Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-01
CORD SLAIN in AUTO
AFTER QUARREL OVER
REAL ESTATE DEAL
This Is New Theory of Detec-
tives Investigating Wealthy
Mans Mysterious Death.
Look for Enemy
HIS PAPERS SEARCHED

Samuel S. Cord, the Laurel Springs real
estate man, whose bullet-marked body
was found behind rail fence off the
River road. three blocks from the Fish
House, n. j., station yesterday. was shot
and killed in an automobile. in the opin-
ion Of the Camden County detectives at
work on the case
All doubt that Cord was murdered has
been cleared up In the minds of the de-
tectives. They also have abandoned the
first theory that the motive was robbery,
and now believe that It followed a quar-
rel over a real estate transaction.
Captain Of Detectives Cameron was
called into the case early today. He has
been asked to find out, II possible,
whether or not Cord left this city late
Monday afternoon In an automobile, and
who was in the car with him.
The Camden detectives say that all the
evidence points to a shooting I'm an auto
mobile. The spot where the body was
found, on the outskirts of Camden, near
the junction Of the Cove and River roads,
Is " miles across country from the Cord
mansion at Laurel Springs.
Cords own automobile was in his
garage at his home. He would not have
been I'm the vicinity where his body was
found unless he was in the machine OF
some one else, the detectives assert.
The theory that the shoting followed an
argument over o real estate transaction
also is carried out, the detectives say. by
the fact that every bit Of paper in Cords
pockets was minutely examined. Every
pocket had been searched. Personal let
ters had been taken from their envelopes,
legal and realty documents opened, all
apparently while the murderer was on his
way from the point where the body was
left back to the road.
A trail OF such papers led from the
-
attracted the attention Of Raymond and
Albert Malloy. of River avenue, PEN
sauken, who discovered the dead body
face downward I'm a shallow ditch
Cords widow was on the verge OF coll
lapse at her home this morning. She
did not sleep last night. Most of the
time she sat by the telephone. calling up
County Prosecutor Kraft at the Court
House in Camden. who also was up all
nisht ON the case. Mrs. Cord is firmly
convinced that her husband was MUIR
dered, but she can give no clue to the
murderer. ....a .s......
MOTORISTS SEARCH. 7a' ''T
Seven hlgh-powered automobiles raced
over the roads of Pensauken township
and adjoining country all during the
night, filled with amateur detectives.
Nearly everybody IN the township has a
clue Of some kind about the murder and
insists on working 1t out according 20
his own ideas.
At dawn County Detectives Levin, Do.
ran and Gribben were confining them
selves to Laurel Springs. They would
not explain why the chase had narrowed
down to that town, but each believed
that It would not be long before arrests
were made.
Residents talked OF nothing else TO.
"a mi IL he
sensation since Cord founded the place Is
years ago and started to develop 1t
through real estatee deals.
There Is possibility, the detectives
say, that two men were implicated in the
killing OF Cord. Two Of the bullets that
struck him went through the heart. Two
others went through his abdomen. The
theory has been advanced that each pair
was fired by a different man. What at
first was thought TO be a fifth bullet
wound. under the elbow. is now believed
to have been a bruise. caused perhaps by
the arm striking a stone.
Friends of the dead man say that he
had made enemies by his strict business
methods. They assert that he Invariably
kept all agreements he made TO the letter.
and that he held those who dealt with
him to the same code. II a purchaser of
real estate failed to make a payment
instantly. they say.
Recently Cord has had trouble with
disgruntled customer, the detectives saw
He even went so far as to ask the ele-
vator starter In the building where he had
his Office not to bring a certain man 10
his office. Just who this man is the de-
tectivos do not know Captain Cameron a
men are at work on this end OF the case.
A reward that probably will be s, 900
may be offered today for the capture OF
Cords murderer. II Is also possible that
private detectives may be called into the
case. The widow Is determined 10 run
down the murderer or murderers.
All the bullets that struck Cord were
Of .S2 ealibre. PawnAhops are being
Investigated in this city today 10 find out
II any one giving New Jersey address
bought such a weapon within the last
few days.
Men assigned by Prosecutor Kraft. with
what assistance Mrs. Cord could give
them, started a systematic examination
OF Cords private papers today at his
home. IL Is thought that soma light on
the identity Of those who might be his
enemies may be found from an exRmi-
nation OF these documents There was
nothing OF this Kind In the papers scat
tered about Cords body. The police be-
lieve that some paper was taken out Of
the packet.
SURVIVES SPLIT SPINE