Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-08-19
ROMANTIC SUICIDE.
Arthur Pallavinci, Lieutenant of
RuSSarS, Ends His Life at

Budapest.
Budapest Aug. 14.-In social ana
other circles little else is talked of here
than the romantic suicide and funeral
of Count Arthur Pallavicni lieutenant
of HusSars. who was buried yesterday.
The lieutenant, a handsome young fell
low only p years of age, became great
ly attached to Miss Ethel Barrison, one
of the five harrison sisters, the we'll
known variety artists whose dolngs in
New York and Berlin have attracted SO
much attention and whose scandalous
conduct in Berlin brought upon them an
order of expulsion from Germany.
Count Pallavicni sought in every way
possible to induce Miss Ethel to return
his love, but she only laughed at his
protests of affection and apparently PAID
no heed of his threats to end his life
him.
He Left Letter.
On Tuesday Count Pallavicni was
found dead, having committed suicide by
shooting himself with a revolver. In
his left hand was photograph of Miss
Ethel and slip of paper upon which
the unfortunate young man had written:
II beg Miss Ethel harrison to come to
my coffin and press a kiss upon it,"
The strange feature of the case natu-
rally aroused much comment, which was
not in any way favora BILE to the Ameri
can music hall artists, and nobody be-
lieved that Miss Ethel would grant her
lovers last request. But contrary to ex-
pectations she appeared at the funeral
yesterday dressed in the deepest mourn
ing.
The affair has caused a revival of all
the stories in which the harrison sisters
have figured, including the elopment of
one of the sisters with Count Barnstorff
of New York Then it is recalled that
in February last Count Won Wedel, a
young officer in the German army, was
arrested for having pawned jewclry
which he had purchased on installments.
The disclosures which followed showed
that the young man had spent quite
fortune on the harrison sisters and that
when his money became exhausted he
obtained funds in the manner Indicated
in order to spend 1T upon them.
The harrison sisters, from 1891 to
1898, were well-known figures on Broad
way, in Central park and other thor
oughfares and resorts in New York city
where the throng of pleaSure-seekers is
greatest. They did everything they
could to attract attention to themselves
and succeeded. They were photo
graphed in all sorts of costumes, got
their names into the papers often, and
soon became much talked about.
They always appeared in public to-
gether and by their stunning hats, gay
attire and sprightly manners were among
the most observed of the promenaders.
The eldest is now 24 and the youngest
16.
The girls were natives of Copenhagen,
Denmark. and they had been in this
country for some years Their father
was SINUS harrison, who was an UNI
brella member and reputed to be IF in
temperate habits. He was very little
seen by visitors TO the harrison home
and is now reported to be dead His
wife, Richa, was woman of very little
education. She did not seem to Worry
herself about her chiidren's welfare. but
only considered them in the light of
money makers.
All of the sisters were pretty and
bright. What amount of schooling they
had received no one knew. but it was evil
IDENTIFY very small, as the mother bad
turned their liking for the stage to adj
vantage az soon as possible.
1t was in 1891 that the Gerry society
had its attention attracted to the sisters
They were then playing Wang" with
DE Wolf Hopper, at the Broadway the
alter, The five came out with dolls sang
a little song and went through a simple
dance. Inger was then only 13 years
old and Gertrude u.
Mr.. Gerry was favorablby impressed
With the girls and made inquiries about
them. He learned that their first APP
pearance in this city had been on August
y, 1883, at Niblo's, in Uncle Sam"
They formed Il group or tableau in one
of the scenes. Adlone, the oldest girl.
subsequently joined Clara Morris com
pany and played small roles.
The three older girls were beyond the
authority of the Gerry society, but it in
terfered in behalf of the others. 1t was
only partially successful, however
1t was in the summer of 1893 that the
young girls, who, up to this time, had
been doing a little sketch, changed their
style of performance and began the
skirt dance, high kicking and imitation of
the tough girl In the winter of 1888 the
entire family went abroad. The mother
tried to convince Mr.. Gerry that she
intended to educate her younger children
in Europe, but he placed no credepce in
what she said. Since their departure
the Gerry society has not heard from
them.
While in Berlin the sisters received a
note from the police that they must
leave Germany. This action was taken
because SO many prominent men had be-
come victims to their charm This was
in February, 1896. and it would seem
that the police had since relaxed their
vigilance.