The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-11

Geneva, Switzerland, September TO-
The Empress of Austria was assassinated
at the Hotel Beaurivage this afternoon
by an anarchist, who was arrested. Tie
stabbed Her Majesty with a stiletto.
1t appears that Her Majesty was walk
ing from her hotel to the landing of the
steamer at about one o'clock when an
italian anarchist named Lucchoni, who
was born in Paris of italian parents
suddenly approached and stabbed hel
to the heart. The Empress fell, got
up again and was carried TO the steamer
unconscious. The boat started: but, see
ing the Empress had not recovered con-
sciousness, the captain returned and the
Empress was carried to the Hotel Beau
rivage, where she expired.
The stretcher upon which the Empress
was carried to the hotel was hastily
improvised with oars and sail cloth. Doc
tors and priests were Immediately sum
moned, and telegram was sent to EN-
peror Francis Joseph.
All efforts to revive Her Majesty were
unavailing, and she expired at three
o'clock.
The medical examination showed that
the assassin must have used a small trl-
angular file.
After striking the blow he ran along
the Rue des Alpes, with the evident
intention of entering the Square des
Alpes. but before reaching it he was
seized by two cabmen who mad witnessed
the crime. They handed him over to a
boatman and a gendarme, who conveyed
him to the police station.
The prisoner made no resistance. He
even sang as he walked along, saying:
II did it." and ''she must be dead.
At the police station he declared that
he was a starving anarchist. with no
hatred of the poor, only of the rich. Later
when taken to the court house and in
terrogated by magistrate in the pres
ence of three members of the local gov
ernnlent and the police officials he pre-
tended not to know French and refused
to answer questions. The police on
searching him found a document showing
his name to be Luigi Laochini, born in
Paris in 1873, and an Italian soldier.
A great crowd quickly assembled
around the Hotel Beaurivage, where the
officials proceeded after interrogating the
prisoner. The police searched the scene
of the crime for the weapon and the
accomplices of the assassin.
It appears that boatman noticed
three persons closely following the EN-
press, who was making purchases in the
shops.
The local government, Immediately on
receiving the news of Her Majesty S
death, half-masted the flag on the Hotel
de Vile (the municipal Offices and pro
ceeded in body to the hotel Beaurivage
as token of respect
The excitement is increasing and many
of the shops on the Kursaai are closed
The assassin told the magistrate that
he came to Geneva in order to assassi-
nate another persona" but had been un-
able to execute the projecr. The reason
of his failure he did not give, but he
declared that it was only by accident he
had learned of the presence of the Aus
tran Empress in Geneva.
The wound was just over the left
breast. There was hardly any bleed
ing.
A priest was secured in time to ad
minister extreme JUNCTION.
The Empress of Austria was born De
cember "a, 1887. She was daughter
of Duke Maximilian of Bavaria, and
was married to Francis Joseph, Emperor
of Austria, and King Of Hungary, Apri
"A, 1854 They had three children, thu
Archduchess Gisola, who is married tC
Prince Luitpold of Bavaria, the Arch
duke Rudolph, who married Princess
Stephanie of Belgium and who was
(seemingly) assassinated in 1889, and th'
Archduchess Maria Valera. who mar
ried the Archduke Franz Salvador, OF
Austra-Tuscany. The late Empress was
an enthusiastic horse-woman.