MURDER AT LAUSANNE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17039, 12 May 1923, Page 2

MURDER AT LAUSANNE.

SOVIET DELEGATE KILLED. By T«de*raph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LAUSANNE, May 10. Three Russian delegates to the Lausanne Conference —V orowsky, Ahrend and Sturmer —were dining at the Hotel Cecil, when people at a neighbouring table suddenly fired ten shots. Vorowsky was killed., and the others gravely wounded. Several ariests were made. The Russian delegate Ahrens, who was one of those shot at the HotiL Cecil, is dying. The name of the third man is Dimitrieff, and not Sturmer. Diraitrieff is secretary to the delegation. He was severely wounded. The murderer, having emptied his revolver, turned to the horror-stricken guests and said calmly, “Well, call the police. 1 don’t regret what 1 have done.” He then awaited the arrival of of police, with. whom he left the hotel quietly. The name of the assassin is Conrad. He is aged thirty-eight, and was formerly a captain ip the Russian Army. He had just arrived at Lausanne from Zurich. At first it was stated that the assassin belonged to the Fascisti, but this is now denied. It is known, however, that the Fascisti tried two daj's ago to persuade Vorowsky to leave Lausanne. They t called at his hotel, but he re fused’to see them. It was known that they were using threats. Ahrens, after the shooting, made a statement as follows: “ When we 6at down to dinner, I noticed an elegantly dressed young man seated two tables away. He was drinking continuously small glasses of cognac. When he rose, 1 saw the muzzle of his revolver pointing directly at the back of Vorowsky’s head. Vorowsky was shot at pointblank range and killed instantly. 1 tried to grab the revolver, but was too late. I was shot in the leg, fainted, and fell over Vorowsky’s corpse.” Ahrens’s condition improved at mid night, when he made the following statement: “I formally accuse the Swiss Government of being accomplices in this murder, because, despite the measures against us, no precaution was taken to safeguard us.” Ahrens also accuses the Secretary of the Conference of doing everything to render the situation of the Russian delegates untenable. The chief of the Fascist movement in Lausanne states that they, after communication with the Swiss Government, decided not to put into action i their threat last Sunday of the exI pulsion of Vorowsky. Conrad, while waiting for the police, lighted a cigarette. Questioned as to whv he murdered Vorowsky, he re plied : “To avenge my father and uncle, who were the victims of 80l sevism. Humanity is rid of a monster.” Vorowsky was known to be one o{ Lenin’s tools. When the Bolsheviks with Lenin at their head, went from Switzerland to Russia, Vorowsky was left in Stockholm, en route. The money pent from Berlin for the first Bolshevik rising in June. 1917, went through Vorowsky’s hands. He latei » was the Bolshevik representative in Stockholm, but was transferred to Rome. He attended the first Lausanne Conference with M. Tchitcherin. Vorowsky arrived for the present i conference a week ago, uninvited. Ho had since engaged in an acrimonious correspondence with the Conference for admission, and also with the Swiss authorities, who, he alleged, showed him a lack of respect. During the Fascisti coup in Rome last September, the Fascisti entered his house and endeavoured to force him to drink' a pint of castor oil, but he was saved from this ordeal at the T last moment

THREAT OF REPRISALS.

(Received Mav 12. 11.5 a.m.) LAUSANNE Mav 11

A police communique states that the Chief of Police asked Vorowsky a few days ago whether he wanted special measures of protection, but the Russian refused to accept it. According to the newspapers, Ahrens threatens reprisals against subjects in Russia.