TX TX - Julie Moseley, 9, Mary Trlica, 17, Lisa Wilson, 14, Fort Worth, 23 Dec 1974 #7

[Brightchaser47]

I doubt any body would ever say I bought a wife.

I understand that. I was just clarifying that it was TT that made that claim, not the other folks  beubeubeu mentioned.

 

[beubeubeu]

I doubt any body would ever say I bought a wife.

But did he even had that much money?
Or was it just a story to cover for CA who suddenly got it and wanted to use it buying a property?
Wouldn't he have to pay a lot of taxes if he'd try to pretend that he earned it I'm his shops vs. none/not much if it was just a gift from son in law and future worker?

 

[Brightchaser47]

But did he even had that much money?
Or was it just a story to cover for CA who suddenly got it and wanted to use it buying a property?
Wouldn't he have to pay a lot of taxes if he'd try to pretend that he earned it I'm his shops vs. none/not much if it was just a gift from son in law and future worker?

Good point. I've been under the impression that TT received a monthly "allowance", but the bulk of his "inheritance" he had to wait for (3 yrs). And receiving  that was contingent upon his being employed. Am I missing something?

 

[beubeubeu]

I understand that. I was just clarifying that it was TT that made that claim, not the other folks  beubeubeu mentioned.

I was talking about the only occasion when I saw somebody mentioning Arnold's Transmission employees.

And the story was that someone (I don't recall who - JS? cops? someone else?) learned about this money - 10.000 or 20.000$ that allegedly CA got from TT around the time he married Rachel - from one of their workers.

If one of the CA's workers = TT then ...

 

[Valiant]

Then you'd be the first person who knew someone who could confirm that those buisnesses ever existed.
By that I don't mean that there is a doubt about that, but so many posts here, so many comments about it, so many recollections from neighbours, friends, locals, those who went to same high school, visited same mall, drove Oldsmobile... yet not a single one ex customer of Arnold's businesses, not a single one ex-worker or their relative, or even their acquaintance. Which is hella weird.

It was ran by CA, there are at least two newspaper ads advertising that business as his.
Could you share something more about those stories you heard?

Why would it be weird that no customer of the transmission shop has been publicly identified?
The people who had transmissions repaired in the 1970s are going to be a small part of the population, older in age, probably not following this case, and may not recall exactly where a car was serviced 50 years ago.

 

[Brightchaser47]

I was talking about the only occasion when I saw somebody mentioning Arnold's Transmission employees.

And the story was that someone (I don't recall who - JS? cops? someone else?) learned about this money - 10.000 or 20.000$ that allegedly CA got from TT around the time he married Rachel - from one of their workers.

If one of the CA's workers = TT then ...

I'm beginning to question that whole story, but-- if it's a  fact that TT was the source of the $10,000, then:
I'm inclined to believe TT  did buy into the business (or  thought he was), because he saw it as an opportunity to avoid filling out job applications, and fulfill the requirements of the will . Also, I think TT looked up to CA (as has been suggested), and FA and CA knew this, and used it to their advantage.
I'm less inclined to believe TT "bought a wife". If he had, I'd think the money would've changed hands much sooner than a month after their marriage. I know of a marriage that was a "business arrangement", and paperwork was signed the day of the wedding.

 

[Brightchaser47]

Why would it be weird that no customer of the transmission shop has been publicly identified?
The people who had transmissions repaired in the 1970s are going to be a small part of the population, older in age, probably not following this case, and may not recall exactly where a car was serviced 50 years ago.

I'm inclined to think that at this point, Arnold Transmission Repair had dwindled to a very small business. We're told they were down to  one location, and if the "registered co-agent" (TT) was working in the shop, and his mother-in-law was handling the books, it was  definitely a "small business".
Having said that, I agree with you, but wish to add: fewer people are going to do business with/remember a small "Mom/Pop" business than perhaps a well-known national chain. IMO

 

[beubeubeu]

Why would it be weird that no customer of the transmission shop has been publicly identified?
The people who had transmissions repaired in the 1970s are going to be a small part of the population, older in age, probably not following this case, and may not recall exactly where a car was serviced 50 years ago.

I wasn't talking about publicly identifying anyone, but with at least two workshop locations, factory trained technicians and many customers im finding it unusual that no one mentioned that someone they knew or even heard about were regular customers or employees. Not in a way that would be in any way connected to the disappearance but in a way that makes them feel bit closer to the case. There were a few claiming to work at the army navy store location even much later, or being a friend of a friend of someone who worked there then but nothing related to the business. Not to mention that statements from those employed at the time could stop good amount of suspicion off the TT if he indeed was at work till 4:30 or 5 PM. If not the guys themselves, none of them had a girlfriend, wife, a daughter to tell her that oh, one of those girls who disappeared were my coworker's wife, what a tragedy?

 

[beubeubeu]

I'm beginning to question that whole story, but-- if it's a  fact that TT was the source of the $10,000, then:
I'm inclined to believe TT  did buy into the business (or  thought he was), because he saw it as an opportunity to avoid filling out job applications, and fulfill the requirements of the will . Also, I think TT looked up to CA (as has been suggested), and FA and CA knew this, and used it to their advantage.
I'm less inclined to believe TT "bought a wife". If he had, I'd think the money would've changed hands much sooner than a month after their marriage. I know of a marriage that was a "business arrangement", and paperwork was signed the day of the wedding.

We don't know when exactly money changed hands, there is only a record of a day when CA payed for their house...

 

[Brightchaser47]

We don't know when exactly money changed hands, there is only a record of a day when CA payed for their house...

I take it CA purchased his house a month later... I still think the money changing hands could've happened for a reason other than "buying" Rachel. TT didn't have to "purchase" her to have her (IMO). He could've just married her (or even just lived with her), unless Rachel's parents made it a condition, and matrimony was something she would be unable to legally "walk away from".

 

[Valiant]

I think too much emphasis is placed on "factory trained" technicians.
It probably is a series of tapes or books someone would go through, an easy claim to make.

 

[Brightchaser47]

FWPD just confirmed Melissa Highsmith's identity via DNA testing, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. I'm posting this because the article also mentions the recent rally for the Cold Case Unit and has a link to the cold cases  currently being investigated by the Unit. The Trio isn't on the list, so I'm really glad we're working on it.

 

[Pricklykitty]

I take it CA purchased his house a month later... I still think the money changing hands could've happened for a reason other than "buying" Rachel. TT didn't have to "purchase" her to have her (IMO). He could've just married her (or even just lived with her), unless Rachel's parents made it a condition, and matrimony was something she would be unable to legally "walk away from".

I agree, Im starting to question how well the Arnold's knew TT, when they became aware he had his own home, car, money in the bank and an inheritance yet to come. Put that together with the knowledge both TT's parents were ill then deceased in a short space of time so he is without parental guidance, and on the rebound of a failed marriage, and I can see a recipe for someone to be manipulated and taken advantage of.
Rather than buying himself a wife, Im starting to build a potential picture of a young guy who is looking to belong somewhere, and is willing to hand over a substantial sum of money to not only be part of a family but part of a family business. Thats not to say that TT necessarily was all above board, because otherwise more might have come out about all this over the years, but I do have.... thoughts!
Theres also the school of thought that The Arnolds just wanted one of their daughters married to TT, and when DA didn't work out, RT was wheeled in, which just ,to me , adds weight to the possibility TT was being used financially.

 

[FW_Froggy]

I take it CA purchased his house a month later... I still think the money changing hands could've happened for a reason other than "buying" Rachel. TT didn't have to "purchase" her to have her (IMO). He could've just married her (or even just lived with her), unless Rachel's parents made it a condition, and matrimony was something she would be unable to legally "walk away from".

I read somewhere Rachel told her friends at Southwest High School she married TT so her Dad could be rich. IMO I think she married to help her Dad with DA to help talk her into it.

 

[Brightchaser47]

I read somewhere Rachel told her friends at Southwest High School she married TT so her Dad could be rich. IMO I think she married to help her Dad with DA to help talk her into it.

I have a hard time believing Rachel would be so obliging to a father we've been told was so abusive. That's if she had any say in the matter. And if DA and Rachel were as close as DA  claims they were, I don't think DA would do that to Rachel. If she  did, some sister.

 

[FW_Froggy]

I have a hard time believing Rachel would be so obliging to a father we've been told was so abusive. That's if she had any say in the matter. And if DA and Rachel were as close as DA  claims they were, I don't think DA would do that to Rachel. If she  did, some sister.

IMO she would do anything for her Dad (Poor man drowning in debt and dying from cancer). Remember she was only 16 and needed her parents consent in writing to marry TT. IMO RA and DA loved their dear Old Dad. I can see Cotton saying this now. Honey if you don't marry TT your Mom will be homeless and on the streets Nooo way she can afford this rent on her own. All this stress on this poor little girls shoulders. Remember Rachel had been pregnant before she married TT so this little girl was growing up way too fast. Then you have DA to show her LiL sister how to make money and the ways of the world.

 

[beubeubeu]

I'm inclined to think that at this point, Arnold Transmission Repair had dwindled to a very small business. We're told they were down to  one location, and if the "registered co-agent" (TT) was working in the shop, and his mother-in-law was handling the books, it was  definitely a "small business".
Having said that, I agree with you, but wish to add: fewer people are going to do business with/remember a small "Mom/Pop" business than perhaps a well-known national chain. IMO

Indeed - fewer people may be interested in doing business with small Arnold's transmission shop than with well-known national chain.
But in the same time chances that customers of small business are remembering exactly who owns that business and how it's going for them are much much greater than with workers of "big ones".
And they couldn't be getting out of business completely, cause new location in Arlington was new, office space was rented in new building, for a time they kept two locations, they should have some customers and at least some people who would go there for their "point of connection" with. At least for me Esdaniel is the first person I ever saw that suspects that their family member may have some interactions with A's business.

 

[beubeubeu]

Good point. I've been under the impression that TT received a monthly "allowance", but the bulk of his "inheritance" he had to wait for (3 yrs). And receiving  that was contingent upon his being employed. Am I missing something?

You're not, but I wasn't implying anything, I genuinely wondered: did he had THAT kind of money.
He could. I doubt that father wanted to cut him off money after their passing, the will sounds like they wanted to make sure that their son will take care of himself and will get work to secure his future instead of using inheritance as main source of income that could dry out pretty quick, leaving him in desperate situation. So it's possible that he had that kind of money.
It's not certain thou: if he had, then pretty easy to understand how he could see giving it to CA as a good investment. But if not... maybe he just ended up convinced to say that he somehow was able to accumulate that much and officially cover it up for CA, while in reality, the money came from elsewhere.

I don't know, feels like yet another rabbithole.

 

[beubeubeu]

I think too much emphasis is placed on "factory trained" technicians.
It probably is a series of tapes or books someone would go through, an easy claim to make.

Well, the reason why I'm emphasising on it so much is that it implies multiple people - apart from CA and A's family, it suggests some employees being there.
Those people would know for sure how TT was getting to and back from job, if CA was driving, possibly even how that fateful day looked like for them, if TT was sometimes babysitting his son at work, was Rachel visiting him...
If there were no other workers at the time then okay, it's understable why it looks like that.
But if they were, and confirmed or could confirm that TT was there, left as usual - that would make TT look much worse as potential suspect.

 

[beubeubeu]

I take it CA purchased his house a month later... I still think the money changing hands could've happened for a reason other than "buying" Rachel. TT didn't have to "purchase" her to have her (IMO). He could've just married her (or even just lived with her), unless Rachel's parents made it a condition, and matrimony was something she would be unable to legally "walk away from".

Weren't/aren't all married minors unable to legally get out of the marriage till they reach adulthood if spouse/parents disagree?
I wondered about it sometime ago and it seemed like being married didn't make Rachel legally adult.
Only they really knew.
Theoretically it could be as horrible as him paying to get himself an obedient wife that won't go against him, cause she's completely emotionally blackmailed by her parents - it happens.
Or he could be so in love with her that he was willing to invest a lot of money to get her parents permission and get her out of the house - it also happens.
Or (a dozen other scenarios with various levels of good and ill intentions from those involved).