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In Courtroom

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knew about the organization, officials had to promise to renounce their oaths and all ties with "Black Hand." Those falsifying their answers would be investigated and tried.

7

The chief witnesses for the Trial were selected deliberately. Milan Cig·

anovic, trainer of Sarajevo assassins, Princip and Cabrinovic, received a choice : testify at Salonika against the accused or as an Austrian citizen be remanded to Vienna for certain trial. He was suitably rewarded for his testimony. Another witness, Krsta Mile tic, then a village judge, subse­

quently became a cabinet minister. As a patriot and Radical he considered it a sacred duty to compromise Apis. Another witness, Pop J anjic, branded as a liar by a fellow witness, later became an Assembly deputy, then its secretary. Velimir Vlajic , witness and ordinary ruffian, after the Trial hob­

nobbed with Radical leaders and grew wealthy. To testify against Apis insured exemption from the perils of the front and a brilliant subsequent career.8

Early in Apis Pasic informed his ambassador in London about the start of the Trial. The "Black Hand" and the attempt on the Prince's life had been fully investigated. The accused had sabotaged Serbian political life.

After the Albanian retreat they had "agitated among our troops and re­

fugees against our government and ruler." Spreading defeatism, Apis and his friends had prepared to kill those hindering their overthrow of regime and dynasty in order to set up a ten man military oligarchy . "Assure the government there," concluded the Premier,

"this

trial will not damage the

general cause and our army will be the stronger for it."9

The two officer jailors described the defendants' reactions and state­

ments in their diaries, sending daily accounts to Colonel Zivkovic. On the eve of the Trial Apis, no longer ebullient, told Stojkovic:

You know, today I read a little but thought more. It is interesting how this prison influences a man. It occurs to me to repent, but then

I

recoil remembering that a man who works for an ideal cannot do that.

Apis had hoped Lieutenant Colonel Jovanovic would direct the Trial rather than that "ruthless and heartless sophist," Misic. Ex

amin

ing his laundry, Apis burst into tears, reminded apparently of a loved one. Colonel Milo·

vanovic, looking already doomed, implored Stojkovic to stay and talk.

250 APIS: The Congenial Conspirator

Bogdan Radenkovic, the civilian, was preparing his defense: "I am con­

vinced my friends did not do what they are accused of." Remarked Col­

onel Cedo Popovic: ^"1 never knew about anything except (the 'Black Hand's'] foreign activities."10

Lieutenant Protic conducted much of the actual supervision of the prisoners. The fat, self-important Stojkovic, an alcoholic with an eternally red nose, was addicted to French cognac or whatever was available. About noon when his previous night's hangover let up, he would start complain­

ing about his "sick kidneys." Protic would remark considerately: "Captain, if you are having a kidney attack, let me take the prisoners for a walk."

If he were seriously hung over, Stojkovic would agree. Otherwise, he would say: "No, Smail-aga,11 I'll do it, today is my turn." Still, usually it was Protic who went to each isolated cell where the officers were incar­

cerated. After Protic had lingered in A pis' room just before the Trial, Stoj­

kovic admonished: "Listen, Smail-aga, you are staying rather long with Glava ['The Head,' a nickname for Apis] . Watch out that Glava doesn't win you over. You are still young and green and were

his

guerrilla, so, Smail-aga, watch your step!" To ProtiC's complaints about Stojkovic's

provocative use of his nickname, Smail-aga, Colonel Dunjic replied:

Protic, just look after your work and do as I instruct and advise. Let Stojkovic do his thing and call you Smail-aga if he wishes. Certainly he will never deserve such a nickname. 12

Both supervising officers witnessed a surprising transfonnation of pri­

soner attitudes during their confmement. Some shifted from complete loyalty and devotion to Apis, to mudslinging, hatred, and even betrayal.

Colonel Milovanovic-Pilac, hitherto one of Apis' closest and most loyal comrades, underwent a particularly deplorable change. After the Trial's second day, he told Protic: "It ['Black Hand'] was a monstrous organ­

ization . . . a true conspiracy against the Crown and Heir . . . . They want­

ed total power." Pretending naivete, Protic queried: "Who are they?"

"Why, A pis and those people from the CEC. Let me tell you, they said openly they would throw the dynasty and Pasic government out of Serbia on their ear." Remonstrated Protic: "Forgive me, Mr. Milovanovic, but

didn't you belong to that CEC?" Responded the Colonel:

In Courtroom 251

Yes, I did, Protic , but you see that is my greatest disappointment.

. . . I had no idea about that. Also, I never came to the idea of kill­

ing the Heir. And Apis? Well, you heard what he said in court? 'I

.

ordered that, I said that, yes I thought that, etc.' He must be crazy, and that will cost him his head. Let them kill him^, but why all of us?

Desperately anxious to save his neck, the fickle Milovanovic wondered:

why should I suffer? He pleaded ignorance of what had been done:

Oh, Dragutin, Dragutin, you dear fellow, what did you drag us into?

. . . And do you know, Protic, that Dragutin is basically a coward?

I

will

tell you why. I have known him since the Academy. He always played the role of head, of leader. Even while we were still corporals.

. . . But do you know what he is in fact? A coward, cow-ard! . . . He was able to give orders, sign orders, order everyone killed, but per­

sonally couldn't even kill a flea. He didn't dare even crush a flea be­

tween his two fmgers, as if the sight of blood nauseated him.

Protic stared in amazement at the pudgy Milovanovic. About Apis Protic had heard good things and bad, myth and reality. But that a childhood friend and Academy comrade could speak about him so derisively! "You

must be joking," muttered the Lieutenant. "What kind of a joke is it when heads are literally flying?" retorted Pilac. "It is, really, a struggle for power!

And there is no joke about that. Only you know that each should eat what he himself cooked up. Tomorrow it's my turn to answer questions from

Colonel Misic. I'll tell all . . . . Let each man pull his own chestnuts from the fire . . . . Here heads will fall like pumpkins." Without a word Protic rushed from MilovanoviC's cell slamming the door angrily behind him.

Half aloud he said: "Truly heads will roll! How could they not roll when such people exist among one's old comrades!" Thereafter Protic remained aloof from Pilac.

But Pro tic was attracted strongly to Colonel Cedornir Popovic, a swarthy, strongly built man who had served as a "frontier officer" on the Drina obeying Apis' instructions. 1 3 Late at night they tried to sort out what was happening. Why were ten of Serbia's ablest and most patriotic officers languishing in prison awaiting condemnation while their country lay en­

slaved, its army decimated by casualties and the war's outcome hanging in

252 APIS: The Congenial Conspirator

the balance? Could this possibly be the right time for a Serbian power struggle? "This won't turn out well, Protic," declared Cedo. "This entire circus is not being held to scare children. Dragutin won't survive this; he'll pay with his head, and in order to deceive people, others will have to leave this world with him. Somehow I'm the most logical choice." Objected Protic: "But Colonel Cedo, why you? And why Dragutin even?" Con­

tinued Protic: "Yes, Colonel Apis is always in such a good mood, always smiling, but I believe nonetheless he knows best of all . He has such con­

tacts even here in prison that surely he knows what

his

fate will be." Said Cedo:

Oh, my brother! Don't you see this is all a mask, a game? Apis smiles because that's the way he is, because he is a giant, a hero, a lion.

Apis smiles because he knows they will shoot him! I have known him ever since 1903. He smiled that evening in the Officers Club as if he was going to a wedding . . . while affirming that he would die killing Alexander [Obrenovic] and that whore, Draga. You don't know such people: when they smile, they are most dangerous . . . .

For planning the Archduke's murder at Sarajevo, concluded Ceda, they would remove Apis' head. The next night Ceda revealed that Major Voja Tankosic, ignoring Apis' clear instructions to return the assassins to Serbia, had gone ahead with the murder. Had Tankosic lived, the heat now might

be off Apis and other "Black Handers." "There, now you know why Apis must suffer," continued Ceda. "Voja is no more, he was lucky and was killed by the enemy . . . ; our own people will kill A pis and us . . . . It

was destined to be that way." Ceda declared himself ready to die if it would help save Serbia. 14

Colonel Ceda had learned that a foreign journalist had asked if some Serbian officers had plotted an army mutiny. Premier Pa.Sic had replied:

"It is true. Those fools wished to kill me and Heir Alexander, cause revolt in the army , and conclude a separate peace with Austria." Laughing, Ceda

asked Captain Stojkovic : "Did we really wish to kill Pa.Sic?", adding ominously: "When Pa.Sic as premier right during our trial gives such a pre­

cise and categoric statement to a foreign journalist, he is pronouncing the death penalty upon us in advance." During a court recess that day, after judges and "public" left the courtroom, Ceda told Apis: "Dragutin, you

In Courtroom 253

must not be deceived. We will surely all be condemned to death. Startled, Apis looked at him sharply:

-Don't be insane! That won' t happen. This is only a legal comedy.

They will convict us of something pro forma and ship us to Africa until the end of the war. Then each will go his own way. 15

When everyone knew the accusations against Major Vulovic-helping Apis organize the attempt on the Heir's life, Tucovic told Protic:

I'm going crazy! Oh, Dragutin! Oh, Vulovic, you s.o.b.! Ljuba, you are Apis' evil spirit! You and not Alexander

will

cost him his head!

If Ljuba had not been with Apis, none of this would have happened.

That Vulovic is the Devil himself! 1'

Major Radoje Lazic, "Black Hand's" last secretary, was the flrst defen­

dant to testify in court (March 21 -22). Ceda rejoiced Lazic had gone first and been honest. As Lazic confirmed that "Black Hand" no longer existed, Apis made no objections-Lazic had hesitated, always worrying "what

will

Petrograd and Vienna say?" Pilac wondered whether to abandon Apis or believe he knew what he was doing; he would try to explain away having cursed Prince Alexander. I t would be an honor, stated Vulovic, to be made a martyr by the Karadjordjevic. He had premonitions that at his execution he would fall shouting: "Fire! Long live Serbia!"

During Ceda Popovic's testimony (March 23-24) when he stated: "I can state honestly I did not feel the ['Black Hand's'] influence," Apis ears turned crimson. He squirmed in his chair and half turned toward Ceda. Re­

turning from court, Ceda confirmed he had noticed Apis' disapproval and admitted he head expressed himself badly.

Next day Apis remarked: "Heh, Ceda, you should tell about operations in the Sandjak [of Novipazar] and show what the Organization did. So far no one has described the whole thing." Smiling, Apis added: "I

will

^have

to correct all this." Ceda should not have denied "Black Hand's" role, agreed Vernic; he should have described his part openly. Colonel Ceda prophesied: "One will be shot and that is Dragutin; the rest of us will be punished less severely. Dragutin will be shot not as a 'Black Hand' member,

254 APIS: The Congenial Conspirator but as an ordinary man." After Ceda's testimony, Vulovic commented:

It is bad, but I won't allow innocent people to suffer for what I said

and did. I am an open person and truly said and did much. I didn't

know the members of the CEC or that Dragutin was in it. What I

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