The Progress., 1898-09-17
VICTIM OF AN ASSASSIN.
THE EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA STABBED BY
AN ANARCHIST.
The Cruel Assassination Occurred in Ge-
neva.--The Deplorable Act of an italian
Soldier Sends Grief to all OF Europe.-.He
Was Arrested Saying 81 did it,

GENEVA, SwITzERLAND.-The en-
press of Austria was assassinated at
the Hotel Beaurivage Saturday after
noon by an anarchist named Laochini,
an italian, born in Paris. He was az
rested. He stabbed her majesty with
a stiletto.
The empress had been stopping at
the Hotel Beaurivage for several days.
1t was at first thought the wound
was not serious, but she died in few
minutes.
1t appears that her majesty was
walking from her hotel to the landing
place of the steamer at about 1 o'clock,
when an Italian anarchist suddenly
approached and stabbed her in the
heart. The empress fell, got up again
and was carried to the steamer uncon-
scious. The boat started, but, seeing
the empress had not recovered con-
seriousness, the captain returned 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 improyised 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 3
o'clock.
The medical examination showed
that the assassin must have used a
small triangular file.
AssAss1N's CAPTURE.
After striking the blow he ran. He
was seized by two cabmen who had
witnessed the crime. They handed
him over to boatman and gendarme,
who conveyed him to the police sta
ton. The prisoner made no resistance.
He even sang as he walked along, say
ing, 81 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 courthouse
and Intercepted by a magistrate in
the presence of three members 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
q 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 interrogat-
ing the prisoner.
SEARCH FOR ACCOMPLICEs.
The police seached the scene of the
crime for the weapon and the accomp-
Ices OF the assassin. 1t appears that
boatman noticed three persons close
ly following the empress, 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 mu-
nicipal offices and proceeded in body
to the Hotel Beaurivage as token of
respect.
The assassin, while being interro-
gated by the magistrate, said he came
to Geneva with the intention of kill
ing Duo d'Orleans, but the latter had
already left. rFAatIA
Luccesi Tor LacchenD followed the
Duke of Evian about twenty-five miles
northeast Of Geneva, where he was
again unsuccessful. He then returned
to Geneva and learned from the pa
pers OF the presence of the Austrian
empress, logged her footsteps all day
Friday, but found no opportunity to
carry out his purpose, though he
watched the Hotel Beaurivige all day.
Saturday afternoon, about 80, he
said, he saw the valet of the empress
leaving the hotel and going toward the
landing. He inferred from this that
the empress was going to take the
steamboat, and he had himself behind
tree on the quay with the file con-
cealed in his right sleeve.
In few minutes the empress, ac-
companied by her lady Of honor, ap-
peared, and the assassin struck the
lille struck home.
Luccesi confessed that he has been
an anarchist since he was ID years old.
If all anarchists did their duty as I
have done mine, he said, "bourgeoise
society would soon disappear"
He admitted that hu knew the crime
was useless, but said he committed it
for "the sake of example,"