array in recurssive function

I'm trying to modify a function and use an array.  It's a private function that seems to be in a closure.
The problem I'm having is that when _GetDataTable makes a call to itself, the array resets (understandable).
When I declare the array outside of the function, I get duplicate values of the same data.  Any ideas how to fix?
Thanks!       

      

function _GetDataTable() //private function
	{ 
		var retVal = "";
		var chkVal = "";

		colHeader = new Array();
		dataTableData = new Array();
		
		//base case:
		if(arguments.length == 1)
		{
			var theCase;
			if( typeof arguments[0][0] == "string")
			{
				if(arguments[0][1] && __MatchCase(arguments[0][1])) 
				{
					
					if(arguments[0].length == 4)
					{	
						colHeader.push(arguments[0][2]);
						dataTableData.push(arguments[0][0]);
					}
					else if(arguments[0].length == 5) 
					{							
						colHeader.push(arguments[0][3]);
						dataTableData.push(arguments[0][0]);

					}
				}
			}
			else if((arguments[0].length == 4) || (arguments[0][2] && __MatchCase(arguments[0][2]))) 
			{
					colHeader.push(arguments[0][2]);
					dataTableData.push(arguments[0][0].getProperty(arguments[0][1]));	
			}
		}
		else
		{
			for(var i = 0; i < arguments.length; ++i)
			{
						retVal += _GetDataTable(arguments[i]);		
			}
		}	

		return retVal;
	};

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