The Detroit times., 1910-03-16
ARREST IS MADE IN
CONNECTION WITH
RIVER MYSTERY
Police Sure Victim Swept To DEATH
From Cake of Ice Was Mrs.. A. ],
Best, of Comber, Ont, and !.
Order Husband Detained I,
Man Says He Left Wife Near Brusl
st. Depository Arouses Sus- s
picion Against Him.

COM6ER, Ont, March ia
(SpeciaD--Arthur J. Best was ar. I.
rested today by Constable Keith.
on the advice Of the detective de- {
partment Of Detroit. Before ieav. \
Ing for Windsor, Best said to The
Times correspondent that he was 4
innocent of any wrona-doino. He
was In Detroit. Saturday niaht,
leaving Comber on the evening
train and returning on the 1880
train Sunday morning. n Best
had any connection with HE
wife's death. he certainly does
not show IL. He worked faithful
ly for his employer until after 10
o'clock last night. His arrest to-
day came like a thunderbolt
from clear sky to the people Of
Comber. He 10 q young man Of
quiet, unassumIns manner and
welI-thought Of by his associates.
His wife was Miss Alice Frank
furth, a member Of one Of the best
families In this district.
Detroit police have ordered the ar
rest OF Arthur j. Best. 10 years old
Of Comber, Ont, In connection with
the river mystery Of Saturday night
when a woman slipped to her death
from cake Of ice. few feet from
dock. after crying In
heartrending manner for help.
The woman is believed to be Best's
young wife, formerly Miss Alice Frank
furth, a member OF one OF the most
prominent families of Essex county
Ont. She has been making her home
here with a brother, Alfred &. Frank
furth, of No. 291 Lawton-ave., while
Best has been working for a tinsmith
named Swegler, In Comber. They were
married last Ash Wednesday.
Marriage Was Unhappy.
The marriage OF Best and Miss
Frankfurth was not a happy one. In
discretion on the part Of the youna
couple made union imperative, and
Best consented to the marriage only
after two OF Miss Frankfurth's broth
ers had compelled him to accompan,
them to Detroit and lead their sistel
to the altar. The marriage was per
formed In the home OF Theodore A
Frankfurth, No 147 Wreford-ave. Ths
couple Immediately separated, Best TO
turning to Comber and the young wife
returning to the home Of her brothol
Alfred.
Since then considerable correspond
ence had passed between the pair
Best was very bitter toward his wife
81 AAt q
eide rather than live with her, ant
warning her TO keep their marriage
secret. He was greatly exercised les
his people in Harrow, Ont, learn OF hi
trouble and when his wife. in one o.
her letters, threatened TO appeal I,
his people unless he would consent Il
do something for her, he became yer,
angry. He sent scathing reply. reit
Grating his statement that he would
rather die than support her. and shs
was almost FRUSTRATED. for, notwith
the circumstances surround
ing the marriage. young Mrs. Bes
seemed to entertain a deep regard foI
the young man.
Met Wife Saturday Night.
A few days ago the girls mother
had long talk with Best IN Combel
and exacted from him a promise thai
he would do the right thing by his
wife. He had tried TO persuade hei
to 20 10 some institution during hel
illness, but she had refused
After the talk with Mrs. Brankfurth
Best sent letter TO his wife. saying
he would come TO Detroit Saturday
night TO talk things over and do what
was right, inasmuch as she did not
care to follow his suggestion. He ask
ed her TO meet the Michigan Central
train at 10 o'clock.
Mrs. Best left her brothers home or
about o'clock. Saturday
night TO go TO the depot. Before leay
ing she prepared lunch for her hus
and, believing that he would come
back to the house with her, as he had
planned 20 remain over Sunday.
Don't stay long" said Mrs. Alfred
her sister-in-law. as she
took her departure.
mo, why should be? II he doesnt
want TO live with me l don't want u
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