New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-14
SUICIDE or THREE SISTERS AND AFRO TIER
A SENSATION T. vIENNA-sTRANGE END OF
wELI~KNOwN PAINTER.

A SENSATION T. vIENNA-sTRANGE END OF a
wELLKNowN PAINTER.
grea, sensation has been caused In Vienna by
the suicide of four members Of a well-known and
wealthy family brother and three sisters. They
were Franz. Anna. Antoine and Juanne Ko.lark.
Franz Koarz was an artist Of reputation. and. al
though sixty-fve years old enjoyed good income
from the sale OF MS paintings and sketches. The
brothers and sisters all unmarried lived together
in a handsome house in the Austrian capital. They
enjoyed life apps- enty. and had a large circle Of
friends.
AS subsequent, developments proved. they had
contemplated the ending OF their lives together for
some time on May TO- accompanied by their niece.
Miss Marianne Besklba. the painter, whose mother
died a few weeks ago they made pilgrimage 70
Maria Iauzendorf a small village not far from
Vienna. on the Sunday following they visited the
church and the niece noticed that they prayed with
unusual fervor when kaeeng before the altar
Later. they all. with the exception OF the niece.
went TO confession. Returning 10 the ho,e where
they had taken rooms. they seemed in good spirits.
on the next day. the four Old people visited the
cemetery The attendants Just digging
gravs. The Koilarzes watched them for time and
then asked number OF questions as 10 the neces-
sary depth OF graves, their cost and as TO the dis
position IN the village of those who ended their
own lives. On the same evening. Herr Koarz
accompanied his niece 10 the station on the way
back to Vienna and babe her hearty farewell
He then called at store an6 purchased four wine
glasses and returned 10 the hotel The three sisters
awaited him a. the entrance.
us everything ready7' OF them asked.
Everything" the answer.
The last OF them alive was when the walter
carried up their evening meal. The next morning
some surprise was caused by their failure 10 ap-
pear. As there response to repeated kpoch-
ings the door. II was burst open and shocking
sight the eyes of the intruders
on the sofa lay the painter and two OF his sisters.
resting on one another. dead on the floor, near
chair from which she had evidently fallen was
ha of her
glasses and near them what was left OF large
dose Of cyankai which they had dissolved In wine
and swallowed. The following letter was found n
place the bureau where IL could not be over
looked:
"Our last Will farewell 10 all relatives and
friends-inay they remember US with kindly feel-
ings We brother and sisters-Franz. Anna, An
toin,e and Julie Kollarz-each OF US ended his
re OF his free will without any compu!sion. %
avoid the suffering which would be caused should
We e singiy. We under obl!ga lions 10 no one
We farthng 10 any one We have Offended
no one: have wished evil 10 no one; we have
Gone evil 10 no one. Therefore, without accusa-
tons We go We forbid emphatically any physical
examination OF bodies. We wish 10 be buried
o. Christian Catholics. The money for the burial
services is PROV ded.
The niece OF the four death-seekers, the young
artist who accompanied them on their last journey.
Is heir TO all their property.