New-York tribune., 1920-07-14
Brokers' Wife Shot by
Chauffeur Suicid e
Whose Attentions She
Spurned, Is Declared
Slayer Known as
Religious Fanatic
Boosted Several Days Ago
That His Name Would
Appear in Newspapers
From q star correspondcnt

NEW LONDON, Conn, July 13.-.
jealousy was the motive for the MUIR
der of Mrs. Florence Mabel De Cor
dova, wife of Arthur De Cordova, a
broker of 25 Broad Street, New York,
who was shot and killed by Bernard
R. Geissler, her chauffeur, while she
was out driving with him last night
near Stonington, fifteen miles east of
here.
The authorities declared to-day they
was infatuated with Mrs. De Cordova
and. that he killed her and mortally
wounded himself when she failed to
reciprocate his attentions.
Geissler died in hospital here to-
day. Mr.. De Cordova accompanied by
his daughter Gladys, twenty-one, his
son Eustace, twenty-one and George
Young Bauchle, friend, came to New
LondoQ to-day to claim the body Of his
wife. He said he had been informed
at his home in New York that his
wife and the chauffeur had been killed
in an accident and it was not until
his arrival here that he learned of the
murder and suicide.
Chauffeur a Fanatic
Mrs. De Cordova was a social
favorite in the summer colony at the
Griswold Hotel at Eastern Point, New
London. She was forty-four, and a
daughter she had taken a suite at the
hotel for the summer, where her
husband was to visit her for the week.
ends. Geissler had been in her en-
ploy for the last two years. Accord
ing to Mr.. Bauchle, who spoke for Mr..
DE Cordova, the chauffeur never was
known to be unduly attentive to Mrs.
De Cordova. He was looked upon as
a religious fanatic, Mr.. Bauchle said.
About q dozen witnesses were ex-
amined to-day by Benjamin H. Hewitt,
county prosecutors; w. F. Broughton,
deputy sheriff; Franklin H. Brown,
coroner, and DR.. William Fl. Gray,
medical examiner. They learned that
Geissler recently had boasted that his
name would appear in the newspapers.
Assertions made by some Of the wit
nesSes were:
Geissler, who lived in an annex Of
the Griswold Hotel, frequently told his
Cordova supplied him with quantities
Of whisky. He said he had separated
from his wife and henceforth intended
to live life Of ease.
Two days ago Geissler was seen in
a field near the hotel practicing target
shooting with revolver.
A detective connected with the hotel
said he recalled that when Mr.. De Cor
dova was having dinner with his wife
last Sunday Geissler was looking in
at window and making threatening
gestures at Mr.. De Cordova.
One chauffeur said Geissler had de-
boys. You'll see my name in them be-
fore long"
Seen Together in Auto
Other witnesses testified that when
Mrs. De Cordova was found dead lying
in the road near her automobile and
Geissler was found leaning up against
half-flled with Scotch whisky was
found in the machine, together with
two glasses. There also was lemon
and a quantity Of cigarettes. Prose
cutor Hewitt said he had been in
formed that Mrs. De Cordova and
Geissler had been seen in the same
place last Wednesday, when they were
observed sitting on the running board
of the automobile, which had been
brought to standstill in sequestered
byroad.
Mrs. De Cordova left the Griswold
Hotel in the De Cordova touring car
at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon. She
was dressed in a tight fitting sport
hat, a white crepe de chine shirtwaist,
a checked sport skirt, white stockings
and white and tan buckskin shoes. She
was observed sitting in the rear seat
of the car, with Gcissler driving.
The next time they were seen was
where the tragedy took place, near
Stonington. James Main, who works in
a sawmill near the place, said that at
$3.50 O'Clock, while on his way home, he
noticed Mrs. De Cordova and Geissler
sitting on the running board Of the
car.
They both appeared to be hilarious
(csntlnued on page y