THE OFFICIAL EXPLANATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12281, 13 June 1903, Page 5

THE OFFICIAL EXPLANATION.

HOW THE STURD.EKS WERE COMMITTED 4 Belgrade, June 12. The official explanation published at Belgraile is - that after dinner ° the" King suddenly xiirected. Queen l>raga ta leave the country^ She refused,' and the King ordered the military to occupy/ the Palace. The Queer's friends thereupon rallied, a figrht ensuetl, and Royalties were lulled. Other accounts state that when Colonel Naumovitch \ras shot, Queen Rraga appealed Xo Colonel Ntischets, who replied. "Let tte King abdicate and free Servia from, ypjur miserable presence." Then Colonel Macjiin, hayJog just murdered Prince Lunjevitza, after a heroic resistance -against heavy odds, entered the bedroom. - The King, then told the Queen to fly, and both, were ovorta-ken on the' roof. , - The King bravely faced his assail- j ants and tried to protect the Queen, j but Major Laxarovitcfe a r disgraced officer, shot him in the. face. I The King fell, \m± tried 1 to rise antl speak, when a- second' sjhot was firepl which proved fatal. .Simultaneously $he soldiers shot Queen Draga who, falling on her husband's body,, then received a bayonet wound in her neck. The bodies were rolled in snects, i lowered to tho courtyard, ami placed | in a waggoir tmfcii - fenTQVed to tie: Royal chapel. . j The daughter oLM. Todorovitdi (Mm- j ister" of the Interior) was murdered while 'shielding her father; The murder of the Queen's sister is i not confirmed. : * ' I On the pretence of an urgent -raes- \ sage some soldiers ; gaifaed access to ihe Premier. ' . - . General Pavlovitbh, Minister of War, fled to the barracks, where 25 shots were fifed, killing Kirn. M. Tofdoroviteh, ' Minister of Interior, was murdered at his own house.