The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-05-04
AN AWFUL TRAGEDY
Which Startled the People Of
Buda Pesth on May Day.
DRIVEN INSANE BY POVERTY,
a Once Wealthy Man Butchers His
Entire Famlly-rhe PltIrul Story
orHIs Struggle Against Fate.
He Takes His Own Life.

He Takes His Own Life.
BuDA PEsTH, May S.-While the minds
OF the working classes in Europe were
exclusively engaged with the labor
problem, and the question Of how their
position in life might be improved, a
tragedy, most pitilul in all its detailp,
was being enacted in an immense tene.
ment in this city, located at<No. s
Schifgasae.
Some thirty-nine years ago one Of tho
most prosperous manufacturers In Buda
Pesth was TheodoriH 0rthesky, whose
cloths were widely known and esteemed.
He was in the prime Of life, OF command.
ipg presence and as liberal as q prince
with bis money. His family consisted
Of only his wife aud daughter, both
lovely specimens Of Hungarian woman
hood, who, to strong resemblance to
each other, added a depth OF affection
that was exceptional. The only being
whom Paula 0rthesky reall y loved be.
sides her mother was Oscar Cosaky, the
youth to whom she he'd, after many
scruples, promised her hand.
AN UNFORTUNATE WEDDING DAY.
Oscar was the eldest son OF a tlourish-
ing iron founder, and, from a worldly
point OF view, the match seemed in every
way desirable one, as Oscar would one
day succeed to his fathers business.
His daughters wedding day, however,
proved an unfortunate epoch for Herr
0rthesky, who from that time on,
whether from grief at the loss OF his
only child or for other reasons, began a
course Of dissipation and neglect OF buai-
ness that could have but one result.
In strong contract to the character and
habits OF the too-festive cloth manuiac-
turer were those Of his son-in law.
Strictly brought up, Oscar had been
taught that industry and integrity were
the only bsScons that could lead TO sue
cess, and that q steadtast obedience 10
duty was imperative to whatever goal
it might lead. Thus taught, 1t may bo
imsgined with what anxiety he watched
Herr 0rthesky's downward course. and
how he used all his influence to post.
pone, il he Could not avert, the threat
ened calamity; but in vain.
LAID HIM IN THE GRAVE.
Three years from the day when the
10y bells sounded in his ears at his wed
ding, 0scar was attending the funeral of
the once prosperous man OF business,
with the knowledge that his father.ir-
law had died physical wreck; that his
fortune had been wasted and his factory
passed into other hands. From that
time It naturally became Oscars pleasure
to provide for Frau 0rthesky, who be-
came member Of his household, which
was soon increased by the birth OF a
daughter. Healso assumed the charge
and education Of a nephew, the son OF a
dead brother.
Ifpoetical justice were meted out Inn
partially in this strange world, Oscar
should certainly have met with good
fortune; but the reverse was the case.
Not long alter the death OF Herr 0rtheB-
Ky his own father was suddenly strick-
en- with apoplexy, and, after brief i'll
ness, died. This calamity was Quickly
followed by the discovery that poor
Josipopy had been inveigled into certain
land speculationH that had seriously
crippled his capital and made 1t almost
impossible for his son to successfully
conduct the business.
a STRUGGLE AGAINST ODDS.
Oscar struggled along, but the odds
were against him. He could not com.
pete with his rivals in trade, and he
gradually did less and less business, un-
I'll be was compelled to sell his plant for
what it would bring. Settling his fam
lily in less expensive locality, Herr
COsRky went to repair his fortune in
Vienna, and for time 1t seemed that he
would succeed in again providing suit
able home for his dear ones, but II ap.
pears that the continued strain had been
too much for Oscars mind. He lost his
capacity for the intricate calculations
required in his work, and was COM
PEELED to resign bis position.
Returning to Bnda. Pesth, he was
forced to accept such humble employ
ment as served 70 keep the wolf from
door, but even such work was scarce,
owing to the supply being greater than
the demand. However, rents are low in
the ancient town OF Buds, across tho
Danube, and the Cosakys managed dur
ing the last few years, in Rome sort Of
fRshion, to keep their beads above water.
Finally about year ago Oscar had the
great good luck, as he considered II, of
being appointed ianitOr OF one OF the
largest tenement houses in the city,
which was owned by landlord who
proposed to get the utmost rate Of inter-
est for his money.
TERRIBLE ACT OF BUTcHERY.
All went well with these victims OF i'll.
fortune until few days ago, when
notice was received from tho landlord
that he could not afford to give hial ian.
itor apartments sufficiently large f5r a
family OF six. This was the edict that
deprived Oscar Of what little Hrmnees
and brains he had left, Taking advantage
OF the absence pi many Of tho tenants on
May Day and the quietnessof the house,
he proceeded TO make his final protest
against the outrages Of fate. He crushed
ia the skulls OF his wife aud bSoy,
smothered his daughter and choD aed or
the heads OF his mothsrirdag and
nephoW with an axe that he left lying
OIL Frau orthesky's breast.
Oscar then mechanically performed
certain duties about the house, and,
these ended Tor the day, no wended his
way to the Danube, where his body was
lOund .Bstora committing this buLchery
Oscar, who, several years before had
taken The name OF Sinks TO conceal HIM
self from his old friends, wrote letters 10
the press and to the police. To the
press he told bis sad story, adding that
Weaving this, his only home, meant
ruin for all oi u.s." In thet to the police
he described In detail what he had done,
Eayin2 that hiR victims had given him
no trouble, only the old woman resist.
iug. lie begged that the hodlss OF his
victims might have decsnt burial, bnt
thst With his own corpse they might d.
whatever they pleased.
DIED.
DEAE.-on Sunday evening, Nay 3, 1891, A, e;io
AL VRkH IH4a - =