Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-09
DOUBTS SON DIED
IN POISON PACT
Mrs. Caroline Devine Says Heart
Disease May Have Killed Miss
SinkIer's Chauffeur
AUTOPSY REPORT SECRET

Harry A. Devine, chauffeur for Miss
Caroline Sinkler. wealthy Philndel-
phian, who was found dead with Stella
Zeisloft. a maid. in the kitchen of Miss
Sinkler's summer home at Gloucester.
Mass, early yesterday. was to have
Neen married here in November to
Miss Mary Burke. OF Amber. Pa.
"A thousand hnndkerchiefs. couldn'
hold my tears" said the mother. Mrs.
Caroline Devine.. a kindly. white
haired woman with faded blue eyes, and
about seventy five years old, as she dis.
c,isscd the tragedy at her home at GID
North Thirty second street today. II
know Harry didn't agree to any suicide
pact with the girl. because he had
planned to go into business for him
self and get married next month.
''Tf he drank the whisky the police
say he did that may have killed him.
Or he may have died from heart dis
ease" Mrs. Devine added. I'VE have
heart trouble. He got it in the army
and that is the reason he went to work
for Miss Sinkler after he was dis
charged. He had 70 have outdoor work
that was not hard.
"Our family is poor. but We have
pride. and this affair has dragged 1t IN
the dirt. II is killing me.
Miss Catherine Devine. sister OF the
dead chauffeur. attempted (" comfort
her mother. but without success.
Autopsy Report Withheld
An autopsy was performed yesterday
10 determine the cause of the couple
death, but physicians VINO conducted
II have not vet announced their find
ings. Gloucester police have made no
arrests.
The bodies of the maid and the chauf-
feur were discovered By Bridget Me-
Geehan. an old family servant OF Miss
Sinkler's. She thought they had been
overcome by gas. and she attempted 70
revive them before finally notifying her
mistress.
Saturday night Devine. Stella Ieis-
loft and two other servants. William
Elkins the gardener. and Helen Cor
man. 'parlor maid, both of Fhiladcl-
phia. held a farewell party. DevIne
took TIE gardener and two women on an
automobile ride. returning home after
an evening spent in Gloucester.
Just before reaching the Sinkler es.
tate the chauffeur drove to the home Of
. bootlegger and obtained n quart OF
whisky. ElEins went to his quarters
after drinking some of the whisky and
Helen Gorman left 10 spend the night
with another maid. while Davine and
Stella Zeisloft. who was thirty three
years old and native of Freeland. Pa.
remained in the kitchen.
1t is thought by the police that Stella
Zeisloft. who was known TO have be-
come greatly attached to the chauffeur.
may have given him a drink containing
poison rather than see him married 10
The Amber girl. and then poisoned her
self.
Miss Sinkler lives at 1904 Locust
street ami is sister Of DR.. Francis
Wharton Sinklcr.
She consented to discuss the tragedy
only after much persuasion and then
only in the presence of her physician.
DIR. Arthur s. Torrcy. and her nephew,
Dunbar Lockwood, of Boston.
This thing has been terrible shock
to me- said Miss Sinkler. "and I know
absolutely nothing of this affair save
what has been related 10 me by nv
servants. II occurred early in the
morning, and 1t was some time before
] was told of the dreadful happening.
! guess Bridget, my maid. did nor wish
to upset me and this accounts for her
delay in reporting the occurrence. Then.
Rridget was busy in trying 70 bring
them to consciousness and this also
accounts for the delay.
"As soon as | realized the tragedy
Immediately sent for Dr. Torroy. who
pronounced them dead. He then ad-
'ised me to call the police, and the
medical examiner. and that il all /
know OF the case
Miss Sinkler said she knew nothing Of
the love affairs OF her employees.