SENSATIONAL CRIME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18397, 12 May 1923, Page 9

SENSATIONAL CRIME.

■ ♦ » ' MURDER^-LAUSMyE. RUSSIAN DELEGATE SHOT. : // ONE MORTALLY \ WOUNDED. 'fh. , ~ SECRETARY ALSO HURT. I - ATTACKED 'IN AN HOTEL. •C By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. / LAUSANNE, May 10. A sensational, crime, resulting in the death of M. Vorowsky and the mortal & ,' •wounding of M. Ahrens, two of the Russian delegates to the conference, occurred here to-day. The secretary to the delegation, M. Dimilrleff, was also severely wounded dining at the Hotel Cecil when a man at a neighbouring table suddenly fired 10 shots. ' The murderer, having emptied his reJ-. rolvers, turned to the horror-stricken v - guests and said calmly: "Well, call the police; I don't regret what I have done." Then ho awaited the arrival of the police, with whom he left the hotel quietly. The name of the assassin is Conrad, and his /. age is 53. Ho formerly was a captain ,"'■ ■ in the Russian Army, and had only just arrived at Lausanne from Zurich. At first it was stated that the assassin belong to the Fascisti, but this is now denied. It is known, however, that Fascisti tried, two days ago, to persuade M. Vorowsky to leave Lausanne. They called at his hotel, but he refused to see • them. Ifc was known they were using threats. '•_■', After the shooting M. Ahrens made the following . statement:—"When we sat down to dinner I noticed an elegantly dressed young man seated two tables away, drinking continually small glasses ! of cognac. When ho, rose I • saw the | muzzle of his revolver pointing directly at the back of M. Vorowsky's head. M. : ';.;/' Vorowsky was shot point-blank and killed , • instantly. I tried, to grab the revolver, hut was too late, and was shot in the leg. I fainted and fell over M. Vorow--V sky's body. ,M. Ahrens' condition had improved at midnight,- when he issued another statement. " I formally accuse the- Swiss Government of being accomplices'in this murder," he said, "because, despite the .[,. measures against- us, no precaution as J; taken to 'safeguard us." ■ #M. Ahren also accuses the, secretariat ?"'; to the conference of ) doing everything to render the situation of the Russian delegates difficult. .The chief of the Fascist • movement at Lausanne states 'hat after communication with the Swiss Govern- . ment, they decided not to put into action : their threat, made last Sunday, on M. Vorowsky's expulsion. '/,,".'- Conrad, while waiting for the police, lighted a cigarette. ' Questioned why he | murdered. M. Vorowsky he replied: "To avenge my father and uncle, who were ;. ~" victims of Bolshevism. . Humanity is rid of a monster." .'*.; \'_ M. Vorowsky was known to be one of j 7 Lenin's tools. When. the Bolsheviks, with I Lenin at their head* went from Switzer- I land to Russia. M. Vorowsky was left | at Stockholm en. route. The money sent j from Berlin for the first Bolshevik rising \ ' in June, 1917, went through M. Vorow- . sky's hands. He later was Bolshevik representative at Stockholm, and was afterwards transferred to Rome. He attended ■'■': the first Lausanne Conference with M. Tchicherin. . He 'arrived at the present conference a week ago, uninvited, and since had been engaged in acrimonious correspondence with the conference,- for .admission; also with the Swiss authori- . ties, who, he alleged, treated him with ..lack of respect. During their coup in .Rome in September, Fascists entered his .. house and. endeavoured to force him to drink a pint. of castor oil. He was saved this ordeal at the last moment.