The morning call., 1894-08-16
STORY OF THE CRIME.
The Assassin Walked to Lyons to
Kill President Carnot.

AT 9:25 o'clock on the night of June "a
President CaTnot OF France started 10 the
theater in Lyons. where a gala perform
ance was to have been given in honor of
his presence in that city. When half way
down the street, which was lined with en-
thusaStic crowds of people, who were
loudly cheering, a man rushed out of the
crowd and sprang upon the step of the
Presidents landau. just at this moment
NJ. Carnot was waving his right hand and
saluting with his hat in his left hand in
response to the ovation that was being
given MIN by the crowd. The people close
to the carriage saw that the man standing
on the step had knife iD his hand. By
the glare of the electric lights they beheld
the bright blade cleaning in the air as the
aSSaSsin's arm descended, and then Presi-
dent Carnot was seen to fall back in his
seat. his face deadly pale. One of his
hands was pressed to his heart, where the
steel had entered the body.
NJ. Rivaud, Prefect of Lyons, who was
seated at the side of President Carnot.
Immediately struck the assassin blow
Iull in the face ond knocked him from the
step, thus preventing the man from stab
bing the president again, which it was his
evident intent tion to DO.
The assassin was at once seized by a
thousand infuriated citizens and his life
would then and there have paid the PEN
atty Of his crime had it not been for sew
eral '5ergeants de vile," who seized him
and attempted to draw him away from his
captors. This was found to be impossible.
as the infuriated populace was determined
to lynch the man. All efforts of the ser
ilol eIa
man from instant death. Blows were
aimed at his face as he was raised over the
shoulders of the police, who had by this
time received reinforcement and many
of the blows landed sQuarely. At length
the police succeeded in driving the howl
ing mob back a foot or SO from their
prisoner, but to get the captive through
the crowd was a physical impossibility.
In the meantime the news of the affair
had spread with lightning-llke rapidity,
and mounted guards were sent to the aid
OF the police, who were struggling to pre-
serve the life of the assassin. With drawn
sab berS in their hands the guards rode
down into the crowd. needless of whom
the horses trampled upon. The crowd
gave way before the horses, and at last the
center of the mob was reached. Then
Gordon was formed around the almost
exhausted policemen and their captive,
and the march to the police station began.
Even thus surrounded the prisoner was
not safe, for men in the crowd made
frantic efforts to reach him. The guards
repelled these attacks with the fiat sides
of their swords. at the same time keeping
watch of the crowd 10 prevent the prisoner
from being shot.
The assassin was at last conveyed to
prison, and half an hour after midnight
the President of France breathed his
last.
The murderer, a young man % years old,
was an Italian, the son of Marie Brogtra
and Caserio Santo. He joined the an
archist association at an early age. In
January. 1892, lie tried, with two fellow
anarchists, to start newspaper, but was
unable TO raise the funds necessary. The
police watched him, and in the end of 1898
he went to Switzerland.
Speaking of an early predilection for the
Reds, Santos sister said that from the
time be was 10 years old her brother had
been a frequent attendant at anarchist
gatherings. lie was especially devoted in
his attendance at meetings presided over
by prominent anarchist advocate named
Gori, with whom Santo was quite infatu.
ated. Unhappily. the sister added, her
brothers occupation as a baker left him
ample leisure for this purpose. The police
were aware of Santos anarchistic tenden-
cies, and upon one occasion searched his
lodgings and seized a mum Der OF incendiary
pamphlets. He was not then arrested.
but was warned that if he persisted In the
course he was pursuing he would find him.
self in prison. His mother and sister.
fearful of what might become of him,
begged him TO abandon anarchism and
devote himself to his trade and harmless
pleasure.
The warnings OF the police and the
pleadings of his relatives however, had
no effect Santos appeared to be infatu-
ated with the idea Of spreading the an
archistic propaganda, and the police kept
a watchful eye Oh him. Three months
later he was detected in company with
number of other anarchists distributing
anarchist literature among soldiers. For
this offense he was arrested, tried. con-
victed and sentenced to five years i'm
prisonment. He was youth of resource.
however, and after serving part of his
sentence he managed to effect his escape
from the prison in which he was confined
and fed to Lugan.
After this his family heard nothing of
him until six months ago, when a letter
was received from him announcing that he
was still seeking work. His sister further
said that when she heard the name San;o
mentioned in connection with the murder
of President Carnot she felt certain it was
that Of her brother
1t was asserted at his trial that Sapto
had accom- plices, and that he was chosen
by lot to kill President Carnot He de-
MED this always, and il he was the tool of
consplrators they were chary of sup
plying him with the sinews of
war. The police, searching diligently,
learned that in coming to Lyons to
commit his crime the murderer missed the
train running.direct to Lyons from Cetie
on Saturday and had to 90 to Montpelier
and from thence to Vienne. At the latter
be was unable to pay his fare to Lyons,
having only II cents in his possession, and
was obliged to walk thirty miles to
LYONS. where he arrived the same after
noon, When the policeman rescued him
from the mob, after he had stabbed the
President, his clothes were torn to pieces,
and il was found necessary TO sew them
together at the police station. Ii he had
any papers upon him they we're doubtless
DESTROYED at the same time.