The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-09
ANARCHIST VENGEANCE
Killing of Canovas was in Revenge
for the Barcelona Executions.

Madrid, Aug. 9.-The assassination
of the prime minister of Spain, Senior
Canovas del Castillo, who was shot and
killed by an Italian anarchist, whose
name is believed to be Michele Angi-
no Coli, at the baths of Santa Ague-
da yesterday afternoon, was undOubt-
ed1y cold bloodedly premeditated. Coli
deliberately watched for san Opportuni-
ty to kill the Spanish statesman and
he only fired when he had no chance of
missing.
In fact, the assassin. who was ar
rested almost Immediately after the
premier fell dead at the feet of his
wife, has declaimed as much to the
examining magistrate,
Further details Of the assassination
show that Senior Canovas del Castillo
and his wife were present yesterday
morning at the celebration of mass in
the chapel attached to the baths.
and conversing with some reporters,
when the assassin approached and fired
three shots at him with a revolver, hit
ting him in the forehead, chest and
left ear.
The wounded man fell to the ground
crying: Long live SPAIN
The premier was carried to his room
and expired at 1:30 p. m, after ex-
treme JUNCTION had been administered
him by a priest of the Dominican or
der.
The murderer, who was Immediately
seized by the people who were in the
vicinity of the scene of the crime, was
severely handled and might have been
killed had it not been for the protection
afforded him by a number OF civil
guards who soon ran to the scene or
the assassination. The prisoner, who
declared he had killed the premier in
the accomplishment of just Veng-
eance'' at first gave the name OF XII
naIdi and claimed that the deed was
the outcome of an extensive anarchist
conspiracy.
I,ie no mo A =
gino Coli, that was 26 years OF
age a native of Boggi, near Naples
and that he left Italy and came to
Spain in 1885. After reaching SPAN,
Coli. according to his confession, re
sided at Barcelona, and participated in
the doings of the various anarchist So
cieties of that place and vicinity. Al
ter sojourning at barcelona TOT some
time Coli visited France and Belgium
and returned to Spain in July last. Al
ter his return, the anarchist seemed TO
have completed the plans for the as
sassination of the prime minister ne
left Madrid for Santa Agueda at the
same time as Senor CanovaS del cas-
tillo and awaited an opportunity to as
SaSSinate the statesman.
In appearance Coli is OF meolum
height wears a full beard and Spectac-
les and his demeanor is that OF a qulet nt
law abiding citizen. He says ne IS sat,
isfied with having done his duty, ana
asserts that he had no personal gfuoSe
against the premier and was mercy
4
periors in the secret society TO Wnlcn
he belonged. He frankly processes an
archist doctrine, says he was sentenced
in 1895 to IS months imprisonment IN
the Jail at Lucera, Italy, and CLAIMS
that he escaped from there to Mar
settles from which port he made his way
to Barcelona. Senor Canovas, wife OF
the premier, who was but snort DIS
tance away from her husband when the
crime was committed, rushed to his side
upon hearing the shots. AS the premier
Law diving on the ground, she bitterly
| reproached the murderer for his crime
| Coli, in reply to the agoniz1ng words
of the distracted wife said:
II respect you, because you are an
| honorable lady, but I have done my
| duty and 1 am now easy in mind, for L
| have avenged my friends and brotherS
| of Mont Juich."
Mont Juich is the fortress of BARGE
| Iona, outside of which the anarchists
1 who have been sentenced to death for
| recent outrages have been executed by
| being shot in the back. The anarchists
| were the last batch of the men who
| were found guilty of throwing a bomb
on June z, 1886, into a religious process
| sion about to enter the church of Santa
| de Lamar, upon the occasion of the
| Corpus Christi celebration. Twelve per-
sons were instantly killed and about so
| others, several of whom since died from
| their wounds were injured. For his crime
26 anarchists were sentenced to death
and many of them were executed The
| condemned men Invariably shouted
Long live anarchy" just before the or
ders to fire were given
The Spanish newspapers express great
Indignation at GOlli's crime, even the
| journals that have republican leanings
| praise the service of the deceased states
man. The Imparcial says:
| Yesterday will prove black date
for Spain. The crime win centuple the