| Notes |
- 1890 Police Census of New York City, A.D. 23, E.D. 63; FHL1,309,965
was an actress with stage name, Leslie
HAD she been murdered? Certainly the preliminary circumstances suggested that might be the case.
The passenger had been discovered slumped in a first class lavatory on the Oceanic as the White Star liner neared Southampton, her face discoloured.
But who was she?
Detectives were presented with two names, neither of which she had received at birth.
All that could initially be ascertained was that she was 26, lived at West 97 Street, New York, and she had been travelling under the name of Frances Leslie, though she was generally known on board as Anna Wilson.
It transpired that Leslie was her theatrical name and she had been due to take up an engagement at the London Opera House.
Confirmation of her stage identity came from fellow first class passenger Edward Miller who described her as “a theatrical performer”. He had last seen her alive at Plymouth at 2.30am.
“As far as I know she was single.”
Her body was discovered 12 hours later.
An inquest into her death was opened two days later on March 17, 1913, by the town’s coroner H K Pope who restricted the hearing to evidence of identification. Only Miller, who had only known her for a few months, and Francis Darch, representing the Opera House, gave evidence.
He said he had seen Leslie say goodbye to her family at New York but did not know her personally. He was, however, to significantly reveal that she suffered from occasional fits.
At that point, the coroner closed the proceedings until the Oceanic returned to Southampton for a full medical report, not only establish how she had died but to prevent the press from speculating about foul play.
“I do not propose going into any further facts or the case will be discussed in the papers,” he explained. “Very often that prejudices it and leads to a wrong impression and often to grave injustice.”
However, he did grant permission for Leslie’s body to be released and taken back to America for burial.
The inquest was resumed on April 14 when Pope revealed that her true surname was Schmitz, though she was also known under the two other names.
The first witness, comedian Arthur Deagon, said they had been engaged with three other American entertainers to take part in a revue at the Opera House. He had known her for four years and on the trip she was always “dancing around, good natured and laughing”.
He then described the tragic discovery, how he had accompanied a steward and stewardess to the lavatory which was locked but by looking under the door they could see her body.
“The door was ultimately forced and the doctor, who came at once, said ‘She is dead.’ Her body was still warm.”
The coroner asked him if he knew she suffered from fits.
“Yes,” he replied, “I have seen them in the theatre.”
“What kind of fits?”
“I should say epileptic. Once on Coney Island, alighting from a taxi, she fell so heavily that she cut her face badly and was detained in hospital for three weeks.”
Dr R S French, the liner’s doctor, said Leslie had been dead for about an hour when he examined her body which was then conveyed to her cabin and the coroner’s officer in Southampton was notified through Marconi.
He attended the post-mortem where no abnormality was found.
“From the evidence I have heard I am satisfied the cause of death was suffocation after she had fallen into a confined space while unconscious from a fit.”
In his brief summing-up, the coroner said he had been handed a telegram by the town’s chief constable in the following terms: “Mary Schmitz (the deceased’s mother) states she suspects no foul play.”
Jurors returned a verdict of death by natural causes.
Frances Leslie's Mother Tells
British Police Man on Ship
Poisoned Daughter.
BODY FOUND IN BATHROOM
I'aenpers on Steamship Oceanic
Believe Young Woman IMed
Natural Death or From
Drug Usrd as Medicine.
LONDON". March IS. (Special.) A
melodramatic turn has been glrea to
the death of Frances Leslie, an Ameri
can dancer, who was a paasanerer on
the steamship Oceanic under the name
of Anna Wilson. A cablegram has
been received by United States Consui
Albert Swalm at Southampton from
Mrs. Henry Schirltz, of New York,
mother of he yoi.na; woman. In which
the mother stronrly Intimates that a
man aboard the Oceanic poisoned her
daughter.
The name of the man was given, but
whether any motive was hinted at can
not be ascertained. The cable dispatch
has been turned over to the author.
tlea at Southampton, and their answer
Is that absolutely nothing; will be di
vulged. The Inquest wi.l be begun at
Southampton tomorrow at noon.
Mr. Swalm will attend the hearing
In the Interest of the family. The body
Is now In the v.oroner's mortuary at
Southampton. Death occurred about
10:"0 o'clock Saturday morning, be
tween Cherbourg and Southampton. The
body was found lying on the bathroom
floor, and when Surgeon French was
called he found life extinct.
It can be said, however, that before
the ship landed at Southampton there
was general suspicion aboard the snip
that the death of the young woman was
due to poison and that the authorities
entertain this same theory at the pres
ent time.
While that Is the case, passengers do
not Incline to the murder theory, but
believe If poison was taken It was
taken as a remedy for trouble from
which the young woman repeatedly
said during tne voyage she suffered.
The man whose name was mentioned In
the cable dispatch sent by the woman
uent to London with friends this aft
ernoon, promising to" return tomorrow
to attend the Inquest, which today was
r.-garded purely as a formality.
filKL'S FATHEK ASKS DELAY
ltmitvr's Real Name 1 Frances
Sclunllz Antopajr Is Wanted
XKW YORK. March 16. The
real
name of "Miss Anna Wilson." who died
on the steamer Oceanic was l-Tances
Sa hmltz, it was learned at the home of
h.T father, Henry X. Schmltx, an insur
nm-o broker here tonlarht. She was
known on the stage, where she was
A infer of nromlnence. as Francis Les
lie. It was explained that she sailed
iiml. r the name of Anna llson be
cause she took at the last moment, the
nlarn of an American stage girl ot
that name who had engaged passage on
the Oceanic.
Mr. Schmlts said tonight that he had
tc'.rirranheil to Secretary of State
Houn. asking him to Intercede with
the Krltlsh to prevent the body from
betng embalmed until after a thorough
autopsy and chemical analysis. Mr.
Schinit had been notified by the
steamship company, of his daughter's
ileath. he said, with the word that the
body would be embalmed and sent back
'10 this country.
Krora another source a message carae
stating the belief that the causo ot the
dialll .was epilepsy. With the know
ledge that his daughter was In perfect
health when she sailed. Mr. Schmits
cabled the American consul at South
ampton, demanding a full investigation
before the body was prepared for ship
ment. ; "I know of no one of earth who
would harm her. nor why anyone
should." Mr. Schmltx declared, "but I
lon't intend to let this matter drop
until It has been sifted to the bottom."
Newcastle Morning Herald
And Miners' Advocate (NSW)
Mar 19 1913
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED.
LONDON, Tuesday.
Frances Schmitz, the American
dancer, whose stage name is Frances
Leslie, was found dead on board the
steamer Oceanic when the vessel was
entering Southampton harbour.
Her parents suspected foul play, and
requested that an inquest should be
held.
The inquest was opened, and ad-
journed.
|
Cal 1889 - 1913 (~ 24 years)
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