Evening star., 1953-02-02
PoIiceCheckinq
Bank Funds Of
Missing Dealer
Moy Have Drown
$4,000 to Buy
Cars in Philadelphia

SOIS III THuUuSIpUIO
Philadelphia police were check
ing today to determine whether
an Alexandria automobile deal
er. missing since Thursday, had
picked up $4,000 from Philadel-
phia banks before he disap-
peared.
The missing man, Frank M.
Cox, Al, of the Hunting Towers
Apartments. was known to have
been carrying at least $40, 600
when he left the Penn-Sheraton
Hotel at 4:10 pm. Thursday.
Owner of the Gateway Motors,
Inc, 801 North Washington
street, Alexandria, Mr.. Cox was
in Philadelphia on a used-car
buying expedition. Wednesday
he had telephoned his Office that
he expected to return Thursday
and requested that his wife be
notified of the time.
Left Key at Desk.
The last trace police have OF
him was Thursday afternoon
when he left the room key at
the desk and departed, hatless
and coatless.
In the room police found his
briefcase. a new checkbook with
three checks torn out and a 20
caliber, 9-Shot revolver, with one
cartridge missing. BallisticS tests
were being made to determine if
the gun had been fired recently.
Detective George Barrett, who
with several other Philadelphia
police were working on the case,
said there was no evidence of
a struggle in Mr.. Cox's hotel
room.
It was learned he had not
purchased the cars as he had
planned.
Wife Blames Retaliation.
In reply to questions, Mr.. Cox's
wife admitted he had
served 80 months in the Lewis
burg (Pa.) Federal Penitentiary,
but said the conviction resulted
from political" retaliation.
Records show Frank M. Cox
was convicted at Chattanooga,
Tenn, in April, 1941, on IL
counts of using the mails to de-
fraud and violation of the Sc
curities Exchange Act.
At that time, Mr.. Cox was
president of the Franklin Saw
ings & Loan Co., which he had
joined eight years earlier as sales
manager. He was charged with
fraudulent stock-selling schemes
which cost investors $4,000.
Mrs. Cox said today the prose-
cution was retaliation for her
activity in the election
of Gov. Gordon Browning in
1888.
In addition to his used car lot,
Mr.. Cox was organizing the
Wheel Finance Corp. in the Dis
trict.
Bank Check Being Made.
Detective Barrett said it was
believed Mr.. Cox was expecting
to obtain about $4,000 from
Philadelphia banks. Detectives
were making a round of banks
today to learn if the transac-
tions had been completed before
Mr.. Cox disappeared.
In Alexandria, Mrs. Cox said
it was not unusual for him to
carry large sums of money. He
often did so for quick clearance
on titles of cars he bought, she
said.
Mrs. Cox was certain the re-
volver found in the room was not
her husbands. He had owned
one five or six years ago. but
had given it away, she said.
"I am sure he did not leave
that room Of his own free will, I"
Mrs. Cox said. my husband
has never been away from home
for more than "a hours. And
it was not like him to leave the
hotel without a hat and coat" :"
48-State Alarm Sent Out.
Philadelphia police broadcast
a 48-State alarm for the missing
man. Mrs. Cox said he is nearly
6 feet tall, weighs about 200
pounds and has dark brown hair.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cox and their
Betty, 16. came to this
area in 1949 and he purchased
the Gateway Motors. with Mrs.
Cox being named vice presi-
dent.
In addition to being president
Of the Alexandria firm, Mr.. Cox
operated a KaiSer-Frazier deal
ership in Charlottesville. Va.