OH OH - Beverly Mastny, 15, Broadview Heights, 21 Sept 1953

[bev1228]

I did some digging on C.B. Lewis, the guy reportly she ran away with. The Clifford B. Lewis that is referred to in the news articles later committed suicide at his trailer park in 1975. He was born in 1919 in Joaquin, TX, and at some point prior to 1940, joined the navy (he's listed as being in the navy in the 1940 census). It appears from the draft card that he was discharged at some point after 1940.

A B Clifford Lewis born in 1920 in Texas is present in the 1950 census, and is listed as an inmate in a jail in Ogden, Weber, Utah. It is possible it is him, and a criminal record may explain a change in career from Heavy Equipment Operator to truck driver. I was unable to find criminal records in Utah, so the question is still up in the air. His Huntsville Prison record lists his marital status as divorced as of 1954.

His obituary lists three children all without his last name (possibly was an absent father?), and a widow. His findagrave profile lists him being married to a Bobbie Coward in 1970, who married another man two years later, just three years before his suicide. It seems he married another woman shortly after his marrage to Coward, up until his death. I feel Lewis may have been a serial marryer, as his marital status is in constant flux throughout records. That could be a subject of future research.

That all is to establish Beverly Mastny was not a signficiant figure later in Lewis' life.
Beverly Mastny's father and grandfather were both truck drivers and my personal speculation is that Lewis lured her into following him through a shared truck stop or work place or something.

Anyway, I had some freetime today and decided to take a look at this case. This is just what I've been able to find, and I added some records which I felt are the most crucial in establishing his identity. Being the only substantial lead in this case I thought I may be beneficial to do some digging on this person. I had to cut down some files for space, so let me know if you would like images of better quality or want my specific sources.

I too believe there's a good chance the Lewis from Idaho is one in the same Joaquin TX Lewis. I found a small article in which two officers from Idaho were given money to extradite Clifford Lewis back to Idaho. His arrest was on writing back checks which Clifford B (Jack) Lewis of Texas also had done. Often census reports and genealogy sites will be off a year or two on DOBs. Happens all the time. 1919 and 1920 close enough NOT to rule out the Lewis from Idaho.

 

[bev1228]

Clifford B. Lewis, one man crime wave...​

The Daily Times New Philadelphia, Ohio · Thursday, September 09, 1948 reports Clifford B. Lewis of New Philedelphia, OH, was indicted for grand larceny for writing bad checks. Source: Newspapers.com​

The Ogden Standard-Examiner Ogden, Utah · Monday, December 12, 1949 shows Clifford B. Lewis, age 29, was returned from Prescot, AZ for passing bad checks in Ogden, UT. Source: Newspapers.com.

San Angelo Evening Standard San Angelo, Texas · Tuesday, May 09, 1950, case dismissed for Clifford B Lewis of East Texas, chargeed with theft by false pretext. Source: Newspapers.com.

The Montgomery Advertiser Montgomery, Alabama · Sunday, January 03, 1954, shows Clifford B. Lewis of Jaoquin, TX, age 34, was arrested in Montgomery, AL, for car theft in Gladewater, TX. He was arrested on suspicion after posing as a representative of A Seminole, Ok drilling concern and cashing bad checks. Lewis told officers he was also wanted in Shelby County, Center, Henderson and Ft. Worth, TX. Source: Newspapers.com.

The Opelika-Auburn News Opelika, Alabama · Monday, January 04, 1954, also stated the prisoner admitted passing bad checks on a Seminole, OK bank in Louisiana, Ohio,, Kentucky, Texas and Alabama. Source: Newspapers.com.​

El Paso Herald-Post El Paso, Texas · Wednesday, February 19, 1958 reports a 39 year old Midland, TX man was sentenced to two years in federal prison after having his probation revoked. Source: Newspapers.com.​

The Maryville Daily Forum Maryville, Missouri · Monday, March 28, 1960, states that bail was set at $1,000 in magistrate court for Clifford B. Lewis, alias Joseph Still, Joaquin, Tex for passing a no account check. He signed a check with the name Joe Still. He was apprehended in Richmond, Ind. Source: Newspapers.com​

The St. Joseph News-Press St. Joseph, Missouri · Monday, April 18, 1960, states that Clifford B Lewis and another inmate escaped the Nowaway County Jail after sawing through two window bars and dropped 12 feet to the ground to make their escape. The article gives a physical description of Lewis, age 40, has a marked Texas drawl, is six feet tall, 210 lbs. Has brown hair and a ruddy complexion. He also has a noticeable limp from an injury to his right leg. He was being held for forgery and was wanted in Texas for parole violation. Source: Newspapers.com.​

The Maryville Daily Forum Maryville, Missouri · Tuesday, April 26, 1960 showed he had a FBI 'rap' sheet dating back to Jan 2, 1947 and lists some of his arrests over the years. He addressed the court and gave a long story about his crimes to the judge. He mentioned nothing about the Beverly Mastny case. Source: Newspapers.com.​

The Maryville Daily Forum Maryville, Missouri · Saturday, May 21, 1960, shows he got two years in the Missouri State Penitentiary for escaping from jail and writing bad checks. Source: Newspapers.com.​

The Times Shreveport, Louisiana · Saturday, August 16, 1975, shows the obit for Clifford B. "Jack" Lewis of Joaquin, TX. Source: Newspapers.com.​

So what I also found was Beverly was staying with her grand dad at 4921 Wallings Road Broadview. Her parents were in the process of moving from 5216 Fleet Ave (Old Slavic Village) in Cleveland to 5043 Wallings Road. The move is taking place at the start of School so makes sense her parents wanted Beverly already enrolled in her new School. It will be Brecksville High School. Some newspapers report she lived in Brecksville. NO she was going to attend nearby Brecksville High. For me what is interesting is school had just started not three weeks before she goes missing. So is there a chance someone from her former neighborhood of Fleet Ave could have been involved?

 

[Betty P]

So what I also found was Beverly was staying with her grand dad at 4921 Wallings Road Broadview. Her parents were in the process of moving from 5216 Fleet Ave (Old Slavic Village) in Cleveland to 5043 Wallings Road. The move is taking place at the start of School so makes sense her parents wanted Beverly already enrolled in her new School. It will be Brecksville High School. Some newspapers report she lived in Brecksville. NO she was going to attend nearby Brecksville High. For me what is interesting is school had just started not three weeks before she goes missing. So is there a chance someone from her former neighborhood of Fleet Ave could have been involved?

Brecksville and Broadview Heights share the same school district. Students from both communities attend the same schools. BBH Schools.

Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District

www.bbhcsd.org

4921 Wallings Rd is in Broadview Heights, but its very close to the city limits of Brecksville.