Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-18


Throughout the World the Body of
Miss Jeanne De Kay Was Found in
the Cold Waters Of Lake Michigan.
"OUR months ago Jeanne De Kay. the
young daughter OF John w. De Kay.
the multi-millionairc packing Ting
vanished from the worlds sight and knowl-
edge as completely as if the Chicago street
en- which she was last seen had suddenly
opened beneath her feet and swallowed
her.
After worldwide search, her body has
Just been found floating in Lake Michigan.
But the finding OF the girls body has not
dispeiled the mystery. Indeed. q disap.
pearancc that seemed 10 be as strange as
that Of Dorothy Arnold. the New York
society girl who dropped out of sight sew.
eral years ago. turns out to be far stranger
For the possible explanations OF Miss
Arnold's disappearance are comparatively
few and all quite simple. But for the
tragedy OF Jeanne De Kay there are many
possible explanations-some Of them more
surprising than any novelist or playwright
has told. yet all possessing elements Of
plsusibility that are most convincing.
Was she q victim OF morbid vanity?
Her face was Scared By smallpox Over
this is is known that Miss De Kay brooded.
1t is even said that those scars had caused
her 10 be- disappointed in love. Driven
mad by morbid regret for lost beauty. did
ale throw herself into the lake? Many OF
her friends believe this may be true
Or was poor little Jeanne De Kay the
victim OF the International political in
trigues in which her father has long played
a prominent part? There are many who
think so. They believe either that she was
murdered in revenge for some real or
fancied grievance agains, her father. or
that terror Of these agents. who She
though, were pursuing her, drove her to
suicide.
Still a third theory hold that Jeanne De
Rays disappearance was caused by sud
den disgust for the life OF ease and luxury
sne had hitherto led and feeling that
she could find true happiness by earning
her living. as so many other less fortunate
girls had 10 do Acting on this impulse she
may have renowned her claims 10 wealth,
have changed her name. and then have
lost herself among the working women Of
Chicago-either as 4 nurse. a sEopgirl or
a humble domestic servant.
But these friends argue. this sudden
transformation may have proved too diff
feuit In the sphere OF life so strange to
her she may have failed TO find the hap!i-
ness that she sought. TOO proud to 60
back to her old ways and confess herself
oh Sho haya o
as the easicc, way out OF her perpleIities d?
II seems very unlikely that Jeanne De
Kay could have had her mind fixed on sui.
eide when she walked out of Hull House
on the night OF December so. IL so. why
waa she az such pains to take along her
toothbrush? The thought Of suicide-ii
such 1t was-must have come later. after
who knows what strange adventures and
haIdships.
Whatever the answer. it may now never
DE known Murder or suicide-the secret
Is locked up in the dead brain OF the blue
eyed, unhappy girl whose body the crew
OF 4 police boat saw floating upon the icy
waters Of the lake not far from Chicago
AZ though II were striving to make it,
way back
AMI here enters another factor OF thu
nystery. How long the body may hav,
been in the water cannot be definitely tolt
within a period OF month. Outside o
that nil must DE guesswork. The tcnpera
ture OF tho waters has been so low that NJ
real difference could BIO discoy cred be
tween a corpse submerged within then
four months ago and one within montl
ago.
Identification OF the body Was made b,
Miss Gertrude Howe Britton, OF Hui
House, in which Miss De Kay was worke
when she vanished. Miss Bri,ton has beel
one OF the most unremitting scarchcrs TO
The girl.
There are, as has been said. grea
number Of possible explanations OF tn
strange fate OF Jeanne De Kay. Which O
them would you select as the answer {