The record-union., 1897-08-10

MADRID. Aug. 9.-The assassination
of the Prime Minister of Spain, SenoI
Canovas del Castillo, who was shot and
killed by an Italian anarchist, whose
name is believed to be Michele Augene
Coli, at the baths of Santa Agueda
yesterday afternoon, was undoubtedly
cold blOodedly premeditated.
Coli watched for an opportunity tc
kill the Spanish statesman, and he only
fired when he had no chance of missing
In fact, the assassin, who was arrested
almost Immediately after the Premier
fell dead at the feet of his wife, has de-
clared as much to the examining mag
istrate
The Prime Minister fingered for some
time in coma, and passed away with q
cry Of Long live Spaini''
Further details of the assassination
show that Premier Canovas del Cas-
tillo and his wife were present yester-
day morning at the celebration of mass
in the chapel attached to the baths
After mass the Premier was reading
and conversing with some reporters
when the assassin approached and
fired three shots at him with revolver
hitting him in the forehead, chest and
left ear. The wounded man fell to the
ground crying: Assassin! 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 people in the vicinity, was Sc
verely handled, and must have been
killed had it not been for the protection
of the civil guards. The prisoner, who
declared he had killed the Premier ''in
the accomplishment Of a just ven
geance," gave the name of RinaIdi and
claimed that the deed was the outcome
Of an extensive ANARCHIST conspiracy. e
Later, however, the assassin con-
fessed that his real name was Michele
Angeline Coli; that he was 26 years of
age; a native of Boggi, near Naples,
and that he left Italy and came to
Spain in 1896
After reaching Spain, Coli, according
TO his confession, resided at Barcelona
and participated in the doings of the
various anarchist Societies of that
place and vicinity.
After sojourning at Barcelona for
some time Coli visited France and Bel
gium and returned to Spain in July
last. After his return the anarchists
seemed to have completed the plans for
the assassination of the Prime Min
lister.
He left Madrid for Santa Agueda at
the same time as Senor Canovas del
Castillo and awaited an opportunity to
assassinate the statesman.
In appearance Coli is of medium
hight, wears a full beard and specta-
cles. and his demeanor is that of a
quiet, law-abiding citizen.
He said he is satisfied with having
done his duty" and asserts that the
has no personal grudge against the
Premier, and was merely obeying or
ders received from his superiors in the
secret society Of which he belonged. He
frankly processes anarchist doctrine
says he was sentenced in 1895 to eigh-
teen months Imprisonment in the jail
at Lucera, Italy, and claims that he
escaped from there to Marseilles, from
which port he made his way to BARGE
Iona.
SEtEDid AdlAONdS- vile VI lie GICIilitI
who was but a short distance from hel
husband when the crime was commit
ted, rushed to his side upon hearing the
shots AS the Premier lay dying on the
ground she bitterly reproached the
murderer for his crime
Coli, in reply to the agonizing words
of the distracted wife. said
Il respect you because you are ar
honorable lady, but 1 have done my
duty. and 1 am now easy in mind, for ]
have avenged my friends and the
brother of Montjuices"
MontjuiceS is the fortress of BARGE
Iona, outside of which the anarchists
who have been sentenced to death fo1
recent olltrages have been executed by
being shot in the back. The anarchists
recently executed outside Montjuices
were the last of the batch of fieads who
were guilty of throwing a bomb or
June Z, 1896, into a religious procession
about TO enter the church of Santa Ma
ria de Lamar. upon the occasion Of the
Corpus Christi celebration
Twelve persons were instantly killed
and about fifty others, several of whom
died from their wounds. were injured
For this crime twenty-six anarchists
were sentenced TO death and many ot
them were executed. The condemned
men invariably shouted Long live an
archy," just before the orders to fire
were given
The Spanish newspapers express
great Indignation at COLTS crime
Even the journals that have republican
leanings praise the service of the de-
ceased statesman The eInpareia1
says:
Yesterday win prove black date fo-
Spain. The crime viii centuple the in
dignation of society against this would
be destroyer
A number of newspapers appeared
this morning dressed in black.
A post-mortem examination Of the
Premier's remains We're made this
morning previous to embalming them
for shipment TO this city. The funeral
viii be most impressive.
The indignation expressed at the
crime is shared by all parties in poll
tics. and it is generally believed thai
the members of the colonial secret so
cieties were concerned in this outrage