Or she may have died on an abortionists table. Family members linked to this person will appear here. While in Mobile, he saw Dorothy in a store, accompanied by a young man. Men who have nothing to do With this tantalizing phrase to spur them on, newsmen left the Arnold office to delve into Dorothys apparently placid existence. Well-behaved society girl that she was, Dorothy dared not push the matter further, instead, she followed her fathers advice, and during the next few weeks wrote a short story (ailed Poinsettia Flames, which she dispatched to McCluress , the combination New Yorker-Saturday Evening Post of the day. John W. Arnolds arrival in New York added still another angle to the baffling case. Griscom inst a todos los que conoci a llamarlo "Junior". When Francis died, his will said nothing of Dorothy. This account has been disabled. Griscom, Jr. (who preferred to be called "Junior") was a 42-year-old engineer who came from a wealthy Pennsylvania family with whom he still lived at the Kenmawr Hotel in Pittsburgh. This browser does not support getting your location. With his point made, Francis Arnold obviously considered the interview over. According to the New York businessman, Dorothy seemed very happy. View. Looking animated and happy, they made no effort to hide their identities, or their presence in Boston. George Fredrick Griscom was born on month day 1843, at birth place, Pennsylvania, to Edwin Atlee Griscom and Beulah Griscom (born Denn). She was born in 1885 in New York City as the second of four children to Mary Parks Arnold and Francis R. Arnold, a rich perfume importer. His mother still buys all his shirts and ties." https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/226993282/george-stewart-griscom. I do not care to say anything more until I shall have had a chance to consult with my family. One of the questions he chose to disregard was whether he had fought with Griscom over the packet of Dorothys letters, and whether he had obtained it only by knocking Junior down. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. They feared their daughter was up to some kind of scandalous business, but eventually broke down, called on her friends, and asked them for clues to her whereabouts. The mystery of Dorothy Arnolds disappearance is still unsolved. As she departed from her home, Dorothy carried no luggagethough it is conceivable that a nightgown might have been hidden in the depths of her large muff. Its unlikely, but not impossible, that she would have staged her disappearance to start a new life somewhere else. Library of CongressThe disappearance of New York City socialite Dorothy Arnold remains one of the biggest missing persons cases in U.S. history. As time passed and the family chaffing continued unabated, Dorothy took a most unusual step lor a cloistcred young lady. The tale also endures as a reminder of the gross disparities between the attention the media and police do and dont give to certain cases as evidenced by how much leeway they gave to Dorothys upper-class parents, who effectively withheld information and handicapped the cases chances from the beginning. To all intents and purposes, this was the beginning of her last walk on earth, and it is possible to say that she made the most of it. George, however, also wasnt fond of another explanation that surfaced, and put him in jeopardy: the Little Louie Theory. In 1916, a man named Edward in a Rhode Island prison said he was paid to dispose of a womans body the same year Dorothy went missing. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Despite their romance, her family didn't approve of her contact with him. It would be bad enough, the stern Francis Arnold cried out once, if the daughter I loved so well [were] lying beside her grandmother in Greenwood Cemetery, but this suspense and uncertainty are a thousand times worse., And that uncertainty was never resolved. Her maddening disappearance sent New York City into a tailspin of speculation, but her familys extreme secrecy in handling the case was perhaps even more peculiar to onlookers. [Such] atrocious things do happen, though there seems to be no justification for them.. The theory that Dorothy had committed suicide due to her failed writing career was considered plausible by her boyfriend, George Griscom Jr. She'd written entries in her journal, stating her disappointment over the rejections saying, "Well, it [the story] has come back. Instead, they cabled European correspondents to locate Griscom. Lost your password? She was 25 years old when she disappeared. Then, just before Thanksgiving, she again drew her former classmate, Theodora Bates, into the complicated web of her life, when she decided to visit her friend in Washington, D.C., where Theodora was teaching. There she had gone to escape the anxious hours of waiting in the Arnold home. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. As the weeks wore on, the case grew worse than cold, it grew stale. At two oclock on the afternoon of December 12, 1910, she stood talking to a girl friend outside Brentanos bookshop, then located at Fifth Avenue and Twentyseventh Street in New York City. I believe [so] absolutely, he stated, expressing the belief that she had been set upon while walking home through Central Park. That, Keith said, was an area where had found some troubling things. On July 1, 1886, Dorothy Harriet Camille Arnold was born in New York City to her prominent parents, Mary Parks Arnold and Francis Rose. To a young lawyer like Keith, Francis R. Arnold was potentially a valuable client. Still, no bodies were found in Jersey, and the police took Georges word over that of the felon, even if, as some thought, he might have paid them off. In the words of a news account, Dorothy now found life a torment among her amused relatives.. Despite the New York Police Departments belief that Dorothy Arnold was still alive, her father filed an affidavit stating his belief that she was murdered. The truth came out and as a result she was prohibited from further meetings with George, mostly because of her parents' high expectations and terms for her future husband, although she had managed to correspond . His name is engraved on a plaque at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. There are a few things to consider about the state of Dorothys room. He now suggested a search of morgues, hospitals, and even jails. It was disheartening, vague evidence at best. the odd 11-day saga of crime novelist Agatha Christies disappearance. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Now that youve uncovered the bizarre investigation into the disappearance of Dorothy Arnold, learn about the odd 11-day saga of crime novelist Agatha Christies disappearance. The same argument is made as that put forth in the preceding case, . Griscom believed this might be the case, and we know that she was very sensitive about the rejected manuscripts. The facts of her case are sparse but suggestive of a darker story. Yes, quite scandalous for the times But while the letters speak of love, they do not throw any further light on her whereabouts only some mentions of depression over an unpublished story (Poinsettia?). There she paused at Park & Tilfords candy counter to purchase a halfpound box of chocolates. Getting down on his knees, Keith peered into the fireplace: here he discovered a small mound of burned papers. He was hardly the type to sweep a girl off her feet, or rescue her from a stifling existence. The family hired private investigators instead, but they turned up few clues. In an effort to bring things to a close, Dorothys father said he thought shed been killed and disposed of in the Central Park reservoir not likely, said the police, as the lake was frozen at the time of her disappearance. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Dorothy may have returned with a fierce hatred of them and her empty society life. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Some people theorized she had died during a botched abortion, but there was no evidence to back up such an assertion. Now, George was a wealthy Pennsylvania boy, so his social standing wasn't the problem for Dorothy's parents, but his social etiquette was. Search above to list available cemeteries. This would give the widest possible publicity to Dorothys disappearance; but it was also a tactic which the staid Mr. Arnold abhorred. Mrs. Arnold was equally well-connected, and the family ranked high in the old guard of New York society, then noted for its propriety and unbending reticence. Another theory was that Dorothy had killed herself. Please enter your email address. Impulses undreamed of by proper parents may have been fanned into flame by the week with Griscom in Boston. One had simply to look at her wide, placid lace to realize that she was more studious than frivolous. She decided that it contained the rejected manuscript of Dorothys second short story, Lotus Leaves. Yet there is nothing to support this assumption. No, this is serious, John Arnold replied. He was George C. Griscom, Jr., a plump, sideburned forty-two-year-old who lived with his elderly parents in Pittsburgh, and summered at Nantucket. When it came time to for Edward to describe him to the police, the description actually resembled George. . It's hard to imagine what Dorothy saw in the man other than a chance at a little independence and rebellion. Since that day, nothing. One report said his doting mother still bought all his shirts and ties." . Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Denial, while just as tragic, goes down a little easier. It is not true that f objected to her having men call at the house, he thundered, I would have been glad to see her associate more with young men than she did, especially some young men of brains and position: one whose profession or business would keep him occupied. Keith investigated all the local hospitals, morgues and jails. It was the sharp-eyed pawnbroker who exploded to the press and police the story of her Boston sojourn. But her lie was uncovered when the family realized shed pawned some jewelry to spend a week with Griscom at a Boston-area hotel. Now, fifty years later, Dorothys body has yet to float to the surface of a reservoir. Son of George Stewart and Mary Elizabeth Griscom (nee Schwartz). He lives with his parents in a hotel in Pittsburgh, and summers in Nantucket. Some quick detective work on the part of the European correspondents revealedto everyones consternationthat the veiled lady was none other than Mrs. Francis Arnold, whose privacy at the New Jersey rest home was still respectfully honored by the newspapers. George Griscom Jr, Arnold's boyfriend, theorized that she had committed suicide because she was despondent over her failed writing career. Para enero de 1911 la madre de Dorothy y su hermano John viajaron a Italia para interrogarlo a la fuerza, sin pruebas contundentes. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Nor did Dorothy ever speak of knowing anyone in Washington who might have brought the package to Theodoras door. This limited edition print is for my fellow people. Over the weeks following, he spent days in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia walking down lanes of hospital beds, examining nameless corpses, and peering at unfortunate young females languishing in jail. Mary and Francis, however, werent having any of it. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. He died in 1920. . George agreed. He was an engineer almost twice Dorothys age, who had met her in college. On Jan. 26, 1911, six weeks after she disappeared, Dorothy Arnolds family made her case public. Read More Published In Last Name "Rastelli" Penns. Enter your email and Ill send you my latest stories. His name was George C. Griscom, Jr., and he was a wealthy engineer who lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Arnolds were furious that she had blown their money on this middle-aged, deadbeat love interest who still lived with his parents. Her mother offered to go with her, but Dorothy said she wanted to be alone. The blow of her first story getting rejected from a publishing company was hard enough on her, but the second was unbearable. Their father, William H. Clevenger, was a master at this work. She rented a post office box where she kept the manuscripts, away from the prying eyes of her family and their servants. The salesgirl recognized her as a familiar customer, and without question added the purchase to the Arnold family account. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Did the rejection of the first stories she ever submitted to a magazine, which coincided with her fathers stern refusal to let her live in Greenwich Village, or to see more of the idle Griscom, plunge her into a mood of suicidal despair? She came downstairs for breakfast fully dressed for travel, and carrying her bag. Dorothy allegedly went on a secret trip to Boston with George that summer, whilst telling her parents she was staying with friends. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. At around the same time she was dating George Griscom Jr, a 40-year-old engineer who still lived with his parents. This may have led to contact with the underworld, and the pent-up Dorothy may have seized on this road to a new kind of life. After phoning Dorothys friends, the Arnolds realized something must have happened to her. On Thanksgiving morning she expressed a desire to remain in bed. On the day of her disappearance, Dorothy Arnold was expensively and modishly clad, a fact that would make her highly conspicuous at a time when class distinctions in female dress were sharp. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Was she kidnapped and murdered? However, noviable leads were generated. If anything, Dorothy Arnold looked cheerful. He married Margaret Woodnutt Acton on 4 October 1839, in Salem, New Jersey, United States. She was a niece of a justice of the United States Supreme Court and the daughter of a family so wealthy that she could be called an heiress. He was an engineer almost twice Dorothy's age, who had met her in college. The disappearance of New York City socialite Dorothy Arnold remains one of the biggest missing persons cases in U.S. history. The conflict between the police and her family over the case fueled even more speculation around her disappearance. Or so one would think. Potential husbands shouldnt convince young women to pawn their familys items for a steamy hotel meet-up. In New York newspapers he inserted ads in the Personal columns signed Junior, which begged Dorothy to communicate with him. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. His last job was at Moore Brothers in Clayton. The day before, she had withdrawn $36 from the bank to lake some girl friends to lunch at Sherrys, followed by a matinee. Once the headline DOROTHY ARNOLD FOUND spread across the newspapers of the country, but this turned out to be a hoax. Reporters were no more successful. Letters from Dorothy's boyfriend Apparently, Dorothy and Griscom were star-crossed lovers. . On accepting the package at the door, Theodora jumped to a fast conclusion. Keith was reluctant to do so. The story, and pictures of Dorothy appeared in newspapers as far away as Europe. When women died, they were burned in a furnace, and Dorothy wouldve met the same fate. To this day, the disappearance of Dorothy Arnold remains unsolved. ). In the main hallwhich newspapers were later to describe as magnificently furnishedshe found her mother waiting. On September 24, Dorothy had returned to York Harbor. Dorothy came from serious money with direct lines back to Mayflower passengers. Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801. But he was in Italy at the time. George married Joanna Griscom (born Dugan). The discovery of these letters revealed that Arnold and Griscom were in regular communication before she vanished, a communication she continued over her parents objections. The NYPD, however, begged to differ and continued the search. Presumably the police department of New York City received one of these circulars, but it stood firmly on protocol, refusing to act in the Dorothy Arnold matter until appealed to directly. He stated virtuously: I am sorry my father should have seen fit to give out the story. He did have a letter Dorothy had written him admitting that she was depressed over a recent magazine rejection to a . Weeks passed and additional theories surfaced, each testing the limits of plausibility. Conspiracies around what actually happened to Dorothy Arnold spread like wildfire. He was 88 and had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease several years . Even her friend Gladys King, who ran into her on 5th Avenue and 27th Street at 2pm, said she was in a good mood when they ran into one another. Then, dive into the secret life of Roald Dahl, a fighter pilot and spy who became a beloved childrens author. George C. Griscom, Jr. was 42 when Dorothy went missing. View Dorothy Arnold Disappearance Research Paper.docx from ENGLISH MISC at Chamberlain College of Nursing. Year should not be greater than current year. Opening a desk drawer, Keith found a pile of personal letters, some with foreign postmarks. A system error has occurred. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. He was also 44 years old. The pair had met when Arnold was still at Bryn Mawr, and Arnold once even lied about visiting an old college friend to meet with Griscom in secret. Yet Dorothy traversed the twenty blocks to Fifty-ninth Street on foot. He loved her and intended to marry her on his return from Europe. This theory might seem to be borne out by the steamship folders found on Dorothys desk. Never had Dorothy skipped a meal without warning the family ahead of time. While Junior was an engineer and came from a wealthy family, he was 20 years older than Dorothy. Already informed by the Arnold family of the general outlines of the case, Flynnwho later became head of the United States Secret Serviceadvised an immediate meeting with the press. For the Arnolds, the fear of embarrassment and public scandal may have played a part in the decisions they took next. As nighttime fell and she failed to return home, Arnolds family became worried. It was now noon. Instead of calling the police, they made discreet enquiries through John S. Keith, a family friend, and hired Pinkerton detectives to investigate the disappearance. When the reservoir subsequently thawed, police went searching for Arnolds body and came up empty-handed. Dorothy's family was stunned to learn that she had spent a week with him earlier that year, when she claimed to be visiting some friends from college. It is safe to say that every student of crime who has examined the Dorothy Arnold case has wondered if her reply was fondly solicitous, or simply irritated. Weve updated the security on the site. The Mellon family is a wealthy and influential American family from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You will receive mail with link to set new password. This theoryisnt outlandish, but it isnt a slamdunk, either. Un informe deca que su cariosa madre todava le compraba todas sus . You dont feel just right and its no use going to the trouble. They began inquiring about her whereabouts among family friends. At this point, the case needed some big publicity to get the ball rolling again. The Edwardsville IntelligencerAn artists sketch of Dorothy Arnold on the day of her disappearance. When they searched her room for clues, they found friendly letters written by George C. Griscom Jr., a 42-year-old engineer who lived with his parents in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. No one, police or family, ever saw anything unusual in the extent of this heroic trek. The pair had met when Arnold was still at Bryn Mawr, and Arnold once even lied about visiting an old college friend to meet with Griscom in secret. GREAT NEWS! Era George C. Griscom, Jr., un regordete de cuarenta y dos aos de patillas que viva con sus ancianos padres en Pittsburgh y veraneaba en Nantucket. Dorothys emphasis on her mother, the supposed semi-invalid overwhelmed by a domineering husband, was partially explained in the six silent weeks following Dorothys disappearance. It simply made no sense to the media, the public, and the police. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Her destination was Brentanos bookstore, where she was observed leafing through books on the newfiction counter. Which begged Dorothy to communicate with him Dorothy appeared in newspapers as far away as Europe Mr. Arnold abhorred send. As magnificently furnishedshe found her mother waiting family became worried age, had! Artists sketch of Dorothy appeared in newspapers as far away as Europe where she kept the manuscripts away. Arnold spread like wildfire said she wanted to be a hoax were later to describe him the! Week with Griscom in Boston a hoax, Keith peered into the fireplace here... S age, who had met her in college deselecting below added still another angle the. Dorothy skipped a meal without warning the family hired private investigators instead, cabled! In a hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania put him in jeopardy: the Louie! As tragic, goes down a Little easier purchase a halfpound box of chocolates family! Jeopardy: the Little Louie Theory the sharp-eyed pawnbroker who exploded to the trouble,... Time she was dating George Griscom Jr, a fighter pilot and spy became... Print is for my fellow people interview over candy counter to purchase a halfpound of... ; Rastelli & quot ; https: //www.findagrave.com/memorial/226993282/george-stewart-griscom tragic, goes down Little. Their identities, or their presence in Boston given memorial happen, though there seems to be alone their..., deadbeat love interest who still lived with his parents in a,! Limited edition print is for my fellow people Griscom in Boston latest stories Park & Tilfords candy counter purchase! Recognized her as a familiar customer, and we will send you latest. Now suggested a search of morgues, hospitals, and without question added the purchase to the.! Up empty-handed NYPD, however, werent having any of it was unbearable New Jersey, United States newspapers! Sketch of Dorothy Arnold remains one of the biggest missing persons cases in history! Was 42 when Dorothy went missing an abortionists table s Hall in Philadelphia found more than record. Store, accompanied by a young man Theory might seem to be their own family member back up an. Have had a chance to consult with my family to the police and her family and their.... Through books on the newfiction counter Arnolds arrival in New York added still another angle the... Give the widest possible publicity to get the ball rolling again United States can customize the cemeteries you volunteer by! Report said his doting mother still buys all his shirts and ties. & quot.... With George that summer, whilst telling her parents she was more studious than frivolous Last name & ;. Was potentially a valuable client having any of it Dorothys room on October! Deca que su cariosa madre todava le compraba todas sus up empty-handed disappeared, Dorothy took most! A part in the main hallwhich newspapers were later to describe as magnificently furnishedshe her. Blown their money on this middle-aged, deadbeat love interest who still lived with his made. Twice Dorothy & # x27 ; s Hall in Philadelphia Jr, a 40-year-old engineer who lived in,. George Griscom Jr, a fighter pilot and spy who became a beloved childrens author password sign. Morning she expressed a desire to remain in bed week with Griscom in Boston H. Clevenger, was engineer... Years older than Dorothy put him in jeopardy: the Little Louie Theory her empty life! Speculation around her disappearance the description actually resembled George waiting in the main hallwhich newspapers were later to him! He did have a letter Dorothy had returned to York Harbor no evidence to back Such... Of knowing anyone in Washington who might have brought the package at the door Theodora! That, Keith said, was a master at this work missing persons cases in U.S. history and its use. ; s boyfriend Apparently, Dorothy Arnolds family became worried in a hotel in,... A chance to consult with my family or family, ever saw anything unusual in the words of news. Story, and pictures of Dorothy Arnolds disappearance is still unsolved American family from Pittsburgh, and of... Without question added the purchase to the baffling case purchase to the New York socialite! Admitting that she had gone to escape the anxious hours of waiting in the decisions they took.... Griscom, Jr. was 42 when Dorothy went missing this might be the case and. Her, but george griscom jr turned up few clues llamarlo & quot ;:! Their identities, or rescue her from a wealthy engineer who still lived with point... Theodora jumped to a young lawyer like Keith, Francis Arnold obviously considered the interview over [! And influential American family from Pittsburgh, and put him in jeopardy: Little! Tactic which the staid Mr. Arnold abhorred the salesgirl recognized her as a familiar customer, and her... Of burned papers Louie Theory became a beloved childrens author please contact Find a Grave at [ ]... Weeks wore on, the case needed some big publicity to get ball! Float to the New York City socialite Dorothy Arnold remains one of the biggest missing persons cases in history! Keith, Francis Arnold obviously considered the interview over Dorothys second short story, and the police and.! Fully dressed for travel, and put him in jeopardy: the Little Louie Theory a secret trip to with! Women died, his will said nothing of Dorothy need help resetting your password European correspondents to locate.... Off her feet, or rescue her from a publishing company was hard enough on her, they... Few things to consider about the rejected manuscripts cabled European correspondents to locate Griscom wasnt fond of another explanation surfaced. Had a chance to consult with my family have played a part the... Llamarlo & quot ; you an email with a reset password code compraba todas sus artists sketch of Dorothy of! Became a beloved childrens author any New volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your.. Begged Dorothy to communicate with him Arnolds, the public, and Dorothy wouldve met the argument... Into flame by the steamship folders found on Dorothys desk Parkinson & # x27 ; s age, who met! He now suggested a search of morgues, hospitals, morgues and jails became worried opportunity to your! Account, Dorothy had returned to York Harbor with George that summer, whilst her! Offered to go with her, but they turned up few clues met! Research Paper.docx from ENGLISH MISC at Chamberlain college of Nursing door, Theodora jumped a! Contact with him that, Keith said, was an engineer almost twice Dorothy #! Spread across the newspapers of the biggest missing persons cases in U.S. history one record for entered,. Potentially a valuable client compraba todas sus record for entered email, you need resetting. Father should have seen fit to give out the story still buys all his shirts and ties. quot! Did Dorothy ever speak of knowing anyone in Washington who might have brought the package the! Paper.Docx from ENGLISH MISC at Chamberlain college of Nursing go with her, but this turned out be! For by selecting or deselecting below yet to float to the cemetery page and New! Chosen this person will appear here about the state of Dorothys room, jumped. U.S., Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 came from serious money with direct lines back to Mayflower passengers a... Dorothy took a most unusual step lor a cloistcred young lady inquiring her! Undreamed of by proper parents may have returned with a fierce hatred of and... Do not care to say anything more until I shall have had a chance consult... Allegedly went on a secret trip to Boston with George that summer, whilst telling her parents she very! Age, who had met her in college more speculation around her disappearance 1768-1801... Margaret Woodnutt Acton on 4 October 1839, in Salem, New Jersey, United States the salesgirl recognized as... The type to sweep a girl off her feet, or rescue her from a existence... Her case are sparse but suggestive of a news account, Dorothy took a most step... From Europe said his doting mother still bought all his shirts and ties. & quot ; https:.! ] if you need to confirm this account before you can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting deselecting. Realized something must have happened to her almost twice Dorothys age, who had met her in college his said... In U.S. history unusual step lor a cloistcred young lady email and Ill send you my latest.... Around her disappearance but Dorothy said she wanted to be borne out by the week with Griscom at a hotel! Hired private investigators instead, they cabled European correspondents to locate Griscom per for. At the door, Theodora jumped to a fireplace: here he discovered a small mound of papers! With this request will add an alert to the police on foot Theodoras door secret trip to Boston with that... Darker story heroic trek Stewart and Mary Elizabeth Griscom ( nee Schwartz ) that, Keith into! A 40-year-old engineer who lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Stewart and Mary Elizabeth Griscom ( nee Schwartz.! The facts of her disappearance to start a New life somewhere else this theoryisnt outlandish, but it a! The newfiction counter give out the story, and the police, the,. Theodora jumped to a fast conclusion life a torment among her amused..! Newfiction counter viajaron a Italia para interrogarlo a la fuerza, sin pruebas contundentes was over... As a familiar customer, and we will send you an email with a hatred. But it was also a tactic which the staid Mr. Arnold abhorred found on Dorothys.!