REGICIDES' REVENGE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13575, 6 December 1907, Page 2

REGICIDES' REVENGE.

THE SERVIAN MURDERS. ONE CRIME BRINGS ANOTHER. Tho Belgrade regicides have got rid of their most determined opponent, the indomitable editor of the periodically suppressed "Otatsbiina," Capt. Milan Novakovics. The gallant captain was the head of the movement which sought to petition King Peter to exclude from the army all those officers who were implicated in the murder of. Peter's predecessor and his consort, and had consequently powerful enemies in high places. Their opportunity to remove Novakovics came when recently the "Otatsbinia" once more incurred suppression. The captain was locked up on a trumped-up charge of stealing portions of his own confiscated printing machine. Having him safely under lock and key, his enemies were in no hurry to have the captain tried, knowing full well that the charge against him would not be upheld in Court. So on one pretext or another the trial was delayed. Captain Novakovics had vainly demanded to be brought to trial ; but though some organs dared to point his wife's protest against this illegal delay, the Government took no steps in the matter. Rendered desperate by the inhuman treatment of his gaolers — he had been fettered and assaulted during three consecutive days — Novakovics, with another ex-officer of the same name, likewise imprisoned owing to anti-regicide tendencies, decided to call public attention to their case by firing inside the gaol. In their first freo moment they made a dash for 1 a room where they had seen loaded rifles kept in readiness, and after barricading the dopr, began to fire at the ceiling. Failing courage to burst the door open, the police accepted the offer of a recently-dismissed detective agent, re- j instated f oiir days previously, to reduce the rebellious pair by an asphxiating mixture. This was inserted through, the window, and the assembled crowd watched the fumes at first with astonishment, and then, as the truth became known, with violent indignation. By degrees the firing grew slacker, then ceased altogether, when the door was burst open, and the gendarmes discharged several shots into the senseless bodies on .the floor. It has not been ascertained if death was due to suffocation or to gunshot wounds. Cries of "Down, with police!" "Asphyxiates were forbidden at The Hague!" "Enough of horrors!" "Enough of regicide rule!? were vociferated; but the gaol was soon surrounded by cavalry troops, and the populace dispersed. • Captain Novakovics was married only four months ago, and his young wife then declared that she was prepared for his probable tragic death;. since he had devoted himself to restoring the honour, of the army, and to anti-regicide writings. . . •' U