WARSAW ASSASSINATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19659, 10 June 1927, Page 11

WARSAW ASSASSINATION.

STATEMENT BY ACCUSED. VICTIM CLOSELY FOLLOWED. KILLED FOR NATIONAL RUSSIA. "POLAND CONDEMNS THE DEED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received June 9. 7.26 p.m.) A. and N.Z. WARSAW. Jnne 9. The youth, Kowerda, assassin of the Soviet plenipotentiary representative at Warsaw, Mr. Peter Voikoff, had of late been a pupil at a Rifssian gymnasium at Vilda. He was supported! by a charitable organisation. He came to Warsaw four days ago and applied to the Soviet Legation lor a Russian visa. This was refused. It is believed this application tvaa a ruse to enable Kowerda to meet Mr. Voikoff, whom he had already determined to kill. The Soviet Minister was about to proceed to Russia on leave on the day of the crime. Kowerda hovered in the vicinity of the Legation, and finally followed the Minister to the station. Kowerda now declares that he is not s member of any party. He says he committed the deed for National Russia against the Third (Communist) International. Poland Disclaims Responsibility. All the Polish newspapers express indignation at the crime. It has been rovealed that the Government of Poland recently offered Mr. Voikoff special police protection, but he declined the offer. The Note from the Soviet Deputy-Com-missar of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Litvinoff, to tho Polish Government protesting against the tnurcler, has caused a painful impression in Poland. Notwithstanding this communication the Polish Government will not bo deflected from its normal course. It is understood a reply will be sent to the Soviet emphatically disclaiming responsibility for tho crime. Russian Monarchists. Arrested. Acting on the supposition that the assassination was tho result of a plot the Polish police have arrested 30 Russian monarchists at Vilda and seven at Warsaw. Tho persons arrested include a number of ex-Tsarist generals and General Gorlow, representative of the Grand Duke Nicholas. It has not yet been decided whether Kowerda shall be tried by an ordinary Court, which can only award a maximum sentence of 15 years' imprisonment, or by a court-martial, which can sentence him to death. It is believed tho Soviet will not be satisfied unless the latter course is pursued. MOSCOW IN MOURNING. I I VENOM FOR IMPERIALISTS, j great funeral preparations. 'Received June 9. 7.52 D.n>.) -A. and N.Z.-Times. LONDON. June 9. The Riga correspondent of the Times states that a fortnight's mourning for tho victim of the Warsaw murder has been officially proclaimed in Moscow. Tho theatres, cinemas and other places of amusement have been closed. Meetings are being held throughout Russia. Those who are attending them are telegraphing their sympathy to Mr. VoikofFs relatives and proclaiming their defiance of the Imperialistic forces, which are alleged to have been responsible for his death. Another message from Moscow says the Polish Legation in that city is guarded by cavalry patrols. A great funeral is being arranged for the murdered man. There wiil bo a mass parade in Red Square in front of Lenin's tomb. Everywhere in the city black-bordered Red B&gs aro being flown.