LOTTERY OF DEATH.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8890, 9 August 1907, Page 1

LOTTERY OF DEATH.

Samuel Zeisler, the manager of n large factoy in Budapest, lias committed suicide owing to an American duel arranged 20 years ago. When Zeisler was serving his time in the army in the eighties, he quarrelled with C4eza Vjlaky, Iris sergeant, and as the army rules forbade an ordinary duel, "they agreed to draw lots which of them should commit suicide within five years. Zeisler drew the black lot, but soon afterwrds the sergeant emigrated to America, and Zeisler failed to take iris life. A few days ago Vjlaky ,jnet him in the street in Budapest with the words, “What, arc you alive still?” and insisted that he should keep his word by committing suicide. Zeisler bogged his old enemy to overlook the bargain on the ground that lie was engaged to bo married. He offered him his whole fortune 0f,£1300 as ransom, but Vjlaky said ho had made a fortune in the States, and wanted the other’s life, not his money. Ho added that if Zeisler did not shoot himself within 30 days he would shoot him himself. Zeisler thereupon committed suicide with a revolver, after writing a number of letters explaining the circumstnces. The police are searching for Vjalky, as an America 'duel is a criminal offence punishable with ten years’ hard labour.