The Black Dahlia Message Boards

[davsto]

French Woman No. 1

Jeane Thomas French
Aka Jeane Aylford French
Aka Jeane Aylford Thompson French
Aka Jeane Aylford Thompson

This is of course the Jeane French who was found murdered on February 1947. Most likely suspect in her homicide was her estranged husband Frank Fredrick French USMC Ret., he died in 1954. Although the coroner’s report states her nude body was covered with mud, bruises and blood, the LAPD was able a read a message written in lipstick. It said “f*ck you” and much is said that it was signed “B D” however it was also signed “Tex.” From 1941 to 1947 she resided with Frank French in Los Angeles at 3535 Military, which a small bungalow.

Probability she knew Elizabeth Short: Zero
Probability she knew Mrs. French of San Diego: Zero. I think the only relationship between a Jeane French and the San Diego French that was checked was this one.

(As an aside the LAPD homicide detectives assigned this case were Light & Burns. Detective Burns full name was Oliver Edward “Ed” Burns. Think no more about it.)

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French Woman No.2

Jeane A. French

This Jeane French resided in Los Angeles at least from 1942 to 1944. She is listed as a housewife and her husband as a pilot, which might lead one to believe she might be the “Flying Nurse” Jeane French. Clarence D. French, her husband, is listed a deceased as of June 8th 1944. Possibly a Navy pilot killed during the invasion of Leyte. Clarence D. French is listed on the Texas death index at that time. And it appears this Jeane French returned to Texas at this time. Texas was also the home state of Jeane French No. 1. Frank F. French was from Michigan so there was no relationship.

Probability she knew Elizabeth Short: Low
Probability she knew Mrs. French of San Diego: Zero

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French Woman No. 3

Jeane French
Aka Jean French

This is the “Flying Nurse” Jeane French. I believe she is reputed to be the same as the Jeane French murdered on February 10th 1947, this is not true. I haven’t read the newspaper account of her being the “Flying Nurse.’ I would like to review it since I have found no other information about her. Being a pilot and nurse were in high demand during the WW2, women pilots were used to ferry aircraft to England, Hawaii, and Russia, so she would have been busy.

Probability she knew Elizabeth Short: Zero
Probability she knew Mrs. French of San Diego: Low, if so it would have been coincidential.

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French Woman No. 4

Jean French
Aka Unknown (May have been a stage name)

This Jean French appeared in MGM films in 1944 through 1946 as a uncredited actress and professional dancer. Among them:

1. Keep Your Powder Dry
2. Zigfeld Follies of 1946 (Although the film was in the can in 1944)
3. Yolanda
4. Meet Me in St. Louis

There are probably others. At the end of 1946, I could find no other record of her. She often appeared with Judi Blaque who was a favored non-credited extra in MGM films. Both appeared locally within the Los Angeles night club scene. She also fell off the LA radar at the end of 1946, although they both had a good career in Hollywood at this time. Could have gone anywhere, perhaps they went to work for Ben Siegel at the Flamingo. If they’re important they will pop up again.

Probability she knew Elizabeth Short: Low
Probability she knew Mrs. French of San Diego: Unknown

[davsto]

I sent a FOIA request to the FAA. They have no record of ever having issued a pilot's license to Jeanne French. She may have been a Flying Nurse, but not a Nurse that knows how to fly.

[davsto]

The 1944-1945 actress known as Jean French was actually Mary Jean French as scene in promotional shots for the Harvey Girls, same person as seen in Meet Me in St Louis as Jean French.

[davsto]

As you may know ancestry.com now allows comments to be added by a third party to an individual's retrieved records. This was done for Jeane French. May or not be useful. (I did not enter the information on ancestry.com where it came from I don't know.)

[davsto]

I'm posting most of this from comments added to Ancestry.com:


"At the time of her death most newspapers listed her as Jeanne Axford French. She was murdered. Her Murder case was known as "The Lipstick Murder" murdered by "The Lipstick Murderer". I am only putting this name variation in for others researching her."

"Her Birth name was Jeanne "Nettie" Axford. She was an actress and her stage Surname was Thomas. She married David Yendall Wrather 1920, they divorced 1924. She later married Frank E. French. The marriage was estranged at the time of her death, but she was not divorced from him. I am not sure how to put this into the correction because really she had 4 Surnames. ~Jeanne (Given name) Nettie (people close to her called her Nettie) Axford (Maiden Name) Thomas (Stage or Screen Surname) Wrather (1st marriage Surname) French (2nd marriage Surname). So full name at the time of her death was JEANNE NETTIE AXFORD THOMAS WRATHER FRENCH."

"Jeanne "Nettie" Axford was her maiden name. Thomas and or Thompson was her "screen or alias" name. She married David Yendall Wrather abt 1920 divorced him abt 1924. She married Frank E. French sometime after this, but it was an estranged marriage at the time of her death. I'm not sure where the name Thomas comes in, but I do know that she used that name as an actress in some films."


Notes: At the LA County Coroner inquest Frank French's middle initial is "F" for "Fredrick" not "E." Thompson was Nettie's mum's maiden name.

HOWEVER! On her California death certification the ssan 556-22-4023 is of Jeanne Jordan Thomas born October 4th 1905. Nettie's DOB (maybe) is October 6th 1902. This Jeanne's father's last name was Thomas. And her mum's name like Nettie's is Thompson. So is it another Jeanne or the the same Nettie with yet another ID?

And she may have been married between David and Frank.