The Springfield herald., 1898-09-16
KILLED AN EMPRESS.
elizabeth of Austria Stabbed to the Heart
by an Italian Anarchist

| beneNa, switzerland. Sept. 11.-The
Empress of Austria was assassinatcd
at the Hotel Bcaurivagc yesterday af'
terhoon by an anarchist, who was ar
rested.
1t appears that her majesty was
walking from her hotel 10 the landing
place OF the steamer at about l
O'Clock when an Italian anarchist
suddenly approached and stabbed her
10 tne heart. The empress fell. got NJ
again ana was carried to the steamer
| unconscious. The boat started, but
seeing the Empress had not recov-
cred consciousness. the captain re
turned and the Empress was carried
to the Hotel Beaurivagc, where she
expired.
Ihe strctclIer upon which the En-
press was carried to the hotel was
hastily improvised with oars and sail
cloth. Doctors and priests Were i'm
mcdiately summoned and n telegram
was sent to Emperor Francis Joseph
All efforts to revive her majesty
We're unavailing and she expired AT 3
O'Clock
The medical examination shows that
the ASSASSIN used II small triangular
file.
After striking the blow he ran along
the Rue des Alpes, with the evident
intention of entering the Square los
Apes, but. before reaching 1t. he was
seized by two cabmen who had wit
messed the crime. They handed him
over to boatman and a gcndarme,
who conveyed him TO the police sta
tion.
The prisoner made no resistance
He even sang as he walked along.
saying. Il did it," and ''Shc must he
dead
Al the police station he declared
that he was Il starving anarchist,
with no hatred for the poor, but only
for the rich"
Later. when taken TO the court
house and interrogatcd by magis-
tratc in the presence of three mem
bers of the local government and the
police officials. he pretended not to
know French and refused TO answer
questions. The police, on searching
him. found document showing his
name TO be Luigi Laochini. born in
Paris in 1874. and an Italian soldier
file found late this evenin: in the
passage of Il house OH the Rue des
Alpes has been Identified by the as.
sassin rs the weapon he used
His name. though heretofore vari-
ously given and published here as
Loachini. Luccheni. Lucchcsi and Iuc-
cessi. is now said TO be Luigini.
The Italian records show that Lui-
cfni was an illegitimate child and
took his mothers name. He has
been twice arrested ms a defaulter of
the military service.
Ten friends and acouaintances of
the assassin We're arrested mt Lau-
same to-day. He has been working
rs stone mason in this vicinity and
last month he took the preliminary
steps 10 become Il naturaliZed Swiss.
His application papers. however. he
withdrew last Monday.
The post-mortem examination show
ed one almost imperceptible wound. the
file having penetrated the heart and
not causing exterior bleeding. III,
empress. it seems. only supposed that
she had received violent blow. AT
first she maintained great coolness.
When asked if she wished to return to
the hotel. she replied: NO, he only
struck me on the breast. and doubtless
wished TO steal my watch"
The assassin made n complete con
fession, adding that he regretted that
| the death penalty does not exist in the
canton where the tragedy occurred.
The Geneva police believe that they
! are on the track of two accomplices of
Loachini.
y dispatch from Vienna says:
The emperor's fortitude is the topic
of universal admiration. He is bearing
up manfully, despite the terrible shock,
which. in view of his age. had inspired
the gravest apprehension. Although al
first stunned and then slightly hyster-
ical he soon reGained his self control.
and displayed remarkable calmness.
Occasionally, however. completely
overpowered by his grief. he moaned
piteously. repeatedly sobbing the name
of the empress.
Addressing Prince Won Liechtenstein.
chief marshal of the imperial house
hold. he exclaimed last evening:
1T is inconceivable how a man could
lift his hand against one who never in
her life injured any. who did nothing
but good Then he moancd:
Nothing is spared TO me In this
world He managed to sleep several
hours last night, and said this morning
he felt comparatively well. discourag-
ing the attempts of his attendants to
display solicitude for his health.