A SENSATIONAL STORY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9085, 9 May 1908, Page 5

A SENSATIONAL STORY.

PRINCE SHOOTS A SOLDIER. Rceeived May 8, 8.35 a.m. BERLIN, May 7. The "Vossische Zeitung" states that the Crown Prince of Servia, while amusing himself shooting the ash off a lighted cigarette in a soldier's mouth, missed the mark and killed the smoker. The victim's body was sent to his father without remark. On opening the coffin he discovered his son shot. If all the stories told of the Crown Prince of Servia are true, that young gentleman can scarcely be regarded as a suitable candidate for - n throne. It was rumoured a few months ago that King Peler 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. t the enemits of the present ruling house realised that if Prince George evesucceeded to the throne their task would be an. easy one. One London journal refers to the Prince as "Hi* Highness the Hooligan," a title that sufficienty describes his The act which aroused the anger of the people against him more than any of his other deeds of folly was a raid on the convent of the Blessed Trin-

ity, outside Belgrade. With three companions he drove from a city restaurant, in the small hours of the morning, battered in the convent wicket gate, and ran a sword through the 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, for 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 since been reconsecrated. 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 entrance of the Royal Palace, and lifting it near the mouth of one of them commanded him to bite off the mouse's head. The stnrtled 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 that saved the fellow's life. The Princ/s conduct is often violent, and the slightest disregard fo: his wishes throws him into paroxysms of anger.