Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-10-05
FOURTH EDITION.
Tne central Park Trag edy

New York, Oct 4.-The bodies n the
man and woman who committed suicide |
in Central Park last night were idenu-
fed today. The man, AS WAS last night
believed, was George Besserdorf, and
the woman d" Maria was Maria hoch,
wife OF Dr. + Il. Koch, editor OF the|
jersey City Freie Presse una sonntag
sgast. She was SO years OF age and
resided with her husband and four
children on Pavonia Avenue, Jersey
City Heights.
Geo. Bessendorf, the man who shot
| himself after killing Mrs. Koch, was y
years old, and until recently employed
on the paper. Bessendorf came To DR..
| X och about four months ago with let
| ter Of Introduction from Carl Seigh of,
| Ph. d., of Union Hill, n. j. Bessendorf
re presented that he was in destitute cir
| Gu nstancss, and would work hard II
| given \ chance.
DIR. Koch gave him employment and
| took hi II 10 his home TO board. For
while Bessendorf worked faithfully,
| and showed himself all expert type.
setter, II WAS not long, however, be
fore DR. Koch noticed he was paying
too much attention 10 Mrs. Koch. The
husband demonstrated with them, and
they promised to cease their intimacy.
Each, however, while confessing a mu.
tual attachment, denied actual crimi-
nality. The intimacy WAS continued,
and Bessendorf, at DR. Kocb's request,
secured another boarding place.
A few days later DR.. Koch learned
that Resseudorf frequently visited the
house, and that his (Koch's) eldest son,
boy of IL years, was used as messtn u
ger for the exchange of letters On
K al 10 Is
tha, he intended to go to Newark &c
collect bills. He expected TO return by
3 O'Clock, but was delayed, and when
he returned his " lie WAS missing. Hi,
children Informed him that Bessendor
had called at the house about 8 30 O.
clock and urged their mother to e
with him. she refused. and Bessendor
got very angry and heatedly reproacheC
her for fooling HIM" She denounced
Bessendorf for having disgraced her
and when he threatened 10 Kill himsel
told him TO go and do 40.
Bessendorf kissed the children good
bye and left. Two hours later Mrs
Koch went out, telling the children sh
intended going to dressmaker's OF
Hobokan Avenue. She did not return
and her husband went 10 the dress
maker only to find that his wife ha
not been seen. The police were notified
but were unable to find any traces q
the missing couple. DIR. Koch wa
Informed that his wife intended goin
to Germany, and he went 10 the steam
ship docks on "Wednesday and Satu
day but without result. He gained Il
clue TO his v lie y whereat outs until
heard OF the tragedy in Sundays news
, papers.
A note which was found on Resse,
DORIS body read as follows
To the Coroner
{ Codicial-Ab1ut a possible claim {
the iuheritanC, of my uncle, Eiwar
Zoeller, In America, who has disappea
ed, may only my farher who lives
Germany, dispose. have given /
structious and power Of attorney
{ George &. Wolfram. This power
attorney ia revoked. My father vi
pay the costs. This is my last will al
testament
GEORGE REssESDORF.
There was ali admission of the /
t-ayal Of Maria ~ one OF the love i
tefs, and the following massive, WRIT
recently, explains the acquiescence
Maria in her taking of By George a.
h.s suicide
MARIA Now only one word wi
thee, my heart, tor The final setteme
Of one question -" Shall we die
have 10 answer briefly and ca'egorici
" IS will pc shown TO thee in black al
White after thou hast eased thy mil
Try answering this yes or no
Don't consider me, for should .
Views differ, there will always be foul
one alternative. Heart of Hear
b, don't despair. Don't be has,y in Z
:. Determination. Consider and act.
y !, matter what may happen, l avn
q everything with resignation. II Is l
/, duty 10 regard thy wishes until deal
q. GEoRG Il
y There we're several attactionate lott
=, from the suicide's father, George
T. sahoolmaster of Roehlein. Bavaria, a
"a the printers passbook showed that
~ " as born at Carlstadt in 1862, q
.e that he served in the 5.h Bavarian
- fanny, receiving his discharge IN Sc
-, 1919