ACTOR VANISHES AT SEA

Southland Times, Issue 23142, 8 March 1937, Page 7

ACTOR VANISHES AT SEA

SEQUEL TO PARTY ON LINER SUICIDE NOT INDICATED (Received March 7, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 6. Frank Vosper, a noted playwright and stage and film actor, disappeared from the liner Paris between New York and Plymouth. Officers of the ship conducted an inquiry behind locked doors before the liner berthed at Plymouth They believe that Vosper fell overboard after a farewell party held in the cabin of Miss Muriel Oxford, who was “Miss Great Britain” in 1935. Vosper during the party went on to a private balcony attached to Miss Oxford’s cabin at 3 a.m., and did not return.

A passenger states that he heard a man in one cabin shout: “If you won’t marry me I will jump overboard!” but does not know whether this was related to the tragedy or in any way concerned Vosper. On her arrival at Paddington Miss Oxford emphatically denied that Vosper told her he would jump overboard if she did not marry him. She explained that he and she had talked for some time on the balcony; she returned to her guests, and he remained on the balcony. They were merely friends; she met him for the first time aboard ship, and there was not the slightest question of a love affair. Peter Willes, an actor who was proceeding .home in company with Vosper, says that it was an accident. There was no question of Vosper threatening to jump overboard, he declares. Vosper went to bed early, but when Miss Oxford said that she was throwing a party they dragged him out of bed. “About 2 a.m. Vosper whispered to me that he was tired ’and bored, and was going to bod,” said Willes. In order to escape notice he went out on the balcony, presumably to climb down to the lower deck and return to his cabin. I am certain he did not know that the balcony did not overlook any deck and opened only upon the sea. Willes later admitted that it was he who said jokingly to Miss Oxford: It you don’t marry me I will jump overboard.”