SUDDEN DEATH OF EX-KING CONSTANTINE. LAST HOURS AT PALERMO.

From A. BEAUMONT. ROME, Thursday.

Ex-king Constantine of Greece died at the Villa Igea, in Palermo, Sicily, this morning, and the news created quite an impression among the inhabitants of the town, where the exiled sovereign had become a familiar figure. The ex-king and ex-queen Sophia led a very retired life, having only a few servants with them and two faithful followers, General Levidis and Naval Captain Tsmamados, who, however, resided in a small lodging near by. The former King and the officers who were with him had very reduced incomes, and lived simply on their private means. The management of the Villa Igea Hotel had set apart some rooms exclusively for the dethroned and exiled King and Queen, and the visitors hardly ever saw them. During the first part of his stay Constantine occasionally drove into the town, and once or twice went to the theatre, but latterly he was confined to his room altogether. He had an attack towards the end of November, when specialists of Palermo were called in.

I saw him last some weeks ago, when he passed through Rome en route for Salsomaggiore. This was the last conversation I had with him. and he seemed very weary and heartbroken, like one who no longer had any interest in life. If his end came so soon, it was doubtless hastened considerably by the mental depression that followed on his abdication, and especially by the shock of the execution of five former Ministers at Athens. He seemed never to recover from that impression. He was attended during his last moments by Professor Giuffre, of Palermo University. Queen Maria of Roumania, with her daughter, Princess Helen, and Princesses Irene and Catherine, the daughters of Constantine, were present. The other members of the ex-king’s family were abroad.