Isabella Mueller (crime writer)
On the morning of September 1, 1928, a shootout straight out of a Western movie took place on Rilkeplatz in Vienna’s 4th district, Wieden. This was because the shooter, Gabor Bodony, was a well-known performer from Budapest who appeared in various variety shows in Vienna as a marksman under the name “Texas King.” That morning, he had visited Leopold Kürer’s jewelry store at Rilkeplatz 7 to buy an expensive watch. As the jeweler was about to wrap the watch, Bodony struck him on the head with his pistol. The jeweler managed to dodge the second blow just in time, flee his store, and take refuge in a neighboring shop. Bodony had also fled the jewelry store and ran, disoriented, into Margaretenstraße. But he was pursued by a traffic police officer who had happened to witness the robbery. During the wild chase, several exchanges of gunfire occurred, during which the police officer was hit. A motorist who had observed the entire spectacle came to his aid and began chasing Bodony in his car. Bodony fired shots in an attempt to shake off his persistent pursuer, but to no avail. The motorist finally managed to strike Bodony as he crossed the street, causing Bodony to fall to the ground, injured, in front of the house at 9 Margaretenstraße. When Bodony realized that escape was no longer possible, he shot himself in the head with his pistol. Thus ended the inglorious life of the celebrated marksman “Texas King,” who this time had no guardian angel, unlike in his most famous stage act, “Playing with Death.”
