New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-26
THE MURDERER or An EMPRESS.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF LUIGI LUCcHEsl-
THE HAPsBURGs' WHITE LADY.

Many stories were circulated at first about the
Identity of Lucches the murderer OF Empress
Elizabeth. Some reports represented him as being
a student and belonging 10 that class OF educated
Anarchists who generally satisfied with preach
ing the murderous doctrine to the "compagnons.
without being tempted themselves to do the ne
far.ous deeds which they melted the others to do
Lucchesi was said TO be an exception to the RUE
and TO have left the study Of his law books In
order to assert his awful principles by assassnat-
ing an inoffensive princess who had never any
thing do with politics. but who belonged to that
class OF rulers. kings emperors or even presidents
OF republics which the Anarchists consider IL
necessary to terrorize.
Those reports were Incorrect. and the wnole story
Of the n.urderer's lifc is well established.
Lucchcsl far from being n student OF law. was
common lahorer. without even trade lie was
bern I'm Paris IN 1879 on \ bench OF the Boulevard,
where his mother. who had emigrated from Parma
Italy wa suddenly taken sick with ;he pains OF
confinement one year later he was brought mys-
terlously 10 Parma and abandoned In some corner
Of the city by the side OF the infant was found
the official registry OF his birth. stating that ne
WIS torn in the Twelfth Ward. or Arrondsse-
meat OF Paris from unknown parents lie was
sent by the Parma municipality TO the rounding
asylum which placed him In charge OF family IN
the town OF Navlsio. At seven years or age the
boy was taken back TO the asvlum. and again con-
a
In the town Of San Doulno That place IL COM
paravely large Industrial city in which socialis;ic
and even Anarchistic idens held by many In
habiiants
Luigi Lucchesl remained in that city long enough
10 imblbe there the doctrines which were to lead
him TO the accomplis hment OF his horrible deed
Until he WAS about twelve years old he earned his
living by peddling divers articles ard after that he
worked in different countries as helper 10 masons
stone-cutters, shoemakcrs. etc. He was reported
a. doserter from the Army because he was
abroad and did not present himself at the military
headquarters OF Parma when nc was az the hge Tor
being drafted. Soon after however, having re-
turned 10 italy. Lucchesi was incorporated into n
cavalry regiment He noted for his insubordi-
nation but that did not prevent Captain Deyera
from taking him FOR hs p Iiystr evan
with tho service OF Iucchesi until the regiment
was sen, 10 Palermo. Sicily There his character
changed suddenly: he became every day more and
more inatteutive nervous and impertlnent FINALLY.
In March 1877. Lucchesi called on HIS officer, to
Captain, you have been very good to me: and |
feel grateful for It. But feel now that was , not
that | may 20 to America. ~, 49,.
from him until he learned of the crime committed
by his former servan, upon the Empress OF Austria
In connection with that murder /, may be inter
e.ting to recall a legend well known In Austria.
The people there believe that whenever catas-
trophe threatens OF the members OF the Haps-
burg family white lady appears in the halls Of
the SchOcnbrunn Castle. The white gnost was seen
I'm 1851 before the tragical death Of Emperor Maxi
milan. bro'hor-ln-law OF the late Empress. Ii was
seen also n 1854. announcement OF the mys-
ierious drama At Meyerling, when Archduke Ru-
dolph lost his life The same apparuon was seen
before the disappearance 81 John ORTIZ the eX-
Archduke. drowned in the South American seas
could have been known AZ Vienna. The white lady
was seen again IN the year when the young Arch
duchess Matilda was burned alive having tried
to conceal In her dress lighted cigarette which
She was smoking IN secret. n IL recalled now at
Vienna that tho beginning Of this year sentinel
NJ Schoenbrunn affirmed that he had seen the white
lady roaming about the castle.