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

S U' uI10S1 SUI1O
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 of the Hunting Towers
Apartments, was known to have
been carrying at least $4,000
when he left the Penn-Sheraton
Hotel at 4:10 pm. Thursday.
Planned Return 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.
At 1870 pm. Wednesday, a
maid saw Mr.. Cox, hatless and
coatless, leave his room with an
other man, as yet unidentified.
The next trace police have of
him was Thursday afternoon
when he left the room key at
the desk and departed, still hat
less and coatleSS.
Find Revolver in Room.
In the room police found his
briefcase, a new checkbook with
three checks torn out and a %
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, and was still belieyed to
have had $4,000 in 500 bills on
his person.
Detective Barrett said Mr.. Cox
had intended to withdraw $75,-
900 more from Philadelphia
banks to complete his purchase
of automobiles. Closing of the
banks over the week end pre-
vented police from learning if
he had obtained the money.
In Alexandria, Mr.. Cox's dis
traught wife said it was not un-
usual 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.
II am sure he did not leave
that room of his own free WILL"
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 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.
He is believed to be wearing a
gray suit, gray shirt and brown,
moccasin-type shoes.
About two weeks ago Mr.. Cox
complained of feeling badly and
learned his blood pressure was
dangerously high, Mrs. Cox
said. This was of much concern
to Mrs. Cox, for her husband
had always worked hard, she
said.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cox and their
daughter, Betty, is, 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. Re-
Gently he also opened an auto
mobile finance company in the
District, known as the Wheel
Finance Corp.
Served Prison Term.
In answer to questions, Mrs.
Cox said her husband had served
80 months in the Lewisburg
(Pa0 Federal Penitentiary.
Sources at Chattanooga, Tenn.
said he was convicted there in
April. 1941, on IL counts Of using
the mails to defraud and violat-
ing the Securities Exchange Act.
Mr.. Cox was president Of the
Franklin Savings and Loan Co.,
which he had joined eight years
earlier as sales manager. He was
charged with fraudulent stock
selling schemes which cost in
vestorS $4,000.
Mrs. Cox called the indictment
a political frameup" She said
it was in direct retaliation for
Mr.. Cox's active support Of Gov.
Gordon Browning in the 1888