South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-14
LONDON. Dec. Ia

LONDON. Dec. ID
"She said both her parents
committed suicide. She heard
her mother calling her. and she
wanted 20 go"
Behind this statement made by
the husband at the inquest on the
beautiful society woman, Mrs. Alma
Vecara Steane. who committed
suicide by taking prussic acid
tablets after returning from a vic
tory ball at Ciarfdge's hotel. IS TO
be found the extraordinary devel-
oprnent OF one or tho greatest
world Tragedies tragedy that
happened 90 years ago and yet still
remains one OF the unsolved mys-
teries OF time
The parents" who committed
suicide. whose child Mrs. Steane be
Heved herself 20 be. and whose ex-
ample her neurotio temperament
bade her follow, were none other
than the Crown Prince Rudolph Of
Austria and the Baroness Marie
vetsera, whose tragic death at the
hunting box at Meyerling castle on
Jan. 30. 1889. deprived the Emper-
or Francis Joseph OF his only son
and provided the world with SEN
sation. the echoes of which have
never died down.
The secret or Aeycrling.
Rudolph Of Austria, married
blase. and eccentric. was engaged
fin an intrigue with the very beau
t.ful and young Baroness Marie
Vetsera. Both were found dead to-
gether after an orgy at Meyerling
castle The manner Of their death
has remained an unsolved riddle.
various theories have been put
forth from time 10 time which viii
be found dealt with below. Brief
Is. il has been suggested that:
O. The crown prince and the
baroness decided TO die together,
and that Rudolph first shot the
girl and then himself
90 They We're assassiuated for
political reasons.
(3) The crown prince murdered
the baroness in a frenzy and was
himself killed by companions who
had witnessed the deed.
Mrs. Steane claimed 10 be the
natural daughter OF Rudolph of
Austria. She always used the name
Of Vetsera (some times Vecera, as
Il appears on her marriage certi-
hcate). after the baroness whom
she believed was her mother
It is interesting 70 note that on
the certificate Of her marriage with
Capt. Steane no entries are made in
the spaces allotted TO the brides
fathers name and rank. 'Zetkous'
apparently was used as her maiden
name.
Mrs Steane's MOrbidities.
over the whole life story of Mrs.
steane lies the shadow of this royal
tragedy. filling it with morbid ten
denotes; heightening her natura'
neurotic impulses. bearing he'
down with a weight OF gloom that
alloyed her brightest moments. so
that a spell OF gaiety would be
swiftly followed by one of black
depression. as was the case after
the victory ball at Claridge's
She was unhappy in the events Of
her life. too. as though the fate
that robbed her Of those she be-
lieved 10 be her parents was also
Tevengefully engaged in laying ar
extra store OF misery upon the
child Probably she brooded much
on this aspect of her life. ancestry
Meanwhile Mr.. and Mrs. Hayne
returned 90 Canada. and shortly
afterwards causes OF disagreement
sprung up between them. Later or
Mrs. Hayne gave birth to a child.
and following this event the trouble
between husband and wife became
intensified
Divorce Proceedings.
a young Montreal man named
T. McDougald met Mrs Hayne and
fell desperately in love with her
Divorce proceedings were com
menced in New York by Hayne.