His Way_ The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra - Kitty Kelley [213]
Although Weisman was showing steady improvement, the bulletins from the hospital were not encouraging at first. “His condition from the operation is satisfactory, but he remains in serious condition and still is unconscious,” said a hospital spokesman. Three days later he regained consciousness but the hospital reported his condition as “still serious.” Weisman recognized family members but could not remember anything and kept introducing his wife to his doctor. By June 27, he had recovered enough to talk to the police about what had happened that night in the Polo Lounge, but he said he could only remember what happened leading up to the fracas. From the moment he was struck, his memory was gone. His family was so outraged by what had happened to him that they wanted to press criminal charges against Sinatra. But, as they later confided to friends, they had received anonymous phone calls threatening to harm their children, so they were afraid to act.
Frank’s long history of violence so intimidated the Weismans that they decided to forget the whole affair.
“He wants the case closed,” said Weisman’s attorney, Grant B. Cooper, “A further investigation as to whether he was hit, pushed, or fell is not necessary.”
“We don’t want to talk about it. There is just nothing to say,” said Weisman’s wife.
“There’s nothing to settle. We just want to forget it ever happened,” said his brother.
On June 30, the Los Angeles district attorney announced that he was closing his investigation. “In the absence of any other evidence, we have concluded no prosecution is indicated, and that this case is closed,” he said.
A few days later, Frank gave Mia a nine-carat diamond engagement ring he had bought at Ruser’s jewelry store in Beverly Hills for $85,000. He presented it to her on July 4 during the weekend they spent in Mt. Kisco, New York, with Random House publisher Bennett Cerf and his wife, Phyllis. Cerf, whom Sinatra called The Bookmaker, had been an adoring fan of Frank’s since he had first heard him sing in the early forties. Their friendship had become close in the early sixties when Frank was a bachelor and would use the Cerfs’ Mt. Kisco home for a month-long summer retreat.
On July 5, Sinatra left for London to start filming The Naked Runner. A few days later, Mia walked into P.J. Clarke’s in Manhattan flashing the stupendous diamond. “It’s a friendship ring from Frank,” she said.
Remembering what had happened to Lauren Bacall when she talked to the press about Sinatra’s marriage proposal, Mia’s mother quickly called Frank in London and asked what she should say about the ring. She received his permission to announce the engagement with no definite date for the wedding.
“I couldn’t be more delighted,” Maureen O’Sullivan told the press. “Frank is a wonderful person, and I know they’ll be happy together.”
That night Sinatra had dinner with Brad Dexter at The Colony in London, a gambling club managed by George Raft. They played a little blackjack and returned to their suites in Grosvenor Square, where Frank announced his plans to marry Mia. He asked Brad what he thought about it, and Dexter didn’t lie to his friend. “It’s too big an age difference, Frank. You’re talking about thirty years in age. It doesn’t make sense. When she’s forty you’ll be seventy, but if that’s what you want, go ahead and marry the girl.”
“Well, don’t you think it’s a good idea?”
“No, I really don’t.”
“Why don’t you approve? The age business doesn’t mean a thing. Besides, she’s a good kid and I’m lonely. I need somebody.”
“I know you’re lonely, but I think you’re confusing the love you have for your son with what you feel about Mia. Junior won’t respond to you, but Mia does.”
Erupting in fury, Frank swept the table lamps to the floor with a loud crash and threw an ashtray at the window, shattering the glass into glistening shards. Without a word, he grabbed the telephone