New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-02
DIED BY HIS OWN HAND.
TRUE STORY OF THE DEATH 0E CROWN
PRINCE RUDOLF.
AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT THAT HE eHoT HrM
SELF WITH A REvoLvER-A WOMAN SAID
TO HAVE REEN THE cArer

AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT THAT HE SHOT HrM
SELF WITH REvoLvER-A WOMAN SAID
TO HAvE BEEN THE CAUSE.
Vienna, Feb. Lit is officially announced thas
Crown Prince Rudolf committed suicide by shoot
ing himself in the head The weapon used was
o revolver.
The Wiener Zeitung' says: Professor
Wiedcrhofer, who performed the autopsy on tho
remains Of Crown Prince Rudolf, found a large
wound in the side Of the head, which must have
caused instant death. The revolver, with one
chamber discharged, was found on the bedside
close to the right hand of the dead Prince The
position In which it was found proves beyond
doubt that the Crown Prince committed suicide
Inc pericranium was torn aud the skull bones
were partially shattered. The report Of the
revolver was heard by one, the Crown Princes
attendants having left the house to make prepara-
tions for hunting exoursion.'
Several members of the Grown prince,s
encourage state that during the last
few weeks the Crown Prince had
manifested signs of morbid nervous excitement.
and therefore. the Wiener Zetung' says the
view that the shooting was the result of tenn
porary mental arrangement must be adhered to.
Some time previous to his death the Crown
Prince complained of headaches. which were at
tributed to an injury to the head which he sus-
tained by fall from horse last autumn
The Budapester Core spondenz' says Two
years ago and again recently Crown Prince Rudolf
intrusted Herr Won Szogyenyi an attache Of tho
Imperial Household. with the duty Of arranging
his papers. He subsequently wrote Herr Won
Szogyenyi. reminding him Of his trust'
Ii Is believed that the statement of the Wiener
Ze1tung' with reference to the Crown Princes
death is the outcome of yesterdays Cabinet meet
ing, at which Herr Won Tisza expressed himself
as strongly in favor Of stating the details plainly.
In this view the Emperor concurred.
1t is fully confirmed that the Crown Prince, in
conversing with his intimate friends during the
last few days, showed utter WEAKNESS Of life
and betrayed great nervous excitement.
The only letter left by the Crown Prince was
one addressed to his mother. The Crown Princes
will, which was made in 1855, leaves his who1e
property to bis daughter, subject to the Crown
Princess's life interest in all personality, except
Meyerling and the Island Of Lacroma.
Herr Won Tsza had an audience with Emperor
Francis Joseph to-day. Their meeting was affect
ing Herr Won Tisza took the Emperor's hand and
silently, but warmly, pressed it. He was so deeply
moved that he could hardly. express his SYM
pathy He urged the Emperor to seek solitude
some time before the funeral, Immediately after
ii. The Emperor rejected this advice, and re-
marked that he would not leave the body Of his
son.
In the lower house of the Austrian Parliament
to-day, President Smoll1a, referring to the death
OF the Crown Prince, declared that the senti-
ment of union between the Imperial Family and
the people was indissoluble, and that tho
present stroke of destiny is fresh spur TO induce
US TO devote all our strength to the Emperor and
the Empire
The members stood during the speech, which
was received with applause.
In the upper house the president asked for
authority TO convey to the Emperor and Empress
and Crown Princess an expression OF heartfelt
sorrow. The members, silently rising, signihed
their approval.
London Feb. I.--a The Pail Mall Gazette says
it is privately informed from Vienna that Crown
Prince Rudolf committed suicide because 1t was
optional with him to take his own life or to
fight a duel with the brother Of . Princess, who
is a member Of one of the highest Austrian fami-
hes and whom he had seduced. When conceal
ment was longer possible the Princess con-
fessed her shame to her brother, who gave Rudolf
the alternative of committing suicide or lighting
o duel
The Pail Mall Gazette further says that
the doctors who were summoned refused TO sign
a certificate TO the effect that Rudolrs death
was due to apoplexy, and that great scene
ensued One Of the doctors told the Neue trele
Presseu the real facts which that paper published