The state herald., 1898-09-16
KILLED AN EMPRESS.
Elizabeth of Austria stabbed to the Heart
by an Italian Anarchist


Geneva, Switzerland. Sept. 1.-THE
| Empress Of Austria WINS 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 ut about
o'clock when nm Italian anarchist
suddenly approached and stabbed her
to the heart. The empress fell, got up
again and 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 Beaurlvage, 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 n 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 shows that
the assassin used n 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 n boatmnn and gendnrme
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 interrogatcd 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 n document showing his
name to be Luigi Laochini. born In
Paris in 1874. and an Italian soldier.
file found late this evening in the
passage of house on the Rue des
Alpes has been identified by the us.
sassin as the weapon he used.
His name, though heretofore vari-
ously given and published here as
Lonchini. Luccheni. Lucchesi and Luc-
cessi Is now said to be Luiglni.
The Italian records show that Lui.
gini was an illecitimate child and
took his mothers name. He has
been twice arrested as n defaulter of
the military service.
Ten friends and ac1uaintances Of
the assassin were arrested at Lau.
same to-day. He has been working
as stone mason I'm this vicinity and
last month he took the preliminary
steps TO become n 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 violent blow. Al
first 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 n complete con.
| fession. adding that he regretted that
the death penalty does no. exist In the
canton where the tragedy occurred.
The Geneva police believe that they
are on the track OF two accomplices OF
Loachni.
dispatch from Vienna says:
The empcror's fortitude Is the topic
OF universal admiration. He Is bearing
mp mnnfully. despite the terrible shock.
which, In view Of his age, had inspired
the gravest apprehension. Although at
first stunned and then slightly hyster.
icnl. he soon regalned his self control.
and displayed remarkable calmness.
Occasionally. however. completely
ovcrpowered by his grief. he moaned
plteously. repeatedly sobbing the name
OF the empress.
Addressing Prince Won Liechtenstein,
chief marshal OF the imperial house.
hold, he exclaimed last evening:
ut Is lnconcelvablc 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 10 sleep several
hours last night. and said this morning
he felt comparatively well. discourng.
Ing the attempts of his attendants TO
| display solcitude for his health.