I just wanted to say that I've really enjoyed this thread! I read it all in one evening, it's very addicting. I had noticed Dorothy before in the JaneDoe Network. She alway stuck out to me for a few reasons *age of the case, her wealth and I grew up in that area*.
There was one question that stuck out to me, and it's about the mail: if the mail didn't run that day, who delivered the mail to her?
I have some very personal insights into Dorothy's life, that I can identify with my own but instead of interjecting let me just throw out there what I think happened:
1. I believe that Dorothy was most likely a black sheep of her family, she did as she pleased. Sort of how we see heiresses today behaving only a lil' more reserved in some areas. She had an image to uphold for her namesake. I'm sure her father made threats, be them idle or not, regarding "going away" to not handle her: aka committed. For all we know her writings were rejected because her father instructed the publishing houses to do so. Her parents most likely burned her diary not just any random writings.
*seems rather strategic that brochures were left behind, out in the open - red herring if you ask me.
2. Dorothy in my opinion did not run off. Why? She was accustom to one way of living that the common society at that point would not accept her as one of their own. She wouldn't be able to blend no matter how she dressed. Her accent, her education and her proper etiquette would seem rather odd for a "local girl". She also had never worked a day in her life, how would she go about understand job skills of that time? Yes, people could easily disappear back then but most had either modest up bringing and then became rich. Few were wealthy, the rest were of the working class.
3. When Dorothy visited her friend, the bit her friend said "She's on her cycle" stuck out to me. This makes it sound like she either knew of cramping, an issue with (for the lack of better terms) a heavy flow and over all not feeling well. Seems to me there was an exchange of words regarding what Dorothy was using as an excuse to remain in bed. If she suffered major blood loss, she would be absolutely weak and lethargic.
4. Dorothy most likely had an abortion. She could have gotten pregnant thinking it would cause this man to finally commit but he didn't and he was left with little choice. I believe her parents knew full well, as I'm sure Dorothy brought it up both in the "yes he loves me! we are having a baby!" (as she's documented as being dramatic). I could see her stating this to her father but not her mother. Her father probably paid for the procedure.
5. She would have been given a rather heavy sedative and most likely morphine to recover. This too could explain her lethargic behavior. Chloral hydrate was a big hit at the time and heroin was still prescribed (morphine might have been later). With either being prescribed, she could have staged suicide by accidental overdose, which was VERY common with Chloral hydrate and still is.
6. I believe Dorothy did die at home and her parents had to find a way to dispose of her quietly. The 6 weeks that it had taken for her to be mentioned was most likely their grieving time as well as tying up loose ends.
It always struck me as odd that her friends didn't miss her or go looking for her. And as far as her family going to Europe, it could have been a rouse or considering the fathers' business, simply business plans (and maybe even paying off her ex suitor to keep his mouth shut).
i'd love to believe Dorothy made it but sadly, given her sheltered life - I have no idea how she would. She was trying to be a bad girl but even in her attempts she stayed among the elite. She might have liked the idea but if she were to try it, she would have given up rather quickly. I used a lot of her details compared to the many eras of wealthy girls from family empires who are/were the same way. Cover ups still occur: Casey Johnson (the daughter of Johnson/Johnson wealth) is one I can think of.
i probably contributed nothing but I plan on reading these books. So many were mentioned and I'm very intrigued. Thank you each and all for giving your time and effort to this.
Does anyone know what perfume importing company he owned and if he sold it, if he did, to whom? Im very familiar with that area and know of a few long time standing perfumers in that area that I buy from.
