Evening star., 1960-01-15
CRASH
Dead Lawyer, Insured for 100000,
Was Under New York Probe

SSuG6Q Dy The CAb was Lne
finding of Mr.. Franks body
and some plane wreckage on
North Cardinals Kure Beach,
1S or 20 miles from the spot
where the crippled plane finally
struck the ground.
Up to the boards disclosures
yesterday, the FBI had been
in on the case only to make
some chemical analyses of the
body and metal fragments it
contained and to establish VIC
Tins identities by fingerprintS.
Oscar Bake, director Of the
CABS Bureau Of Safety. told
the subcommittee "it is clear
that the manner in which
limbs were severed, and other
such damage to the body that
was sustained, was not at all
similar to other injuries that
can be associated with the
breakup Of an aircraft in
fight.
I'VE noticed also that parts
Of the body had been deeply
impregnated with bits and
pieces of foreign material such
as pieces of steel wire, small
brass particles, and other chips
of wood and pieces Of paint
which were peculiar to this one
person"
Mr. Bake told Of very sub
stantial fire damage to the No.
3 engine fright. inboard) both
before and after impact.
There were signs on the
fuSelage at the forward right
hand portion of the aircraft
which gave strong indication
Of contact with the propeller
of the No. 8 engine, so that
early in the investigation we
we're able to associate two con-
ditions: Destruction of the for
ward righthand fuselage in
flight, and contact of that fuse
lage with the No. 3 propeller"
All four blades of that pro-
peller were found on the engine
in the main wreckage.
From Mr.. saKke's report, it
would appear that the airliner.
heading out over the Atlantic
on a direct line to Miami, was
partly disabled and made a 90
degree turn to the north
northwest in the pilots OBJ
vious attempt to reach an air
port.
He said. in answer to a ques-
ton from Senator Monroney.
that a plane could fly under
the conditions" for l8 Or 20
miles before disintegrating.
Radio May Have Been Out
Mr.. Bake also replied that
an explosion very possibly"
could have disabled the radio
and incapacitated the crew.
Last radio communication from
the plane was shortly after 2:3O
am. when the pilot called in
position report over Whining
ton. Investigators have set the
time of the crash at about
2:40 am.
The CAB report to the Mon
roney committee mentioned a
blue cloth flight bag which Mr..
Frank carried aboard and said
it weighed 20 pounds. 1t was
found, with its bottom torn out,
near MIR. Franks body.
The Miami Herald was quoted
by the Associated Press today
as saying a law partner of
Mr.. Frank, Herbert Canter,
"crawled through the juInbled
wreckage" of the plane look
ing for papers in Mr.. Franks
briefcase."
The newspaper said Mr..
Canter was accompanied by d
man believed to be retired
New York policeman"
Socially Prominent
Out of Mr.. Franks home at
WeStpOrt, the Associated Press
described him as a New York
lawyer who moved in prominent
social circles" He and his
wife, Janet Wagner, top
photographers model, moved
to Westport from New York
about five years ago.
Capt. Louis Rosenau of the
Westport police said they
moved into a new house in
the $4,000 bracket" from a less
expensive place last October.
They have two children. An
drew. 2, and Ellen, 4.
Senator Monroney said Mrs.
Frank was named beneficiary
in the insurance policies which
he had taken out over a period
of eight months last year. The
CAB said a 100000 accident
policy was issued in April, a
$500,000 life insurance policy
and a 100000 accident policy
in November and three S62,500
ones in December.
New York insurance circles
said that amount of insurance
lis not unusual" They said
many wealthy people have in
surance of a million dollars or
more. They also said that TAX
ing out a number of policies in
a relatively short period is not
unusual.
New Laws Considered
Senator Monroney announced
he will confer with the Justice
Department and other agencies
concerning the possible Iced
for new laws to make it harder
for anyone to smuggle a bomb
onto a plane, or profit from
bombing
He said his legal staff has
told him the law now declares
that no one can profit by plant
ing a bomb on a plane tC COL
lect insurance on someone else,
and that the estate of anyone
who carries one aboard prob
ably could not collect insurance
either IL Sllicidn ic r,rnn.,.