The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1930-08-15
HISTORY'S
MYST ERlES
Without a Clew

II
that the first news was made pub
lie Of what is probably the most
battling and mysterious disappear
ance Of its kind In the police annals
Of the United States-the unexplained
and apparently insoluble vanishing Of
Dorothy Harriet Camille Arnold, the
the daughter Of Francis r. Arnold, a
wealthy importer.
The facts In the case were few and
utterly devoid Of sensationalism, thus
making the climax stand out with all
the force and contrast Of lightning
against a pitch black sky. On the
morning OF December IL, thirteen days
before any inkling Of the affair
reached the newspapers, Miss Arnold
had left her home at 108 East Seventy
ninth street, New York, supposedly
for mornings shopping. She was In
the best Of health and spirits and,
among the errands which she intend
ed to do, was the purchasing Of q
dress at one Of the Fifth avenue shops.
AS soon as she found what she wanted
she was to call her mother on the
telephone and the final decision would
then be made.
The thorough and searching investi-
cations of the police and the report
ers later developed the fact that Miss
Arnold had walked from her home to
store at Fifth avenue and Fifty
ninth street, where she purchased a
box OF candy, which she charged to
her personal account. The sales check
showed that 1t was about noon when
she left the store and, some two
hours later, she was at Brentano's
book store, Fifth avenue and Twenty
seventh street, where she bought a
book which she stated was to be given
away as a Christmas present.
Just as she was leaving Brentano's,
Miss Arnold met woman friend and,
in response to the usual question as
to how she was feeling, replied: 'I
never felt better In my life," and then,
as she was leaving, she added: "Tm
going to walk home through Central
park. Want to join meY' But the
friend declined and Miss Arnold con-
tinued on her way-never again to be
heard Of. Had the friend accompanied
her 1t is possible that one Of the
greatest mysteries OF modern times
might never have occurred but, as 1t
happened, Dorothy Arnold went on
alone and vanished.
Wishing to avoid publicity as much
as possible, the Arnold family pur-
posely suppressed the news Of their
daughters disappearance until, at the
request Of the police, 1t was given out
In order that the publication of her
picture and full description might
develop possible clews to her disap-
pearance. But, although there were
number OF apparent inconsistencies
about the case-probably due to the
natural shrinking from the nationwide
attention which the affair attracted
nothing definite was ever discovered.
The most striking point elected by the
Investigations of the newspaper re-
porters was that, despite the Arnold
family's definite statements that their
daughter had had no love affairs, she
had been carrying on a secret corre-
spondence with q bachelor In Pitts
burgh. But it was quite evident that
the man in question could have had
no connection whatever with the dis
appearance OF the New York heiress
and this lead was dropped both by the
police and the press.
White slavery, which was at that
time very much in the public eye, was
popularity blamed for the unsolved
mystery but when 1t came to details
even the most astute detectives were
at loss to explain how a strong, ath-
letic girl like Miss Arnold could have
been kidnapped and concealed without
leaving the slightest trace, while, IL
she had been made away with, 1t
would have been practically impossi-
BILE to hide all signs Of the body and
her distinctive clothing-descriptio
Of which were flashed to all parts of
the world. That Miss Arnold had not
planned to leave home was evident
from the fact that she left all her
jewels and q considerable sum of
money In cash behind her and that,
on the very morning Of her disappear
ance, she had written several letters
relative to tea In honor Of a num-
Der Of her former schoolmates at
Bryn Mawr.
The theory Of suicide was untenable
because her body would have been
found. Premeditated flight was hardly
to be considered, while sudden flight
would have undoubtedly led to recog-
milton somewhere In the country. Foul
play was the only alternative remain
ing, but In the event that Miss Arnold
was either kidnapped or killed, how
did those responsible succeed In hid
ing all traces of their crime from the
police Of two continents?
This is the question which has puz-
zled the minds OF master detectives
like William ]. Burns, Chief Flynn Of
the secret service, Sir e. r. Henry,
chief Of Scotland Yard, and hundreds
Of others who have endeavored In
vain to solve the riddle without a
clew.
"a by the Wheelsr gyndfcatal