The State : Companion of Rich Widow Held in Death

The longtime male traveling companion of an elderly society widow was arrested in her bludgeon slaying in a $17,500 penthouse stateroom on a luxury cruise ship, San Francisco police said. Robert Frisbee, 58, who said Muriel Barnett was like a mother to him, was taken into custody after the Royal Viking Star docked on its return from an Alaskan cruise. Mrs. Barnett, 80, was found dead Monday by a steward delivering her regular pre-dinner order of champagne and caviar. Frisbee, who answered the door and said, “She’s dead,” denied killing the woman and told police he had “no idea what happened.” After several hours of questioning, police booked him for investigation of murder. Frisbee reportedly had worked for Barnett and her husband for 20 years. Phillip Barnett, a San Francisco attorney, died last year, leaving his wife a $6.5-million estate, including an exclusive 14-story apartment house on Russian Hill. They had no children.