Aftermath Empress Elisabeth of Austria

empress elisabeth s tomb next of husband franz joseph in vienna s imperial crypt. on other side of franz josef s tomb of son, crown prince rudolf

after attack, lucheni fled down rue des alpes, threw file entrance no. 3. caught 2 cabdrivers , sailor, secured gendarme. weapon found next day concierge during morning cleaning; thought belonged laborer had moved day before , did not notify police of discovery until following day. there no blood on file , tip broken off, occurred when lucheni threw away. file dull in appearance speculated had been deliberately selected because less noticeable shiny knife, have given lucheni away approached. lucheni had planned purchase stiletto, lacking price of 12 francs had sharpened old file homemade dagger , cut down piece of firewood handle.

although lucheni boasted acted alone, because many political refugees found haven in switzerland, possibility part of plot , life of emperor in danger, considered. once discovered italian responsible elisabeth s murder, unrest swept vienna , reprisals threatened against italians. intensity of shock, mourning, , outrage far exceeded occurred @ news of rudolf s death. outcry erupted on lack of protection empress. swiss police aware of presence, , telegrams appropriate authorities advising them take precautions had been dispatched. police chief virieux of canton of vaud had organized elisabeth s protection, had detected officers outside hotel day before assassination , protested surveillance disagreeable, virieux had no choice withdraw them. possible if elisabeth had not dismissed other attendants day, entourage larger 1 lady-in-waiting have discouraged lucheni, had been following empress several days, awaiting opportunity.

lucheni brought before geneva court in october. furious death sentence had been abolished in geneva, demanded tried according laws of canton of lucerne, still had death penalty, signing letter: “luigi lucheni, anarchist, , 1 of dangerous .

since elisabeth famous preferring common man courtiers, known charitable works, , considered such blameless target, lucheni s sanity questioned initially. elisabeth s stipulated large part of jewel collection should sold , proceeds, estimated @ on £600,000, applied various religious , charitable organizations. franz joseph remarked prince liechtenstein, couple s devoted equerry, man found attack such woman, whole life spent in doing , never injured person, me incomprehensible . outside of crown jewels , state property elisabeth had power bequeath left granddaughter, archduchess elisabeth, rudolf s child.

lucheni declared sane, tried common murderer, not political criminal. incarcerated life, , denied opportunity make political statement action, attempted kill himself sharpened key tin of sardines on 20 february 1900. ten years later, hanged himself belt in cell on evening of 16 october 1910, after guard confiscated , destroyed uncompleted memoirs.