Regardless of her sunny disposition and privileged lot in life, a surfaced letter to Griscom revealed a sadder facet to his clandestine lover: “McClure’s has turned me down,” she wrote. “Failure stares me within the face. All I see forward is an extended street with no turning.” After which, forebodingly, “Mom will at all times assume an accident has occurred.” (Her mom, for the report, by no means gave up hope that her daughter may return.)
Different theories abounded: In April 1914, a “maternity hospital” in a Pittsburgh suburb often called the “Home of Thriller” was raided by police. They arrested C. C. Meredith, a doctor providing unlawful abortions, who alleged that Dorothy had been one of many women who’d died on his table and been cremated within the cellar. Some suppose Dorothy fell pregnant throughout her secret weekend in Boston and had traveled to Pittsburgh, on the recommendation of Griscom, for a process that in the end killed her. Francis Arnold known as this principle “ridiculous.”
Two years later, a convict confessed he’d been paid $250 by a wealthy man from New York to maneuver and bury the heiress’ physique within the cellar of a suburban New York residence. Police excavated many properties within the space however discovered nothing. The person, mentioned Arnold, spewed “utter nonsense.”
Whereas Pettem’s Chilly Case Chronicles in the end leaned in the direction of the latter because the almost certainly destiny for Dorothy, the creator and historian has since modified her thoughts. “I used to assume she died in a botched abortion,” says Pettem, “however now I believe she walked away and began a brand new life.”
In an period earlier than social safety numbers, Pettem says, disappearing was as simple as altering your identify and coiffure. Definitely loads of fairly brunettes appeared shut sufficient: In 1914, a lady residing in Los Angeles beneath the identify “Ella Nevins” claimed she was the lacking socialite. “If you happen to don’t imagine I’m Dorothy Arnold,” the Gettysburg Occasions quoted, “ask my sister, Marjorie. She is going to know why my father doesn’t reply my letters.”
