At the trial of M. Stambouloff's murderers at Sofia on
December 21st a letter from the deceased statesman, dated March 16th, 1895, was tendered in evidence. It shows that the victim was fully aware that he was doomed, a band of fifteen having been organised to kill him by persons influential enough to obtain information of his movements from the local police. He seems to have had no doubt whatever that the attempt would succeed, and wrote this letter in order that his wife might find it easier to exact vengeance for the crime. M. Stambouloff was a man of iron nerve, and when advised to baffle the conspiracy by leaving Bul- garia he refused, believing his presence in Sofia to be too important to his country and his policy. The letter, it is right to mention, incidentally exonerates the Prince, who was suspected by many of M. Stambouloff's friends of passive complicity in the assassination, but who, according to M. Stambouloff, was as much threatened as himself. It is generally believed that the murder was an act of private vengeance exclusively ; but although a man with a private grievance was the principal instrument, the number of the band and their command of money suggest instigators who are still in the shade.
