New-York tribune., 1912-12-04
KIDNAPPED, ARNOLDS SAY
Family Believes white SIavers'
Abducted Dorothy.
SEIZED IN CENTRAL PARK
Assistant District Attorney
Reynolds, However, Says .
Theory Is Absurd.

Following a statement made yesterday
by James Lees Laldlaw, the banker and
social betterment worker, that as friend
Of the Arnold family he knew they were
convinced that their daughter, Dorothy,
who mysteriously disappeared almost ex-
actly two years ago. had been kidnapped
by white slayers" and subsequently made
way with by her abductors, John S. Keith,
the lawyer who had charge of the search
for the family. said yesterday that Mr.
Laidlaw had presented exactly Mrs. Ar
nold's belief In the matter.
Mrs Arnold positively believes that her
daughter was kidnapped. probably in Cen
tral Park" said Mr.. Keith yesterday
Moreover, she believes that she was killed
within four weeks after her abduction, be-
cause the abductors became alarmed at
the hue and cry raised over her disappear
ance Since her disappearance we have
never had any clew or information as TO
what happened TO ber but the logic of
circumstances drives us to the conclusion
that she must have been in the grasp OF
abductors. She can't be alive now. She
was a girl Of too much spirit to submit
for this length Of time to any form Of
coercion or physical restraint without
making her plight known"
Mr.. Laidlaw's statement came yester-
day as an enlargement upon a passing
mention he made of the Arnold case Mon
day night during an address on White
Slavery in Chinatown" at the Metropoli-
tan Temple.
Since making that statement" said
Mr. Laidlaw yesterday. IA representative
Of the family has communicated with me
and authorized me TO make 1t for the
family. They believe she IS dead. and that
before she died the worst fate befell her.
As is only natural. Mrs. Arnold, like any
mother, believes that death for her was
better than life under those conditions.
although they have no proofs they
think she must have been taken out OF
Central Park late on that last afternoon
in a taxicab-fcrcibly dragged into it.
You can see such cabs in the park any
evening"
Mrs. Arnold, he said, although she
Stunned newspaper publicity, was now
willing 10 have her belief known. as her
daughters case might serve as warning to
other girls.
This theory Of the Arnold family was
secuted yesterday at the Office of District
Attorney Whitman. Documents In the
case were placed In his hands at the time
tho search for Miss Arnold was at its
height and his assistance was sought. IL
was said that his efforts were hampered
by the fact as 1t WAS believed, that all
matters relating TO the case had not been
conhded 10 him.
THE white slave theory does not fit
with facts at all" said James B. Reyn-
olds, Assistant District Attorney, who has
charge OF white slave" Investigations and
prosecutions NO case has ever come to
my attention or the attention of the
Rockefeller investigators OF n girl being
kidnapped by white slavers' in the man
ner suggested In Central Park. We have
conferred with the counsel for the family
but they never gave us any information In
dlcatng IL. The best We did learn was
that there were intimate relations between
her and a certain man.
I'm the nature OF things white slavers'
would not run the great risk OF abducting
a girl OF her fanny and prominence. 1t
would be TOO dangerous. They can get
girls Just as good looking and with less
Intelligence and no family wealth back OF
them from the tenements IL is In the
tenements that they prey, not among the
rich don't believe that Dorothy Ar
nold's disappearance can be explained on
this has