The Meeker herald., 1898-09-17
NiiiED AN EMPRESS.
Elizabeth Of Austria xsahbsA 70 the Heart
BY an Italian Anarchist


Elizabeth Of Austria xsshssA 70 the Hear
by an Italian Anarchist
Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. 1l.-Tht
Empress OF Austria was assassinated
at the Hotel Beaurivage yesterday af
ternoon by an anarchist, who was ar
rested.
1t appears that her majesty was
walking from her hotel to the landing
place of the steamer at about ]
O'Clock when an Italian anarchis,
suddenly approached and stabbed her
to the heart. The empress fell, got III
again and was carried to the steamer
unconscious. The boat started. bu,
seeing the Empress had not recop-
cred consciousness, the captain re.
turned and the Empress was carried
to the Hotel Beaurivage, where she
expired.
The stretcher upon which the En-
press was carried to the hotel was
hastily improvised with oars and sail
cloth. Doctors and priests were I'M
mediately summoned and telegram
was sent to Emperor Francis Joseph.
All efforts to revive her majesty
were unavaIling and she expired at !:
o'clock.
The medical examination shows that
the assassin used small triangular
file.
After striking the blow he ran along
the Rue des Alpes. with the evident
| intention of entering the Square los
Alpes, but, before reaching 1t. he was
seized by two cabmen who had wit
messed the crime. They handed him
over to a boatman and a gendarme.
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 "She must be
dead"
At the police station he declared
that he was Starving anarchist,
with no hatred for the poor. but only
for the rich"
Later, when taken to the court
house and interrogated by magis-
trate 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 he Luigi Laochini born In
Paris in 1874. and an Italian soldier.
A file found late this evening in the
passage Of house on the Rue des
Alpes has been identified by the as-
sassin MS the weapon he used.
HIS name, though heretofore vari-
ously given and published here as
Loachini, Luccheni, Lucchesi and Luc-
cessi. is now said to be Luigini.
The Italian records show that Lui-
glni was an illegitimnte child and
took his mothers name. He has
been twice arrested MS defaulter of
the military service.
Ten friends and acquaintances of
the assassin were arrested at Lau-
same to-day. He has been working
as stone mason in this vicinity and
last month he took the preliminary
steps to become a 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. The
empress. 1t seems, only supposed that
she had received a violent blow. At
drst she maintained great coolness.
When asked II she wished to return to
the hotel, she replied: mo, he only
struck me on the breast, and doubtless
wished to steal my watch"
The assassin made q 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.
A dispatch from Vienna says:
The emperor's fortitude is the topic
of universal admiration. He is bearing
mp manfully. despite the terrible shock.
which, in view Of his age, had inspired
the gravest apprehension. Although at
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 fs inconceivable how man could
lift his hand against one who never in
her life injured any. who did nothing
but good" Then he moaned:
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 solicltude for his health.
hISAnDEN0 ACE a.~rs-, ---