Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-04-12
PRINCE RUD0LPH'S DEATH.
INSIDE HISTORY OF THE CAUSES
WHICH LED THE AUSTRIAN
CROWN PRINCE TO COMMIT
SUICIDE.

Vienna for The true history Of the
astounding tragedy Of the Crown
Prince Rudolph's death. The ply
siclan in question Is man who
stands high az court and is thor
Oughly in touch with royal affairs.
| a so wrote TO an Austrian officer
whom bad known both in Vienna
and New York. besides sc, king
particulars from the managing di-
rector of a big Vienna newspaper
who has been Of service 10 the Sun
several times. Their replies, to
my surprise, all agreed upon the
main facts. The story differs from
the version accepted IN America.
The late crown princes nervous
system, which vas never strong,
had been impaired by long series
Of appalling dissipation, gross
proaigacy, and excesse3 of all
kinds. \ startling number OF
families Of all ranks connected
with the imperial court tell OF the
shame which the Crown Prince
brought upon them. At his de-
bauches he used to drink tumOlers
partly filed with champagne and
partly with brandy. Such courses,
in addition 10 reducing him to a
state Of mental and physical wretch
edness, brought about quarrels OF
very bitter nature with his wife
and his father. The Crown Prin-
cess Stephanie is handsome
woman OF uncertain temper. She
was not the kind to overlook her
husbands eXcesses and there were
violent scenes between the pair.
Eventually they decided to live
apart, although they always went
about together in public. Those
who knew the true inwardness OF
things were amazed at the play
acting which Rudolph and bis wife
kept up before the world.
About six months ago the Grown
Prince became violently enamOred
of Baroness Marie Vetsera, who
belonged to a rich Austrian family.
The family Is well known generally
among the smart people OF the
European capitals. The baroness
was a remarkably beautiful girl.
Sine was tall, with long black hair,
large dark eyes, and irregular, but
charm ng features. Rudolph's love
was ofa more enduring and worthy
kind than in other cases. He
loathed the artificial yoke which
bound him to his wife, and at an
uncertain date he sent a formal pc
ti,ion, drafted by an ecclesiastical
dignitary, to the pope applying for
a divorce. The petition was re.
ferred to the Emperor of Austria,
who Indignantly demonstrated with
his son. Things were in this state
"a week before the Crown Princes
death.
The baroness. on her part, was
encountering equally great Oppo'
sltion in her own family; the latter
were determined that she should
marry Partisan inancier, but she
was already deeply in love with
the heir to the throne. The angry
threats of the imperial father and
Of the NetSera family brought the
pair to desperation. Tired Of the
world and hopeless of obtaining
the happiness which they desired,
they resolved 10 die. The lovers
went of to the isolated Castle
Neyerling, accompanied only by
Count Joseph HoyOs, who con.
sidered it an honor to assist two
such lovers to meet each other
In Vienna, however, the imperial
family heard with CONSERVATION of
the rendezvous, and Prince Philip
Of COburg, the crown princes,
brOtherln-law, was sent to bring
RudOlph back; but Prince Philip
met with such a curt reception
that he went back alone. That
night the prince, the baroness,
and Count IIoyOs had dinner to-
gelher and were made merry dur
ing the remainder of the evening
/ by one Craterish, an outcast
caDman Of Vienna, who sang comic
songs in a room adjoining that oc-
cupied by the prince and his guests.
The spectacle of the heir to one Of
the great empires Of Europe sit
ting with a girl whom he had
wrOnged, both of them resolved on
death, and both listening to the
ribald songs of drunken cabman
before going to their doom is dra'
matte IN the extreme. a debauch
followed. 1t was the last wild
freak OF utter desperation an self .
abandonment. On Wednesday
morning the princes valet went
tdllD w MS ludclol ioOhh w ."
form him that Prince Philip OF
Coburg had again come from
Vienna. The door was locked
All those in the house gathered
and broke 1t open. On the bed
they saw the crown prince and
Marie Vetsera dead. The girl had
taken str ycbnine, a packet which
had contained that poison being
found near by. The princes leit
arm clasped Marie's body. The
revolver with which he had shot
himself through the brain lay in
his right hand.