The New York herald., 1921-04-06
CHAUFFEUR Is EXAMINED

lie strange disappearance oil MfS
Annette Kingsley Rankine directly af-
ter she had stepped from her landaulet
last Friday afternoon in one Of the
most freauented sections of Manhat-
tan remains unsolved.
Scores of detectives and policemen
have sifted every possible theory to
account for her protracted absence.
These range from the extreme con-
tingency of suicide to what the wom-
ans family think the more plausible
supposition, that in a state of tenn
porary mental arrangement or per-
haps aphasia she may have suffered
loss of identity and wandered away
aimlessly. Every effort to trace her
from the moment she dismissed her
chauffeur at the approach to the
Greensboro Bridge. Second avenue and
Fifty-ninth street. has been futile.
The police yesterday followed up half
dozen cases of women who were sup
posed to answer the incomplete descrip-
tions of the missing widow thus far
made public. These trails led in sew
eral instances to- Long Island. One of
these false alarms was caused by
woman who was observed wandering
about and then seated on the grass be-
side the Colonial Road. near Fourth ave-
nue. and Seventy street. Brooklyn.
When found she gave a straight account
OF herself.
Expert Advice Obtained.
Feeling the need Of expert advice and
guidance Benjamin Vernon Norton, Mrs.
Rankine's brother and next of kin, has
retained the services of j. NJ. Nye, who
for years was one OF the most accom-
pished operatives in the Secret Service
and was a Presidential bodyguar when
Roosevelt and Taft occupied the White
House. Mr.. Nye now is employed as an
executive assistant by the Guaranty
Trust Company. in which corporation
Mr.. Norton holds an assistant secre-
taryship.
In a case like this. the former Secret
Service expert said. he believes the best
possible asset is unrestricted publicity.
He regretted that Mrs. RANKINGS rela-
tives had not earlier taken the news
papers more completely into their conf
dence. because. as he advised them Sat
urday. full and frank publicity was the
course most likely to locate her quickly.
Mr.. Nye yesterday morning interro-
gated not only the chauffeur. Frank
Clouting of All East Sixty-fourth street,
but also Mr.. Norton and his brother-in-
law, William T. Mullaly. who conducts
an advertising agency at 1sS Broadway.
He reached the conclusion. already con
fdenty asserted by the family and ac-
cepted apparently by the city detectives
and police, that the chauffeur, who had
been in Mrs. Rankines employ more
than two years. is absolutely reliable,
truthful and trustworthy
More Detailed Description.
As result OF his Interrogation Mr..
Nye formulated and sent broadcast a
more detailed description OF the miss
ing woman. This Is how il is phra scd !:
Mrs. Annette Rahkine age 40: feet
1 or 2 inches slender build. weight
about 10 pounds medium brown hair
combed straight back. ears entirel' un-
covered blue eyes: wore oblong shaped
plain. hat nose glasses With old sash-
Toned high round prldge. ruddy COM
plexion fairly well tanned from feins
out in the weather a great deal; J!de OF
her face slightly fuzzy.
"Wore black taffeta waist with high
collar close up around the nee: and
black, mannish four in hand tie, a black