The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-06
REHASHROYALCRIME
New Phase of Double Trag-
edy Near Vienna.
RUDOLPH, OF AUSTRIA, SLAIN
1nsuIted the Baroness Vetsera, His
Sweetheart, and Is Killed by On
Baroness for Hurting Wine Glass
and Contents into His Face.

Paris. Feb. 6-WIn the ghosts Of the
beautiful but unfortunate Baroness Marie
Vetsera and her noble but tickle and dis
slpated sweetheart Archduke Rudolph of
Austria. who met violent deaths near
Vienna IN 1859. never be laid TO use an
old-fashioned term? The circumstances
surrounding the murder and suicide or
whatever 1t really was, the news OF
which shook the Austrian throne and
produced a tremendous sensation through
out Europe. have again been dragged
into public view, not only by the recent
death at Denver, Colo, Of the Baron
Louis Vetsera, a brother OF the hapless
baroness, and who, 1t is said. left a jour
nal explaining the circumstances Of his
sisters death, which, despite the Austrian
governments orders TO seize all his pa
peTs, had been previously placed in the
hands Of a friend, TO be published after
the baron's death, but also by the publi-
cation in Paris newspapers OF communl-
cations which purport TO give true his
tories of the affair.
one Of these recently appeared In La
Matin. while La Petit Parisien printed a
dispatch which gives different version.
InSuIted by Her Lover.
The first account declares that the
archdUke and the baroness We're members
OF a party which spent riotous nights at
Moyerlins, where the tragedy took place
Rudolph, infamed with wine after an
insulting remark ordered her TO expose
her neck 20 the men and women in the
company. Maddeued at the insult which
accompanied il, she threw a wineglass
and its contents in his face, which was
cut by the broken glass. Rudolph. be
side himself with sudden rage. drew a
pistol and shot her dead. Several men in
the company, Mortified and Infatuated by
the cowardly deed, struck the archduke
on the head repeatedly with heavy can
dlestcks. killing him
The other story is that Baron Vetsera,
who was in the party, and who, it is
thought, may have taken part in aveng-
ing the murder of his sister-his friends
Count Won Bonbelles, Count Hoyos, and
Count Festetics being members of the
party also-was told by Rudolph that be
cause Of the disparagement in the social
and court positions OF himself and Marie
they could not marry. To this the girl is
said TO have replied: Then all that is
left to me is to die"
The next morning when Baron Vetsera
and Count Hoyos were hastily summoned
by a frightened servant. the archduke
was found lying on a bed with a bullet
wound in his head, while in his hand was
a revolver.
AT first" a narrative continues, I'VE
did not see the body Of the baroness. A
white sheet covered it completely from
head To foot By the bedside was an
empty glass ana a spoon. Marie had
poisoned herself. Beneath the chandelier
were found four sealed letters and an
other one open" The story continuing.
describes the funeral Of the unfortunate
young woman, but throws no further
light on the tragedy itself
Their Marital Troubles.
Count Festetlcs. it may be recalled,
years afteTward married an American
woman, Miss Hagsin. She later OBJ
tanned a divorce. alleging i'll treatment,
being received at the Austrian court, one
but in reality it is said, her object in
dissolviag the marriage was through dis
appointment at her inability to succeed in
being received at the Austrian court, one
of the most exclusive in Europe. Since
then the count has again been married
10 another American.
Now Princess Louise of Belgium de-
clares that her divorced husband was one
Of the party on the fatal night The
princess, however, resides in a house
chiefly constructed Of glass and is in no
position to throw bricks, for it was she
who ran away with an army officer,
thereby causing her father. King Leo
pold Of Belgium, 10 disown her and dis
inherit her.
All of which goes to prove that Euro
pean society is in no position to criticise
adversely the divorces and escapades fire.
quently Brought to public notice in Amer
ican social circles.