The New York herald., 1921-04-20
FRENCH Line CHIEF
IS HOTEL SUICIDE
Col. KOZminSki HeartbrOken
Over Death Of Wife in
January.
HANGS SELF IN PLAZA
Connected for 30 Years With
Line. Coming Here From
Chicago.
HANGS SELF IN PLAZA

Col. Maurice W. Kozminski. director
general of the passenger traffic de-
partment OF the Compagnie Generate
ansatlantique-th French line
while suffering from depression and
melancholia as a result Of the death
of his wife, took his life yesterday by
hanging in the bathroom of his suite
in the Hotel Plaza. His body was
found suspended from a towel bracket
by means of a moose contrived by
combining with dog leash the twisted
waistcord of a bathrobe.
Col Kozminski was 81 years old and
had been connected with the French line
thirty-two years. Though of Polish ex-
traction. he was born in Chicago. the
son OF banker nnd had lived In that
city until he came here. May I. 1915,
to take charge of tha company's passen-
ger business on this side OF the Atlantic
on the retirement of ~. Paul Faguet
His military title was uie result OF SER
vice on the staff OF Gov. Tanner OF
Illinois. His father IN connection with
his banking interests. had become in
terested in the shipping industry and
was appointed a Western general pas
sengor agent for sha French line with
headquarters in Chicago When the
elder Kozminski died. twenty-five years
ago. his son succeeded him In that Of
flee and Is said to have inherited about
81. 100000 Of his fathers s3.000.00o es-
tate.
During his more ti:an five years resi-
dence in New York Col. kozminslIi had
made his home most OF TIE time In the
Plaza. where he occupied. with his wife
and his daughter. Sybi,. suite on the
eleventh floor. Early In the world war
the French Government acknowledged
his services by naming him a Chevalier
of the Legion of Honor. Less than one
year ago he took his wife and daughter
for tour OF France. followed by a
trip over the newly established automo-
bile route through Algeria and Morocco.
During the outing last summer Mrs.
kozminski was stricken with cancer and
she died January ~ In st. Vincent's
Hospital. She had been active in war
work for the Red Cross and for the
French war orphans.
The Colonel never rallied from the
shock Of her death. For a long time he
was III In a sanitarium, but no had re-
turned to his duties In the company's
offices, 10 state street, and was at his
desk Monday. On Saturday he had been
among those vino welcomed the Prince
OF Monaco aboard La France OF his own
line. The Prince was one OF his friends.
Arthur Henderson. a business associ-
ate. said he never had known a man
more devoted 10 his wife. Though he
never had heard the Colonel hint that he
contemplated suicide he said, he had
asked his friends some time ago to
promise that 80 anything should hap
pen" he should be buried beside his wife
in the Roseiie Cemetery In Chicago
Miss Sybil Kozminski. who is 20 years
old. made her debut in society about two
years ago. \ dance at the Plaza was
attended by many of the younger So
ciety set. Her brother. Charles. who Ia
"a. lives in Chicago. where he holds the
post as Western agent Of the line. which
was held by his father and grandfather.
|. Always n keen sportsman before his
bereavement. Col. Kozminski was espe-
ciaiIy devoted to golf. In Chicago he
had several prize Airedales. OF which he
was fond. He often had expressed re-
gret that New York hotel life made II
impracticablc for him to enjoy his dogs
company here. The leash which he put
to such gruesomc purpose was used when
he took out his Pomcranian. the sole sur
viving conrade OF his fourfooted friends.
The body was taken TO n funeral
chapel at 597 Lexington avenue. a brief
service viii be held there. after which
interment will be made in Chicago, as
he wished.