New Britain herald., 1923-03-22
Case OF virginia
Rape IS RECALLED
New York High Life Girl Dead
MOT Entirely Explained

New York, March ~. - When an
autopsy performed upon the body Of
Frances Hillman Bcckwith II syears
old. formerly member of the chorus,
revealed to DR.. BENJAMIN Schwartz.
deputy medical examiner, that the
young woman had met her death
through internal injuries similar to
the case OF Virginia Rape, an inves-
tigation was begun by detectives
which had not been completed last
night.
Like Dorothy King, Miss Bcckwith
had her own apartment and lived her
own life In New York following her
divorce two years ago from Clifford
Beckwith, naval officer, said to be
stationed in Chicago. Detectives who
investigated the case found that she
had been addicted to strong drink and
all night parties, some Of which were
staged In her own apartment She
was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Hillman, 3S East Sixth street.
Philadelphia, Hillman was described
yesterday as man Of means, in the
costume and clothing designing bust
ness.
Learning that Miss Beckwith had
been taken to Roosevelt hospital.
where she died from pertonitis on
Tuesday afternoon, from the apart
ment Of Edward Campbell, real es-
tate broker at 30S West Eighty-sec-
ond street, between West End avenue
and Riverside Drive, detectives ques-
toned Campbell! at length and, ac-
cording to Detective Tierney of the
West Sixth-eighth street station, got
this story:
Campbell had an appointment to
meet Miss Beckwith early on Sunday
morning. The two were to go to
Long Beach to spend the day. When
Miss Beckwith did not telephone him
afthe appointed hour he went to her
apartment. 144 East Sixty-first street,
a two room suite she had sublet from
Miss Janet Hunt of that address a
month ago, prior to Miss Hunts de-
parture for Europe.
Met Woman Near Her Home
AS Campbell reached the front door
of the apartment house, Miss Beck
with got out of taxicab. She was
very much intoxicated and said: Ed
die, can't go to Long Beach with
you; I'm very ILL.," The two convers-
ed moment or two and then Camp
bell decided to take Miss Bcckwth to
his home. Arriving there he sum-
moned q physician.
Campbell said that he had known
Miss Beckwith for about two years,
having met her through friends.
lie told ,ar-cyo ,,orp,ar flof xr,a G,
a friend who was to have taken Miss
Beckwith to Long Beach on Sunday,
and when pressed for the name of
this friend, who, he asserted, had
called him up when Miss Beckwith
failed to appear, he said: "Oh, that's
another story"
Mr.. and Mrs. IIillnIAn arrived from
Philadelphia late Monday night and
were at their daughters bedside when
she died. Hospital authorities had
noticed a small bruise on Miss Beck
with's left side, and becoming sus-
picious both of this and the imme-
date cause of her death, notified the
police.
Had Been Drinking Heavily.
Detectives found that Miss Beck
with had consumed the contents of
as many as Is bottles of synthetic
gin in a week. This was supported
by Louis Waagener, superintendent of
the apartment house, who said that
easily that many empty gin bottles
were sent down the dumbwaiter from
the Beckwif apartment each week.
Wagner said that when Miss Beck
with first came to sublet the apart
ment she had been accompanied by
young man. She had had many Wis
itors, mostly men, and did not appear
to have any definite occupation. She
seemed we'll supplied with clothes
and money, he said.
A report yesterday that her apart
ment had been robbed after her
death was denied by detectives, who
said that Mr.. and Mrs. Hillman, who
visited the apartment before the
girls death, had removed everything
of value that belonged to their daugh-
ter.
Before her death Miss Beckwith is
said to have explained to her mother
that she had been drinking a lot
lately" and that she had had. sew
eral falls. The police last night were
inclined to the belief that one of
these falls might have been the
direct cause of her death. Inspector
John d. Coughlin said at police head
quarters that the police as yet were
not disposed to regard the case as
mo of homicido