Person Page - 1016

WORCESTER - Cynthia L. (Bezanson) McGrath Demont, 69, of 33 Chestnut St. died Saturday in The Medical Center of Central Massachusetts - Memorial after a long illness. Her husband, Hugh C. Demont, died in 1977. She leaves a son, Patrick J. McGrath of Worcester, with whom she lived; two stepdaughters, Lorna Dyer of Marlboro and Nancy Fegan of Milford; a brother, Marshall Bezanson of St. Petersburg, Fla; a sister, Dorothy Lobelle in Alabama; five grandchildren; two nephews; and a niece.

She was born in Waltham, daughter of Parker M. and Maude (Bezanson) Bezanson, and lived there all her life before moving to Worcester in 1981. The private funeral will be held Wednesday from Henry Funeral Home, 33 Ward St. Burial will be in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham. Calling hours are 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at the funeral home.³

DE MONT -- Of Mattapolsett. formerly of Waltham, October 3, Hugh C, husband of Cynthia (Bezanson); father of Mrs. Charles (Nancy) Goodell of Wollaston. Mrs. Edward (Lorna Jean) MacLean of Framingham and Patrick McGrath of Brighton; brother of Forrest R. of Chester, S.C., Mrs. Calvin A. MacQueen of Waltham, and Mrs. Arthur R. Fennell of Greenfield. Service in the Wentworth Chapel, 30 Prospect St., WALTHAM, Thursday, October 6 at 2 p m. Friends may call at the chapel Wednesday 3-5 and 7-9.³

GIRL, 15, MAY HAVE GONE WITH SUITOR, 30

Father at Waltham Tells Police Daughter Missing

Special Dispatch to the Globe

WALTHAM, Dec 15 -- Fear that his 15-year-old daughter, Dorothy Bezanson of 75 Ash st, ran away last night with a 30-year-old suitor was expressed by the girl's father today, when he reported the girl missing from home.

The girl's father told the police that he had objected to the man's courtship of his daughter and had ordered him to keep away from the girl. He said that he last saw his daughter about 9:30 last night. He said a son discovered his sister missing about 5 a m today.

The Bezanson girl is described as a pretty brunette and as appearing older than her age. She is 5 feet 2 inches, 100 pounds in weight, and has bobbed dark hair. She wore a brown coat and brown sweater.⁶

WALTHAM

No trace of Dorothy Bezanson, the 15-year-old South Junior High School girl, who left her home suddenly Saturday night, has yet been found. She is said to look much older than she really is. The parents of the girl are greatly worried over her disappearance, and the police are trying hard to aid in finding her.⁷

WALTHAM BOY PURSUES HIS ELOPING GIRL FRIEND

Wire From New York Indicates Robert Whitney, 16, Found Third Person in Triangle, Mdrried Man

WALTHAM, Dec 17 -- When his girl friend disappeared from town in the company of a married man 10 or 11 years older than herself. 16-year-old Robert Whitney of this city hopped into his automobile, pursued the couple to New York, found them and wired home for money.

This, at least, is the theory on which the Waltham police are working in connection with two reported disappearances.

Perrin B. Whltney of 44 Washington av, who runs a sporting goods store at 569 Moody st, reported to the police today that his son had been missing since Sunday. At the same timg Edward J. Bezanson, a carpenter, of 75 Ash st, reported that his 15-year-old daughter, Dorothy, vanished Saturday night or Sunday morning.

A third person missing, althsugh not officially reported, is said to be a married man about 26 years of age, whose wife is reported to be in a hospital near Boston. The mans name has not been made publio by the authorities.

Both young Whitney and the girl in the case were students in the South Junior High School. Whitney, who is big for his age and wears glasses, left school a short time ago, He is said to have regarded Dorothy, a pretty brunette, with a romantic eye.

The theory is that he heard of the girl's elopment, realized the lack of wisdom of such a procedure on her part and, with a view of rescuing her, set forth in pursuit in the car which hie father gave him recently.

Unfortunately, he had no money. This fact is indicated by the text of a telegram which Mr Whitney reoeived from him last night dated New York city:

"Followed .., (the married man's first name), found him. Please send some money."

What developed in New York, whether young Robert had an interview with this man; whether the girl views with equanimity the trip of Robert, la not now known, but indications are that it will be.

The Waltham police have sent to the New York authorities full descriptions of both Robert and Dorothy, asking that both be held for them until their parents can come and help them straighten out their troubles.

The boy is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. He was wearing a light suit, a dark brown overcoat and a cap. The girl is said to be very pretty. Although she is only 15, those who know her say that she would easily pass for 18.⁸

MISSING GIRL SOUGHT BY NEW YORK POLICE

Detectives Told by Father of Her Liking for Harney

Whitney Not interested in Daughter, Waltham Man Tells Officials

Special Dispatch to the Globe

NEW YORK, N Y, Dec 17 -- While detectives and members of the Missing Persons Bureau were scouring the city tonight for 15-year-old Dorothy Bezanson, pretty Waltham, Mass, schoolgirl, who disappeared from her home, 75 Ash et, either Saturday night or early Sunday morning, her father John, a carpenter, sat disconsslately in the Police Headquarters tonight and told of the girl's romance with a married man.

Two men left the Massachusetts city at the same time that the girl disappeared. One was a married man, Frank Harney, radio repair expert, who failed in business and went to work in Whitney's Sporting Goods Shop. The other was Robert Whitney, 16-year-old son of the proprietor. With them went the Whitney automobile.

Father Bewildered

According to Mr Bezanson, young Whitney never seemed attracted towards the missing girl, whereas Harney paid such marked attentions to her that I threatened him with a thrashing three months ago. Harney's wife is now in an Arlington Hospital, said Mr Bezanson.

"I don't know exactly what to make of it," he told the Globe man tonight, "but while the folks at home want things hushed up, I don't feel that way about it any more. Dorothy's mother is sick in Connecticut, and I have been trying to take care of our home with Dorothy and two younger children.

"I haven't any idea how this romance started, but I noticed some months ago that Harney, who was rather a dashing fellow about town, paid attention to Dorothy, and that she became listless, and did not do so well with her school work.

Showed Interest in Girl

"Then, after he had failed in his electrical business, he kept hanging around the battery station, which is in the same yard as our house. He seemed too much interested in Dorothy, and I told him one day that he would have to cut it out or something would happen. From that day to the time when she left us I hadn't the faintest idea of what was going on.

"Whitney hired Harney, and he and young Bob became very close friends. Bob had nothing to do with Dorothy, but he was always willing to help Harney out.

"There is no doubt in my mind," Mr Bezanson told detectives, "that when Harney wanted to run away with Dorothy and didn't have enough money to take her, he persuaded young Whitney to go with them in his car. So far as we could find out they had only $8 between them. No notes were left and Dorothy took nothing but the clothes that she wore.

"It was a great shock to me, because she never went anywhere without telling me where she was going, not even to Sunday school. I want to say right now that if she will come back home I will forgive everything. As for the man and the boy, whatever is due them they will get, if I have anything to say about it."

Both Men in New York

The certainty that the two men, at least, were in New York was expressed by the police. Wires for money were sent to Mrs Whitney, but only $8 was asked. If that were sent, the wire declared, the whereabouts of Dorothy would at once be revealed.

At the telegraph office the address of 341 West 45th st was given. It was later found that Harney had stayed for a short time until a month ago. The telegraph people said that the address had been required as a matter of form and that two men had returned on the day following the transmission of the wire to ask if money had come for them.

In the two telegrams no mention of money for Harney or Dorothy was made and it was believed in Waltham that Robert Whitney simply wanted money enough to take him home.⁹

YOUTH SAYS HE DROVE COUPLE TO NEW YORK

Robert Whitney of Waltham Tells of Experiences With Missing Man and Girl

WALTHAM. Ded 18 -- Robert Whitney, 16-ycar-old son of Perrin B. Whitney, Waltham businessman, who recently disappeared In company with young Dorothy Bezanson and Frank Harney, married man and radio repair expert, was brought to Police Headquarters this morning and questioned by Chief Richard Currin and Xdeut P. J. Tracy.

Young Whitney said that last Saturday night Frank Harney took Dorothy out for a ride, and that she said she was afraid to go home. Harney appealed to young Whitney, he said, and they took his car. which his father had given him recently, and rode around for several hours In it. At 3 o'clock Sunday morning they drove to Harneys house, 5 Harvard pl.

All three went into the house, he said, and sat and talked. According to Whitney, Harney suggested to Dorothy that she go to New York with him, and she said that she would be willing to go. Harney thereupon asked Whitney If he would drive to New York. Whitney refused.

Started for New York

The three next appealed to a friend Of young Whitney's, asking him to drive Dorothy to New York. The friend refused, after asking his mother.

Harney finally persuaded young Whitney to drive him and Dorothy, and they started for New York. They drove to Providence, with Harney at the wheel. Here they stopped for luncheon. Nearing Hartford, they decided that it would be safer in case of police interference to put Dorothy on a bus, Whitney said.

When they arrived at Meriden, Conn; they put the young girl on a bus, Harney paying her fare and tipping the bus driver to let the girl off before they reached New York, according to Whitney's story.

Whitney and Harney lost the bus outside of Meriden, but finally overtook it just before they got to New York. Dorothy got out of the bus and into the car with Whitney and Harney. The three went to a hotel, where a rom [sic] was procured for Dorothy. Whitney and Harney shared a room In another part of the same hotel.

Sent Appeals for Money

The following morning the three left the hotel and sent a telegram to Whitney's mother, asking for money. There was no answer Second and third telegrams were sent, with the same result. Then Whitney and Harney drove to Bloomfield, N J, where Whitney had friends and relatives, in search of money. At East Orange, N J, where Whitney had other friends, they borrowed $15. Then they drove back to New York.

When they returned to New York Harney hired an apartment at 317 103d or 104th st, Whitney could not remember which. Whitney and Harney left Dorothy In the apartment and drove to Riverside drive, where Harney told Whitney to go home.

Harneys wife is at present sick at the St Elizabeth's Hospital, Brighton.

BOYS FATHER SEARCHES FOR HIM IN NEW YORK

NEW YORK, Dec 18 -- Perrin, B. Whitney, Waltham business man and father of 16-year-old Robert Whitney, maintained yesterday, with detectives he had hired, a long vigil at a 162d-st apartment house, seeking his son, Dorothy Bezanson and Frank Harney, radio repairman, all three of whom were supposed to be In this city.

Mr Whitney returned be Massachusetts on an early morning train today.¹⁰

The local police have made a complaint against Frank Harney, charged with abduction of Dorothy Bezanson, 15, of this city. The warrant nas been sent to New York, where the pair are believed to be at the present time. It will be remembered that Harney, Robert Whitney, 16, and the girl left Waltham last Sunday. Whitney has returned to Waltham. Just what action, if any, will be taken in the case of young Whitney has not yet been decided upon by the local authorities.¹¹

Update

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office has Identified the man who died of a heart attack June 11 in the Santa Rosa County Jail as Marshall Leonard Bezanson, 74, whose last known address was in St. Petersburg. Bezanson went into cardiac arrest about 2:30 p.m. that day. He died about 4 p.m. after being taken by LifeFlight to Santa Rosa County Hospital. Bezanson was serving a year's sentence for a felony charge of failing to appear on a suspended driver license.⁶