Sante Geronimo Caserio

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A drawing of the assassination.
A drawing of the assassination.

Sante Geronimo Caserio (September 8, 1873 - August 16, 1894) was an Italian anarchist and the assassin of Marie François Sadi Carnot, President of the French Third Republic.

Caserio was born in Motta Visconti, Lombardy. On June 24, 1894, Caserio fatally stabbed President Carnot after a banquet to avenge Auguste Vaillant and Emile Henry. At his trial, Caserio described the assassination in detail:

I heard the "Marseillaise" and the cries of "Viva Carnot!" I saw the cavalry come up. I understood that the moment had come and I held myself ready. On seeing the President's carriage I drew my dagger and threw away the sheath. Then, when the carriage was passing close by me, I sprang forward to the step, supported myself by resting my left hand on the carriage, and with my right hand buried the dagger in the President's breast.[1]

Caserio was executed by guillotine in Lyon at 5am, August 16, 1894.[1] In front of the guillotine, he exclaimed "Coraggio compagni—evviva l' anarchia!" ("Courage, comrades—long live anarchy!")

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Caserio at the Guillotine", The New York Times, August 16, 1894. Retrieved on 2007-09-26. 
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