New-York tribune., 1921-12-05
Insists He Never Saw Two
Women W no Charge
Him With Attack; Fos-
ter Mother Says 1t Is Plot
Girl Kept Assault
Secret for Month
Identification Termed Alb
surd; Counsel to Fight
Extradition to Jersey

Alexander A. Macarthur, the actor
artist foster-son of John r. Macarthur.
wealthy contractor. of lit East Sew
enty-eighth Street, yesterday chara cter-
lied his arrest on the charge Of having
attacked two women at Cedar Grove.
N. j., as "a most ridiculous and mys-
terious bubble which would soon be
burst"
Vehemently denying all knowledge Of
either Of the women or Of the offense
with which he is accused, he insisted
that something stronger than mere
mistake was behind this thing and I
intend to see it through to the bottom !"
Macarthur, who had been held in the
Tombs since his arrest Saturday night
pending extradition proceedings, was
released under $4,000 bail. The order
for his release was issued by Supreme
Court Justice Charles L. Guy, follow
ing the posting of $4,000 bond The
order was obtained from Justice Guy
by John McG Goodale, of the law firm
of Goodale & Hanson, 12 John Street,
who are attorneys for MacArthut's
foster-father.
The accused artist left the Tombs
about 1880 P. M, being accompanied to
his home by Mr.. Goodale and family
friends. 1t was then announced that
former Justice Emil L. Fuchs had been
retained to look after MacArthur's in
tnxo
unusual for persons regarded as fugi-
tives from justice to be released on
bail, it was asserted that it was within
the discretion of a Supreme Court JUS
tice to issue such an order under proper
presentations. Earlier in the day
Macarthur had been held without bail
at an arraignm tent before Magistrate
Peter A. Hating in the Tombs Court.
Robert S. Johnstone. Assistant District
Attorney attached to the appeal bu-
reau, later consented to his release
upon bond.
Declares He rs Innocent
Although instructed by his counsel to
make no statement for publication, Mac
Arthur and various members of his fam
lily were eager to protest his innocence
and intimate "there was something rot
ten in Denmark" He said he never
heard Of, saw or spoke to Marie Louise
Bradshaw, nineteenyear-old student of
Upper Montclair Normal College, or
Mrs. Helen d. O'Neill, forty-five-year-
old mother of five children, both of
Cedar Grove, whom he is charged with
on the morning of September II last and
the latter on the morning of October 10.
The alleged offenses are said to have
taken place at the same spot on the
road between Montclair and Cedar
Grove. In each instance, according to
Captain Watson Ryno, chief of the Ce-
dar Grove police, and local detectives,
Macarthur is accused of having leaped
ut the women from behind bush, and
crilninally attacking them after threat
ening them with knife.
The details of the alleged crimes, the
circumstances surrounding them and his
Identification by the women were char
acterized by Macarthur as Eat the least
extremely queer" According to New
York detectives working on the case,
Mrs. O'Neill had left her home in Cedar
Grove on October 9, the day before the
tectives Corell and Barth, of Headquar-
ters, she remained away from her home
all night, returning about noon the next
day. Her family, the detectives say,
was much wrought up over her allnight
absence, and that she explained that she
had attended a wedding anniversary Gel
ebration for sister. She then told, ac-
cording to the detectives, how after get
ting off the train that morning about
10 o'clock and walking along the road
between Cedar Grove and Montclair she
had been attacked by a man.
Kept Silent for Month
1t also developed that Miss Brad
shaw, according to the police, said
nothing to any one about the alleged
attack on her until the news about
Mrs. O'Neill's experience had been gos-
siped about and the latter had pointed
to the young girl as another who had
had a similar experience. 1t was not
made clear by the authorities how Mrs
O'Neill obtained word of the attack on
Miss Bradshaw or why the girl kept
silent about the matter for nearly q
month.
Both women allege their assailant
drew a knife and intimidated them by
f1ourishing the weapon toward their
breasts, and then with sudden twist
striking them with the handle side of
the knife. Corell and Barth said that
definite information as to the kind of
knife, whether a long weapon, pocket