The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-02
TRAGEDY DOCS
HAPSBURGS
T0END
Death Of Archduke in New
York Explains MeyerIing
Mystery.
continued from First Page.l

CONTINUED from First Page.)
erratic son of the Emperor Of Aus.
tria, Crown Prince Rudolph, was
enamored Of the lovely Baroness
vetsera. They were at a shooting
lodge at Meyerling when they were
found slain.
The tragic double death was
hushed up temporarily by the En-.
peror, who destroyed the shooting
lodge and the landscape surrounding
it, asserting that not only the I'M
fortunate couple but the very site
of their death should be non-exis'
tent.
But gossip Increased rather than
because Of the secrecy.
Newspapers throughout the world
took it up; volumes were written
on it.
Many Theories
Some called it a double suicide.
Others said the crown prince had
been slain by a gAmekeeper who
thought the young prince was at.
tentive to his wife and that the
killing of the baroness was mis-.
take.
The Archdule Johann. a member
Of the royal family, also called Arch.
duke John of Tuscany, was known
to have been present at the staying.
He possessed four letters within a
strong box which gave the real
facts OF the tragedy. But the arch.
duke was supposed to have been
lost at sea.
The truth of the Meyerling
mystery was as follows:
The Archduke Johann saw the
couple slain while he stood
by powerless to prevent Il. A plot
had been cOncocted by court favo.
rites of the old Emperor Francis
Joseph to get rid of the beautiful
baroness, because they feared her
influence over the weak crown
prince. The killing OF the young
was q mistake.
It was night, and the infatuated
was strollinK in the gar
dens of the shooting lodge with his
mistress. Hirelings of the plotters
leaped from behind shrubbery and
attempted to beat her to death. The
crown prince showed fight and In
the mixup both were slain. They
were not shot or stabbed. as has
been thought heretofore. The Arch.
duke Johann, rushing up. arrived
too late to help.
The news that the Emperor's old
est son. his favorite. was dead. was
carried to the monarch. The moth.
er OF the beautiful young baroness
was distracted by rumors, but did
not really know what had hap,
pened to her daughter.
She sought the Empress Elizabeth
and. as she fell on her knees i'm
ploringiy, the Empress said coldly
1T Is too late. They are both
dead
Johann Had Proofs
Before the crown princes dealt,
he had turned over to his friend
Archduke Johann, the strong box
said to contain letters revealing the
plot against the Baroness Vatsera
which he had feared for some time
With this in his possession the
archduke went before his emperor
He upbraided Francis Joseph for
the tragedy. although It is NOT
known whether he directly accused
him of part in it. Suddenly
Johann broke his sword in two and
stepping closer, slapped his rulers
face.
For this unheard-of act, he was
driven from the castle. Messengers
from the Emperor told him he must
not only leave the country but lose
his identity. He knew that II he
stayed the fate Of the crown prince
would be his own.
Archduke Johann sailed away on
his private yacht. But he carried
the strong box Of the crown prince
with him. Following orders of his
Emperor, he ran his boat ashore or
the shores Of Brazil. His ship was
destroyed, reported wrecked in q
storm, and he was said to be
drowned.
Changed His Name.
Really he changed his name Il
o. N. Orlow and came to thu
United States. He was amply sup
piled with money. In Seattle ht
became close friend to a man bS
the name Of Wakefield. Wher
Wakefield died he begged Orlow &
care for his wife and three daugh
ters. and the promise was made.
This was twenty-five years ago
A short time after the widow o.
Wakefield died and two Of thu
daughters married. Their where
abouts are now unknown. The re
naming daughter. Grace, wa.
adopted by the repudiated royalist
OrIow became a man Of mystery
a doctor Of philosophy. d diplomat
He il said to have represented Rus
sia as envoy extraordinary in deal
inge with China. His apartment
in New York, where he had livet
for the past few years, was decor
ated with rare art objects from thu
Orient.
The aftermath Of the war and tn,
collapse of Austrian money depletet
his fortune. Some time recently h,
met Mrs. Charlotte Fairchild and
when ne became III and knew HI
was going to die, he turned to hel
and told the secret Of his past.
Taken To Hospital.
A. few days ago when 1t becam,
apparent that his condition wal
serious he was removed to Colum
bus hospital. There Mrs. FairchilC
photographed his famous straw
berry birthmark on his arm which
is said to prove his identity. HI
also gave her access to his private
papers, because Of her kindness IL
helping him financially.
When he died Mrs. Fairchild wa:
at his bedside. She broke the new.
OF hts end to Miss Wakefield anc
returned with her to the apartment
the odd couple had occupied.
: When Mrs. Fairchild telephoneC
to the apartment yesterday and re
ceived no answer she called DR.
John Grimley, chief surgeon a