The Washington times., 1938-04-05

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Only a few slender clues were
available to authorities securing
the desert country for the Slayers
of Mrs. Weston G. Frome, 46, so.
ciety woman Of Berkeley, CAL,
and her 23-year-old. daughter
Nancy.
Their bodies, beaten, burned,
and trampled upon with heavy
boots, were found beside a high
way near Van Horn.
Rewards totaling $1,000 for the
capture of the murderers were
posted today, $1,000 by the State
and 5000 by private citizens.
COUPLE HUNTED
Clues being run down by Texas
Rangers, local officers and Fed
eral Investigators, included a re.
port from Kansas City that "a
dope fiend and dangerous crimi-
nal" and his woman companion
were in the vicinity of Van Horn
at the time of the torture Staying.
He was identified as Leo Waller.
%, wanted in Los Angeles in con-
nection with the murder Of a
hotel man:
From various sources authorities
were informed witnesses had noted
q dark coupe following the car
driven by the FromeS. E. M. Wells,
division highway engineer, said
the coupe bore yellow license
plates and was occupied by two
men. He could not describe the
men. Other witnesses said two
women accompanied the two men.
Another report being checked
by officers stated two women, not
the FromeS, were seen driving the
frome auto between Road Fork
and Balmorhea. The abandoned
auto was found near the latter
village.
Previously a truck driver had
reported seeing the Frome's sedan
last Wednesday, closely followed
by a man driving a blue coupe.
While the various reports diff
fered, sitting them authorities con-
cluded the victims were trailed by
two couples who kidnapped the vic
time, robbed and tortured them,
and dumped their bodies in the
patch Of roadside mesquite.
If the killers were accompanied
by women, authorities said it
would probably explain why only
part Of the jewelry worn by Mrs.
Frome and her daughter had been
stolen. A man interested only in
the value would have wanted none
or all Of the gems, it was stated,
whereas a few of the articles
might have been taken purely for
adjournment.
CHECKS MISSING
Mrs. Frome's husband, assistant
general sales manager of the
Atlas Powder Company, said they
had been carrying more than 500
in cash and $4,000 IN travellers
checks, all of which were missing
A few strands of hair and the
scrapings from beneath Nancy's
fingernails were taken to Austin
for laboratory examination. A
microscopic report was also sought
on the mans handkerchief and
packet of matches she was still
clutching when the bodies were
found.
The autopsy, which indicated
neither victim had been raped, led
authorities to believe the robbery
had been the prime motive.
LOS ANGELES, April 5 I.N.S0
Police here said today they were
aiding in the search for the muir.
derers of Mrs. Weston G.. Frome
and her daughter, Nancy, near
Van Horn, Tex.
They said they were looking for
man they named as Leo Waller,
an ex-convict, wanted here in con-
nection with the holdup and MUIR
der Of a Los Angeles cafe owner
last March 20.
Authorities said Waller, who
had been traced as far as Phoenix,
Ariz., by Texas authorities, with
John Rodriguez and Harry Groves,
the latter two under arrest in
Kansas City, has been hunted as
a suspect in the Staying Of Presley
Stewart, cafe owner.
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