PLANS TO SEIZE THE THRONE OF
MONTENEGRANS
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Former Streetcar Gripman
Would Place Scepter in Brotherıs Hands
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Ambitious Plans of Bozo
Gopcevic, Creature of Fortune and Romance
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Scheme Includes Seizure of
Servia and Final Formation of Republic
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Half way around the world a San Francisco man is
journeying with the secret purpose of seizing for his brother the throne of the
nation of Montenegro. The man who will lay claim to the rulership of that
troubled country is Bozo Gopcevic, brother of Milos Mitrov Gopcevic, who, as a
gripman, a few days before the fire married Miss Floyd, a noted beauty and
heiress. Eventually it is his purpose to transform the government into a
republic.
Peter Gopcevic has gone abroad as the advance agent.
Milos is staying behind in San Francisco, but it will be he who will furnish
the funds for the fight for the throne. The
millions left by the wife, who died a year after her marriage to the former
gripman, will be the treasury of the pretender. Bozo Gopcevic, who aspires to
the rulership, is also in San Francisco, living at his home, 2845 Sacramento
street.
Claims
Servia Also
Not by right of conquest, but by right of birth will
Bozo Gopcevic lay claim to the throne of Montenegro. He will also declare
himself the rightful ruler of Servia, and it will be on the shoulders of a
revolt which will convulse both nations that he expects to be carried into
power.
Gopcevic claims that on his fatherıs side he is the rightful
heir to the Servian throne, and on his motherıs to be reigning head of
Montenegro. He has a genealogical table showing the succession which points to
him as the true heir to the throne of both nations.
Montenegro is now governed by reigning Prince Nicholas
I, whose daughter is Queen Helena of Italy. Nicholas is only a pretender,
asserts Gopcevicıs supporters and
when he returns and proclaims his claims on the throne the present occupant
will be forced to abdicate.
Spies
Attempt to Kill Him
Gopcevic declares that the reigning family of Montenegro
has been aware of his pretensions to the throne and that spies have followed
him over the earth, making systematic attempts to take his life. Three times he
has been shot at by mysterious would be assassins, and once he replied In kind,
wounding his assailant. The plotters each time escaped. A brother was poisoned
by the conspirators.
Gopcevic hopes to lead a revolt at the head of the young
Turkish reform party. Both Montenegro and Servia, groaning under the weight of
despotic dynasties, impoverished and gouged for the pleasure of the royal
families, will gladly welcome him as their deliverer, Gopcevicıs friends
believe. Torn often by revolt, both nations finally will rise and effectually
throw off the yoke forever.
Gopcevic will proclaim a policy of reform and liberty.
Cradled in the United States, though of royal birth, associations have taught
him the soundness of the doctrine of the brotherhood of man. After establishing
his rights to royal parentage he will grant a constitution to his sorely
stricken country, and when a republic is established abdicate entirely.
The
[San Francisco] Call, Monday, January 18, 1909, p. 1:2.