ASSASSINATED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 8 June 1927, Page 5

ASSASSINATED

A SOVIET AMBASSADOR SHOT AT WARSAW BY YOUNG RUSSIAN MONARCHIST (By Electric Telegraph-Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association) WARSAW, 7th June A young Russian Monarchist shot the Soviet Ambassador with a revolver. The latter was taken to hospital. His assailant was arrested. EIGHT SHOTS FIRED (A.P.A and "Sun") WARSAW, 7th June. The assassin was a Russian, Boris Kowerda, aged 19. Ho fired eight, shots at Voikoff, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Swiet at Warsaw, when entering'a train, to meet Rceengolt, fatally wounding him.

WARSAW SEETHING WITH

EXCITEMENT

POLAND EXPRESSES REGRET

(Received Bth June, 9.20 a.m.) WARSAW 7th June. The Soviet Ambassador Voikoff went' to the station to ' meet Rosehgoltz en route to Moscow. The couple paced the platform for some time, chatting. Rosengoltz entered the train, and Voikol'f was about to follow when the student Kowerda shot him in the back. Voikoff whirled round, drew a revolver, and fired at Kowerda, but missed. The next instant Voikoff fell, doubled, on the platform, his assailant standing over him and pouring into the body the remaining bullets from the revolver. : It was over in a few seconds. Onlookers seized Kowerda, who did not attempt to escape. Voikoff was taken to a hospital suffering from eight wounds, and died within an hour.

Kowerda en route to the police station declared: "1 acted upon idealistic motives. I wanted to kill Voikoff to revengo tho Soviet terror against Russian Monarchists." *

• Voikoff \s body will be buried at Moscow Kremlin alongside Lenin and Vorovsky. Tho city is seething with excitement. The police are specially guarding the Soviet Legation and trade headquarters. M. Zalwski, Foreign Minister, rushed to the hospital and apologised to Voikoff before his death and telegraphed the Polish Minister at Moscow instructing him to, promptly express the Government's regrets to tho Soviet.