Above: Dr. Hermann Widerhofer, later Baron von Widerhofer (1832-1901).

Source: Wikipedia: Hermann von Widerhofer

14. The Next Morning (continued)

While this drama was unfolding at the Hofburg, Dr. Widerhofer was carrying out an examination of the two bodies. After ordering the bedroom shutters to be opened, he quickly determined that the couple died of gunshot wounds.

Mary's hands were folded over her lap with a handkerchief clutched in her left hand so tightly that it could only be removed with difficulty. The position of her hands showed that her wound was not self-inflicted.

Rudolf was in a semi-sitting position on the bed. In his case the fatal bullet had shattered the crown of his skull. A revolver was on the floor and a hand mirror on a bedside table. Widerhoffer wrapped Rudolf's head in bandages that concealed the damage.

The state of rigor mortis in Mary's body was much more advanced than it was in Rudolf's case, showing that Rudolf was alive for a considerable time after Mary was dead. She must have already been dead when Rudolf appeared at Loschek's door on the morning of January 30.

Dr. Widerhofer returned to Vienna and met personally with Franz Josef at six o'clock on the morning of January 31. He had no inkling that the emperor believed Rudolf was poisoned by Mary, and when Widerhofer said "I can assure your majesty that he did not suffer for a moment – the bullet went clean through his temple" the emperor was stunned.

"He shot himself? That's not true; surely she poisoned him; Rudolf did not shoot himself – you've got to have some proof of what you are saying" (Judtmann 145).

Shocked in his turn by the emperor's shocked reaction, Dr. Widerhofer gave him a detailed report of his findings. Franz Josef broke down sobbing.