The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-04-05
MRS. A. K. RANKINE
MISSING 4 DAYS;
POLICE BAFFLED
Widow Last Seen at 55th
st. and I'd Ave. After Leav-
ing Her Motor Car.
NO CLUE TO MYSTERY
Brother Leads Search, but
No Trace Is Found of
Her Whereabouts.
LEFT HOME LAST FRIDAY
Relatives Fear Renewed At
tack of Painting Spells-Re-
fuse Theory of Foul Play.

Mrs. Annette Kingsley Rankine
widow Of William Birch Rankine, who
is said to have left to her fortune
approximating s1.000,000, is missing
from her home, Ia East Sixtieth street.
and her relatives and friends are
gravely concerned.
A confidential police alarm was sent
out Saturday at the request of Mrs
Raniine's brother. Benjamin Vernon
Norton Of Pelham Manor, who is an
assistant secretary Of the Guaranty
Trust Company in it's Fifth avenue
branch at F'orty-fourth street. Since
that time the police and private de-
tectives have failed to find a clue to
the whereabouts of Mrs. Ranl1ine.
She left her automobile for some un-
explained purpose about 6 o'clock Fri
day evening at the Fifty-ninth street
and Second avenue approach to the
Greensboro Bridge. From that mo-
ment, so far as concerns her family
and friends, she has vanished utterly
Mrs. RanlSine, who is 40 years old
and socially prominent, is a daughter
Of the late Edward Kingsley Norton.
She was married fifteen years ago to
William Birch Rankin, who. though
lawyer by profession, devoted his
energies principally to developing and
promoting the Niagara Falls Power
Company He helped harness for in
dustry the mighty cataract and be-
came tho vice-president Of that corpo-
ration after he and his associates had
been successful in capitalizing it on
substantial foundation through the CO.
operation of ]. p. Morgan and other
American bankers.
subject to Painting Spells.
Only about a year after his marriage
to Annette Kingsley Norton. Mr.. Ran
kline. who was greatly her senior in
years, died at Niagara Falls. on Sep
tember 80, 1905. leaving her the bulk of
his fortune. Several years ago Mrs
Rankine suffered nervous breakdown
and as a consequence for a time she was
subject to fainting spells. Since she took
apartments about four years ago on the
eighth floor of the East Sixtieth street
apartment hotel. she has had as her
sole constant companion and nurse
Miss Sphinx.
Mr.. Norton, her brother, expressed
fear yesterday that his sister might have
suffered another Of her fainting attacks.
Since Friday night he had directed an
unsuccessful search OF hospitals and
other city institutions in the hope of
finding some news Of her. IT Is believed
by Mr.. Norton and those who are aiding
him. that Mrs. Rankine may have been
found and cared for by we'll intentioned
persons who realized that she was i'll
and perhaps temporarily irresponsible.
The brother refuses 10 entertain The sus-
picion that she may have met with foul
play.
Mrs. Rankin, her relatives say, de-
voted part of her timo to doing staus-
tical work for the Association for the
Improvement OF the Condition of the
Poor. According to the chauffeur. whose
name is Clouting. she directed him to
drive her to F1fty-ninth street and
Second avenue at about ) 40 o'clock
Friday afternoon, though neither he nor
her brother nor Miss SPHINX have any
idea what may have been her purpose
in going there. She alighted from the
car and policeman told Clouting he
could not park hts machine at that
spot, as II would impede traffic toward
! the bridge.
The chauffeur was starting to shift the
- d. .latwn N<f
him he need not wait for her, as she
thought she would walk home after hav-
ing finished her errands.
Chauffeur Gives the Alarm.
The last her chauffeur saw of Mrs
Rankine she was walking toward the
public market at the bridge terminal
He did not drive the car home imme-
diately. but waited, thinking she might
change her mind. Later he tried to
find Mrs. RanNine. but she had disap-
rearcd. He then went home with the
car. When she had not returned after
reasonable time the chauffeur told his
story. He added that Mrs. Rankine
certainly had expected to be at home
soon, because she had instructed him
she would want TO go as usual after
dinner for drive in the park and that
he should have the car at her door at
8 o'clock
The nurse then telephoned Mr.. Norton
at his home In Pelham Manor. Mr.. Nor
tom Immediately came TO the city and
got In touch with Deputy Police Com
missioner Shaw. who directed him to
the Thirty-hrst police precinct station
There the aid OF Lieut. McMann and
Detective Sergeant Smith was enlisted
and canvass of the hospitals was be-
gun. On Saturday and again on Sun
day thorough search was made In the
vicinity Of the bridge and the bridge APP
proach to see II any trace OF the missing
womans clothing might suggest the
nature Of her fate. Thus far the police
are baffled. though Mr.. Norton said last
night he believed they we're doing every
thing In their power,
Mrs. Rankine IL described by her
brother as being slight. feet. 2 inches
Continued on Seventh Page.
WHEN Won think OF Country poe rdcrs think