Part 3: The Case of the Cursed Socialite

   

     He sipped his beer slowly. The girl he had his eye on didn’t appear to be in any hurry, and though he didn’t have money to waste on another drink, he had time and would wait for her. Unlike the usual girls who caught his attention, she possessed an almost aristocratic air, and he recognized the scent of money on her. He recalled his recent Christmas Eve encounter. Although enjoyable, the girl he'd met then didn't compare to his current attraction, who was in an entirely different category. He realized he was staring, a fact he suspected she enjoyed. Yes, she knew. Their eyes met, he smiled, and to his delight, she smiled back and then gestured for him to join their table.

    Upon closer approach, he noticed she was older than his usual interest, likely in her mid-to-late twenties. She was dining with another woman, clearly not of her same ilk. One look at her clothes confirmed she was a working girl. The unlikely pairing intrigued him. When the one he desired spoke, her accent was that of privilege, the kind he associated with wealthy fathers and boarding schools.

    He accepted their invitation for dinner and drinks, and when they became aware the joint was closing for the night, he suggested an after-hours spot nearby. They readily agreed. More drinks, some laughs, and then the working girl, who had been a thorn in his side since leaving the restaurant, insisted they call it a night. She had an early shift at the diner and couldn’t afford to call in sick. He'd been right; she was a waitress. The one he desired, however, mentioned no such obligations. They accepted his offer of a ride, agreeing to drop off her friend first. Alone with her in his car, he started the engine, leaving D.C. and heading towards Virginia.

    After he’d had his way with her, he drove her home. As she exited his car, he told her, “Now you can go home and tell your husband, and if he doesn't like it, I'll give him some of the same.”

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    Harry Homer Kelley, 27, the ex-husband of New York chorus girl Toni Mann, was arrested Saturday night for violently assaulting Rodney F. Wheeler, 24. Kelley told investigators that Wheeler had raped his new 21-year-old wife, Elizabeth.

    According to Kelley, Wheeler met his wife and her friend last Tuesday evening. Kelley stated his wife told him the three had dinner downtown and then went to a club that stayed open late. Afterward, Kelley said his wife told him Wheeler drove her friend home before driving Mrs. Kelley to Virginia, where he sexually assaulted her in his vehicle.

    Police Lt. Richard McCarty of the sex squad reported that Kelley, a well-known prize fighter, stated he had been waiting for Wheeler from Wednesday until Saturday. Kelley located Wheeler at the restaurant where he had met Mrs. Kelley. The altercation began at the intersection of Florida Avenue and Fourteenth Street N.W. and continued outside. The fight progressed along Fourteenth Street into Chapin Street, where Kelley knocked Wheeler unconscious. Kelley then hailed a taxi and transported the unconscious Wheeler to the Tenth precinct.

    Wheeler was moved to Gallinger Hospital, where, according to police reports, he was in serious condition. His injuries included a broken nose, jaw, and left wrist, along with a severe head battering.

    On Monday, February 2, 1948, Harry Kelley appeared before Judge George D. Neilson and entered a plea of "not guilty" to the accusation of assaulting 24-year-old Rodney F. Wheeler. Judge Neilson set a jury trial for February 19 and freed Kelley on a $500 bond.

    Following Harry's release, he and Betsy returned to their home at 3211 Thirteenth Street NW. After getting married in Indiana six months earlier, they moved back to the East Coast, splitting their time between their D.C. residence and Glenview, Betsy's family's estate in Rockville, Maryland. Her young son lived full-time at Glenview with her parents, a decision made early in his life to ensure a stable upbringing, with care provided by the staff and live-in nannies.  

    Rodney F. Wheeler was released from Gallinger Hospital on Friday but was arrested on Sunday evening by Maryland authorities. He was charged with the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Montgomery County.

    According to police reports, a Christmas Eve assault was discovered late Saturday when the victim, a seventh-grade student, was admitted to Gallinger Hospital for a miscarriage. Investigators stated that Wheeler met the girl at a neighborhood party. Shortly before midnight, he offered her and two teenage males a ride home. Montgomery authorities reported that Wheeler then drove to Glen Echo. While the teenagers went for a walk, Wheeler and the girl remained in the car, where the assault allegedly occurred. Police withheld specific details of the assault but confirmed it took place in Wheeler's vehicle while the other couple was away. The victim did not tell her parents about the incident until Saturday, when she experienced a miscarriage, police said.

    No stranger to the criminal justice system, Wheeler had a prior arrest in 1947 for sexual assault. In that case, Wheeler and another man were charged with sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman in a vehicle in Rock Creek Park.

    The prosecution dropped all charges against Harry Kelley on February 19th due to a lack of evidence in the assault case. Wheeler was never charged in the alleged sexually motivated attack of Betsy Lyon Kelley. Press coverage interpreted the dropped charges as a possible indication of a more amicable relationship between Betsy and Mr. Wheeler than she had previously suggested.

    Rodney F. Wheeler was acquitted of a carnal knowledge charge in Montgomery County Circuit Court two weeks later. The charge involved a 14-year-old girl from Washington, with the alleged incident occurring on Christmas Eve. This verdict was reached even though the complainant testified about the assault, stating it led to a pregnancy that ended in a miscarriage. Wheeler, who testified in his own defense, denied the accusation, claiming he had "passed out" after leaving a Christmas Eve party in Washington. The male teenagers who were with them supported his statement, testifying that Wheeler was alone with the girl for "only about five minutes."

    Having largely faded from public attention for several months, Betsy and Harry once again became the focus of Capitol City news. On the night of December 3, 1948, at their Glenview home, Betsy was in danger yet again. This time, her attacker was her father, Dr. James Alexander Lyon, who was wielding a butcher knife.

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 ************  Part Four  ***********

Primary Sources:
Evening Star, Tue, Feb 04, 1947 ·Page 5
Times Herald, Sun, Feb 01, 1948 ·Page 3
Times Herald, Mon, Feb 02, 1948 ·Page 3
The Washington Daily News, Mon, February 02, 1948 ·Page 26
Evening Star, Mon, Feb 02, 1948 ·Page 18
Times Herald, Mon, Feb 09, 1948 ·Page 11
The Washington Daily News, Mon, February 09, 1948 ·Page 31
Evening Star, Fri, Feb 20, 1948 ·Page 34
Evening Star, Fri, Feb 20, 1948 ·Page 34
The Washington Daily News, Sat, Feb 21, 1948 ·Page 5
Evening Star, Sat, Mar 06, 1948 ·Page 17
Times Herald, Sat, Mar 06, 1948 ·Page 27
Evening Star, Fri, Apr 02, 1948 ·Page 21
Times Herald, Thu, Dec 02, 1948 ·Page 3