New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-27
MRS. WHITES PART IN
BORDEN CASE DEFENDED
Her Counsel, William B. Ellison
Issues Statement Explain
ing ChaperOnage.
HAS BEEN MOTHER TO GIRL
Separation of the Gail Bordens
Threw Their Daughter Much
with Mrs. White, and
Friendship Grew.

Friendship Grew.
William b. Ellison former Corporation
Counsel, give out the following statement
| in his home at No 900 West End avenue
last night. as the result of telephone COM
munications he had received on Friday
and yesterday from Mrs. Helen Sheldon
White from Boston relative to her in
terest in the case of Miss Ramona Bor-
den. daughter of Gail Borden, who dis
appeared from a sanatorum in Pompton,
n. j.:
II have known Mrs. Helen Sheldon
White, wife of William I. White, for
many years, and ] know her to be most
estimabe woman. She has no children OF
her own and has grown very fond of Miss
Ramona Borden. with whom she has been
| intimately acquainted since the latter
early girlhood. Her affection Is. l believe
reciprocated The divorce between Mr.
and Mrs Borden has left the child very
much in the company of Mrs. White in
recent years The families had been close
| friends for long while
Yesterday Mrs. White telephoned me
| at my office, No. 165 Broadway, from Bos-
ton, and explained the disappearance OF
| Miss Borden, denying that she had KID
mapped the girl: that Miss Borden had
| pleaded with her to take her from the
sanatorium: that she was being inhu-
manly treated, and that she (Mrs White)
1 ho Girl
Saw Much Of Each Other.
Mrs White stated that in January last
she was temporarily residing in Boston.
where she has many friends. During that
/ month Mr.. Borden took his daughter 10
Boston TO visit Mrs White. Later In the
same month Mrs. White went to Washihs-
| ton, and there again Mr.. Borden took MS
daughter Late in January the Bordens'
| I believe. went South TO the east coast
of Florida. while Mrs. White and the
others of her party went to the west
coast In the latter part of February Mr..
Borden sent his daughter to Mrs. White
/ for "A visit of about month. AtterWard
/ they all went to Jacksonville.
Miss Borden came north with Mrs.
White to Savannah, where Mrs. White
was taken with pneumonia and was III for
some weeks In the latter part OF March
| Miss Borden returned to Florida, and Mrs
| White heard nothing more of her until she
suddenly reappeared in Savannah IN the
early part Of April and said that she had
run away.
Mrs. White Immediately telegraphed to
Mr.. Borden that his daughter was with
her and asked for instructions Shortly
afterward Mrs White went on TO wash
! ington. bringing Miss Borden with the
party.
"They remained at Washington until
about April IS. when representative OF
Mr.. Borden came for his daughter. The
girl was unwilling to CO. but Mrs. White
advised her to do so. and she was finally
forced so to do. ! believe very UNI
pleasant scene occurred. In which MISS
Borden expressed her desire to remain
with Mrs White. The next day MIS-.
White came on to Atlantic city. and while
there received a letter from Miss Borden
begging her TO come to the latter at the
ASYLUM or sanatorium at Pompton Lakes.
n. j.. where Miss Borden had been
placed Mrs White did so.
Mrs. White says that the girl begged
and pleaded with her TO be allowed 10 go
home with her. and Mrs. White had not
the heart to refuse. She further stated
that the child grasped a portion of the
automobile and could not be forced to let
90. protesting all the while against her
treatment at Pompton Lake and crying
t. be taken away.
Mrs. White TeIegraphed Mother.
Mrs. White then allowed the girl to ac-
company her to Boston, Immediately,
however. telegraphing the mother, on the
Pacific Coast, to come at once. ! believe
the mother is expected here on Tuesday.
Mrs. White and the girl motored to New
York. thence to New Haven, where they
registered in a hotel using their proper
names and from there went to Boston.
Mrs. White further informs me that
while they were in Boston they read In
the newspapers reports of Mr.. Bordens
threats to place his daughter In some con-
vent I'm Canada. Upon reading this the
girl became terrified, and shortly after
ward disappeared-where, Mrs. White did
not herself know Since then Mrs. White
! has not seen or nedTu OF MISS poiu'h, anu
il now very anxious for her safety
"All that Mrs. White has done has been
purely out of affection for Miss Borden
and with the conviction that the latter
was being cruelty treated. She has acted
solely out of sympathy for the child and
because Miss Borden has begged and inn
plored to be permitted TO remain with
| her.
Mrs White is OF good and charitable
character and devoutly religious. Mr..
Borden can hardly contemplate any pro-
ceedings against Mrs. White, because she
, has not done anything for which she is
liable. All of these facts may be pre-
scented to Mr.. Borden. and | do not think
| he can refute a single detail. The fact
that Mrs. Borden has been acquainted
with the girls detention. her release upon
| her own request, and that Mrs. Borden is
| on her way East, will all undoubtedly