Evening star., 1939-08-11
Mob Violence Feared,
Hearing Delayed in
Florida Staying
Movie Talent Scout
Removed From Jail at
West Palm Beach
BY the Associated Press.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla, Aug.
1l.-Fearing mob violence, police
authorities today delayed arraign-
ment of Charles Jefferson on charges
OF abducting two Miami high school
girls, Staying one and holding the
other prisoner three days.
A few hours after the tall, 34-year-
old Jefferson confessed, County So
licitor w. E. Roebuck said, to as
saulting and fatally stabbing Ruth
Frances Dunn, 17-year-old brunette
beauty, officers rushed him away
under heavy guard to an undisclosed
Jail.
Oficials reported there was an
undertone of anger in street gath
erings here as details of the case
became generally known.
Jean Bolton, 19-year-old blond,
second abduction victim, who was
released unharmed late Wednesday
night at Boca Ration, Is miles from
here, was taken by relatives to a
secluded resort to recuperate from
her narrowing experience.
Kept Bound Within Auto.
Miss Bolton yesterday told of be-
ing kept bound for most of three
days and nights in Jeffersons coupe,
begged in a marshy side road 600
feet from the coastal highway near
Boca Ration.
The body of Miss Dunn was found
IN palmetto underbrush nearby.
Half covered with sand and an old
raincoat, it was badly bruised, bore
several stab wounds in the side and
bullet hole in the forehead.
JEFFERSON, a man of many aliases
and a checkered Nationwide career
which included theatrical, radio and
newspaper work as well as a civil
and military police record since the
age of Is, left Miami early Monday
with the two girls, who thought he
was a movie talent scout. He had
promised them a screen test here.
In rambling statement to the
solicitor, Sheriff w. H. Lawrence
and w. c. Fuller of the United
States Department of Justice, he
gave details of the episode. Later
the solicitor said, he signed a tran
script of his answers to questions
they put him. Roebuck asserted
that Jefferson declared he abducted
the girls in the hope of arousing
sympathy of former sweetheart
who had spurned him. He denied
he intended holding them for ran
som.
Tells of Beating Girl.
He told of assaulting Miss Dunn
then beating her with a hammer
when she screamed for help after
he had taken her into the under
brush. Miss Bolton remained in the
car.
1T wasn't what I intended at
ALL Jefferson declared to County
solicitor Roebuck and detectives.
Il hadn't any intention of hurt
ing the girl and didn't want to hurt
Jean"
He asserted something Miss Dunn
said about "Jocelyn," the girl he
claimed spurned him, provoked his
anger.
Every time I hear about her or
think about her things go wrong, u
he explained.
Denies Shooting.
Jefferson insisted he did not shoot
Miss Dunn, although a medical
examiner reported the girl had a
bullet wound in her head. jefferson
said a butcher knife inflicted the
stab wounds.
Late Wednesday jefferson sug-
gested Miss Bolton, who had been
told Miss Dunn went away with
another man in a boat" call rela-
tives in Miami and obtain a car in
which they could go to California
Fearing harm unless she obeyed
Miss Bolton called an aunt. who
suspected something wrong in the
tone of the girls voice. She rushed
to Boca Ration, detectives trailing
in another car.
Meanwhile, Jefferson became fear
ful, left Miss Bolton and plunged
OH into a swamp. Later he re-
turned to the highway and was
walking northward when he was ar
rested.