The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-09-30
By ROBERT TALLEY NEA Service Writer

By ROBERT TALLEY
 NEA Service Writer Copyright, 1892, NEA Service, Inc.
 Between March 1 and Aug 8, 1931. Hisashi Fujimura, 38, wealthy Japanese silk importer of New York bank the sum of $335,412. leaving a balance of only $102.
 On Aug 9 he sailed on the Red Star liner Belgenland for a "whoo- nee cruise'' to Halifax and return, being accompanied on this trip by Mary Dale von Reissner, blond actress. who had been his friend for months.
 At 2:45 a. m. on Aug IA, when the steamer was within a few miles of New York on its return trip, ships officer-making his custom ary rounds-saw Fujimura. in eve ming attire. talking to some one in the shadows of "A" deck. He does not know who that someone was.
 At 2 a. m, when steward went to Fujimura's stateroom to awawen him, Fujimura's bed was empty. He has never been seen since.
 
 What happened?
 There are some who think the wealthy Japanese was murdered and thrown overheard by black mailers who had been "bleeding" him for months and who had fol- lowed him on the ship.
 There are others who believe that his hugs bank withdrawals went to cover gambling losses and that finally, in despair and disgrace he ended his life by jumping into the sea.
 There are still others who think that in some way he got ashore and Is now living secretly, some where. hiding away from the world he once knew.
 Beginning with Fujimura's mys- terious disappearance on Aug. IA, an investigation by federal author ities continued until Sept 8. when United States Attorney George 7. Medaie of New York announced that he had found mo evidence to prove that murder or any other crime had been committed on the high seas"
 Thus the investigation ended, but the mystery as to what actually happened Is as far from solution as ever.
 A few months ago Mrs Fujimura the missing mans wife. closed their S150,000 50-acre estate near West Norwalk. Conn, took her four chil- dren and went back to Japan. She never discussed the case with re- porters because she knew only one word in English and that was "Scram-"--a word she had learned from q tanftVo Shn onn1iad h.. word to all questioners.
 Nor could Mary Dale von Reiss- her, the beautiful 25-year-old ex- show girl who had been Fujimura's frequent companion. throw any light on the mystery.
 She sailed with Fujimura on this 'whoopee cruise and occupied an adjoining stateroom which was separated from his only by a bath. She was listed on the passenger rolls os Miss Douglas" and was listed on the ships roll as making the voyage as governess for Fuji- murG' s seven-year-old daughter, Toshika. Strangely enough, Fuji- mura took the child with him on this gay voyage. The child occu- pied her father stateroom.
 Mrs Von Reissner (she is q di- vorcee with a child of her own) and Fujimura attended several gay parties abroad the ship. At one of these, 8 costume ball, the silk prince appeared in lived butter fly costume-symbol of the source of his riches.
 On the night of Fujimura's dis appearance, Mrs Reissner left him about midnight to attend a party in the stateroom of Mildred Harris, first wife Charlie Chaplin. That night Git seems, Fujimura prefer red to hang around the ships bar with the men.
 Mrs Won Reissner, who stayed at the Mildred Harris party until nearly dawn, went directly to bed upon her return to her own state room. When informed next morn ing that Fujimura had vanished. leaving his seven-year-old daugh- ted asleep in his stateroom, she was at loss to understand.
 The rich suave Japanese had lavished gifts on the pretty blond actress since their meeting when she was a show girl in George Whites musical comedy, Flying High" They were familiar figures in Broadway night life.
 Thus far the unidentified person who was seen talking with Fuji- mura in the shadows of "A" deck at 2:45 on the morning of his dis appearance has never come for ward to explain. Likewise, investi- gation has shown that two alleged 'n or 0 us blackmailers" who boarded the ship at Halifax and whose appearance was reported to have thrown Fijumura into a panic were nothing more than couple of small-time gamblers who had no connection with the case.
 Admittedly. Fujimura was reckless gambler. He played for big stakes; he had money, was willing to bet it and did. Gamblers called him Sucker" for any game of chance, crooked or straight Mary Reissner testified she once saw the little Japanese lose $20,- 900 on the turn of card--and smile.
 Investigation disclosed that much of the $300,000 that Fujimura had withdrawn from the bank before his departure had gone to pay