TRAGEDY IN A CAFE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 59, 27 July 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

TRAGEDY IN A CAFE.

OFFICER'S INSENSATE ACT. A terrible tragedy (says the Moscow correspondent of the Globe) was enacted in a cafe chantant at Kieff, Colonel Alexander Lilie killing a musician who had annoyed him. The colonel had come t» the cafe, which is called the "Apollo," and is a favorite place of entertainment, in company with some fellow officers and some ladies. There was a similar party at the next table, and the two groups soon combined, and arranged to take a private room. They were about to have a festive evening, and money was not spared. Supper was ordered, and champagne corks were soon merrily popping. To add to the gaiety of the party, some of the singers and musicians, who had finished their turns on the little stage in the public room, were invited to entertain the officers and their fair friends. A band of singers sang Gipsy songs and the popular pieces Russians love, and the fun was fast and furious until 4 o'clock in the morning. "Play the Saratoff March to end up," shouted Colonel Lilie to the pianist. The man said he could not play the piece, as he did not know it by heart, and had not the music of it with him. The reply .appears to have enraged the colonel, as lie drew his sword. He rushed at the musician, and slashed at him, cutting him in the.neck, just below the right ear. A vein had been severed, and the blood gushed from the wound. The officer appeared mad with rage, and the singers rushed from the room, followed by the wounded man. He managed to stagger a few yards along the corridor, and then fell dead. There was a wild scene in the cafe when the news was spread by the musicians, and people left hurriedly, fearing an incursion by the drunken officer. The revellers in the private room locked themselves in, and sobered by the horror of the tragedy they had witnessed, awaited the arrival of the commander of the colonel's regiment, to whom the manager of the place had telephoned. Half an hour later soldiers arrived, and took the murderer into custody.