Evening star., 1939-08-10
Companion Is Freed,
Ending Four-Doy
Search for Trio
BY the Associated Press.

FRANCES Dunn, ~, III COASTAL
swamp and the arrest of a self
styled talent scout" who had prom
ised her a theatrical career climaxed
today four day hunt for two miss
ing Miami girls.
Hoping for movie fame, Miss Dunn
and high school chum, blond Jean
Bolton, 10, left Miami Monday with
a man who claimed a wide back
ground in film, radio and stage
work, a 34-year-old 6-footer known
as Charles R. jefferson.
Unclothed, shot three times and
stabbed twice, Miss Dunn was found
dead on lonely beach road 2 miles
north of Boca Ration a few hours
after Miss Bolton, hysterical and
with bruised lips, walked into the
fire department station here and
announced she had been held pris-
oner throughout the period.
jefferson was arrested as he
walked, unarmed, along a highway.
Admits Assaulting Girl.
Detective 1t. E. w. Melchen of
Miami announced the prisoner, also
listed by many other names, con-
fessed orally in the presence of two
dozen detectives and neWspapermen
he abducted the girls with the idea
of holding them for ransom, criml-
,,oll,, oeeo,,ltad Mice D,l,,p M0n6aV
night and killed her to silence her
outcries.
He said he killed Miss Dunn be-
cause she cried for help and became
hysterical despite his warning that
they were to remain quiet" the
lieutenant related.
The girls body was covered only
by a raincoat. Her throat was cut.
Her companion, now night club
singer, was at her home today under
the care of physician, highly
nervous and able to tell only an in
complete story of her experiences.
The two had been promised they
would have photographs made at
Palm Beach as the first step toward
movie careers.
jefferson at first declared he had
an accomplice.
1t. Melchen reported the man ad
mitted he drove at once from Miami
to the lonely area, bound the girls
hands behind them and knocked
Miss Dunn unconscious with a pis-
tol butt because she screamed,
Then, he said, Jefferson dragged
the girl a short distance off the
road.
When she moaned and cried after
regaining consciousness, he went to
her, criminally assaulted her. then
stabbed her to death, the detective
quoted the man as admitting.
Ordered to Keep Quiet
Miss Bolton told detectives Jeffer-
son drove into the wooded swamp
road a short time after they left
Miami Monday and the car became
begged. He drew a pistol which he
pointed at them and ordered them
to keep quiet.
Her companion screamed, the
singer said, and jefferson struck
her with the weapon. Then he took
her a short distance off the road.
Apparently stunned, Miss Dunn
was quiet for time. then screamed
again, she said. Jefferson left the
car and went to her, hit her an
other time and returned to Miss
Bolton.
When the Dunn girl began to cry
and moan, Miss Bolton reported the
man went back to her and stayed
for some time. When he returned
there was no further sound.
You're more sensible" Miss
Bolton quoted the man as saying
"She wouldn't do what I told her
to do. You do what 1 say and
nothing will happen to you"
Miss Bolton Called Aunt.
Jefferson asked her if any one in
her family had an automobile they
could obtain and drive toward Cali
fornia, the girl continued. She told
of an aunt, Mrs. Eleanor Robinson,
then offered to call her. Jefferson
agreed. telling the singer to inform
the aunt they had been in an auto
mobile accident and ask her to
drive alone to Boca Ration to pick
them up.
Mrs. Robinson drove there, but
she was accompanied by another
machine in which there were de-
tectlveS and friends.
Jefferson, strongly guarded by de-
tectives, was hurried to the West
Palm Beach Jail after his reported
confession
Woman Held in Jail.
Beth Collar "a, who ACCOMPANIED
Jefferson to Miami last week, still
was in JAIL where detectives placed
her Tuesday as material witness.
The young woman, herself ambi-
tious for screen career, met JEFF
ferson in Denver and drove to
Miami with him on the promise of
q theatrical contract.
She wept when told of her COM
panion's arrest.
He was so nice" she said. He
was very considerate, was never
cruel to me, and was so quiet
almost bashful-that 1 can't con-
ceive of him harming any one
He seemed to me the ideal man
and he undoubtedly had great talent
in theatrical work"
The young woman, who came
from California, said she considered
herself married to Jefferson.
Il bought a wedding ring she
continued, "and was exchanged
VOWS, but he said he didn't nave
time to stop and get married, but
that we would when we reached
Miami"
Adventurous Egotist.
1t. Melchen described jefferson as
an adventurous egotist," who mas
queraded under numerous aliases
Under the name of Thomas Ashwell,
the detective said, Jefferson was di-
rector of the Federal Theater in
Miami in 1886, and had left there
leaving trail of debts.
Policeman K. Platt said Miss Boil
ton appeared at the ROca Raton fire