The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-17
Mystery Surrounds the
Death of Frances Les
lie on Oceanic.
AUTHORITIES ARE
ASKED TO GIVE AID
Theory Held That Actress, Who
Sailed Under Name of Anna
Wilson, Ate Poisoned Candy
Which Was Intended for
Her Chum-May Have
Been Robbery.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch ]

New York, rarch lS.--The parents
OF Frances Leslie. the chorus girl who.
known on the ships passenger list as
Anna Wilson, died in hci. cabin on the
White Star liner Oceanic, arc convinced
that their daughter was murdered.
Henry Schmitz. the father, tele-
Bryan and the American consul at
Southampton to-day, asking their aid
in solving the mystery. 1t is the be-
lief of the girls family that she was
the victim Of poisoned candy sent to
the steamer in the name of Anna Will
son. They declare that tire girl had no
disgruntled sweetheart. nor any en-
emy that they knew of
Henry SchmitZ admitted to-day that
he believed that poison had been sent
10 the girl by mistake. He intimated
that the intendd victim may have been
Anna Wilson. the dead girls chorus
churn, whose ticket his daughter
bought. and whose place in the Ameri-
can Revue, in London. his daughter
was to have taken.
Holds Robbery Theory.
Mrs. Mary Schmitz. the mother. fears
that her daughter was killed by some
one who sought to rob her
Frances left New York on the Oce-
anic on March 81 said Mrs. Schmitz
She took with her about $4,000 worth
OF Jeweiry. [ saw her off. Several
packages ~ candy, fruit and flowers
came to her stateroom while I was bid
ding her good-by. She was-in excellent
health and spirits / never saw her SO
pretty. and she was always a beautiful
girl.
nile we were standing on the deck.
short swarthy mamie looked like q
foreigner to me-stood less than FIVE
feet away. He watched her constant
~ He wore a green plush hat and a
long tan overcoat ] would know him
IN second were to see him again
Frances did not know him. but he how
cred SO close to us that we were an
noyed and thought of asking the Of
ficer to tell him to move away.
FRANCES was afraid of him for
some reason or other. She declared
that she would tell the captain if he
annoyed her on tho way across When
was on the pier watching the boat
sail out he was directly behind her
watching her constantly
MY girl never died OF a natural
cause. She was too strong and we'll.
L know that there has been foul PLAY"
FRANCES Leslie. twenty-five years
old, Was really Frances Leslie Schmitz.
She had been member of the Sicgfeld
Follies Company for three years. Her
closest chum was Anna Wilson. now
with the Siegfeld Follies In Chicago.
Known ms "Threc Graces."
Anna Wilson was engaged TO appear
III the chorus of the american Revue"
in London. and was to have sailed
on tho Oceanic OH March with Bes-
sic clifford another seigfcld girl
booked for the London show Anna
Wilson, Bessie Clifford and Frances
were known as the three Graces' on
broadway. They We're always togeth-
cr. one seldom accepted an engage
ment unless the other two were in
vited For three years they had
shared dressing rooms. and the Lon
that the trio had known for many
months.
At the eleventh hour Anna Wilson
cancelled her London engagement and
elected TO stay with the Follies in this
country. Frances Leslie, who had not
been selected for the London chorus.
was chosen in Miss Wilson's place
The trlumvirate was broken, but Miss
Wilson bade her friends farewell, say
ing that she would be over In a month
or so.
Miss Wilson disposed OF her ticket
TO Miss Leslie. Miss Leslie. fearing
complications if she sailed under her
own name, sailed as Anna Wilson.
Miss Leslie and her chum. Miss CIir-
ford. left New York in high spirits.
Miss Clifford took with her coffin
an ornate affair, rather useless for
practical purposes hich she laugh
ingly said she would use If she died
on the ocean, or If the British au-
diences voted her a dead one
I would hate to be sewed up I'm a
sail and thrown overheard" she said
Il would rather be buried in q casket.
AS long as Frances is with me we
will own it together. Whoever dies first
viii get it,"
The mockery was ominously
prophetic, although the tinseled casllet
was not used to hold the body of Miss
Leslie
When the Oceanic left New York the
were veritabe rose bowers Many
bouquets had arrived for each A score
of packages containing candy, books
and fruit had been delivered In their
apartments
But all those packages in stateroom
No. 65, occupied by Miss Leslie were
addressed TO Miss Anna Wilson.
Relieves she Was Murdered.
"Of course" said Mr. Schmitz to-day,
many people knew that my daughter
was sailing under the name OF Wilson
but many OF her friends and Mics VIII
sons friends did not know it. believe
that my gir! was murdered / cannot
see anything else in it, ! am obsessed
by this idea. What Is breaking her
mothers heart and mine liz the sus-
pense. have te!egraphed TO Secre-
tary OF state Bryan and to the Amer
lean consul at Southampton asking
them to help me. am not a wealthy
man. hut I shall make an international
matter OF this If my daughter has
been murdered az ] bolcve.
ut may have been robbery or a
mistake. Frances had no sweetheart.
I know OF no man in this case. She
was mighty good girl IT Ia alto
.gcther plausihle tbot she y,-o noIeopsa