their interference which saved the fellow’s life. The Prince’s conduct is often violent, and the slightest disregard for his wishes throws im into paroxysms of anger. What a beauty!