The New York herald., 1921-12-04
TWO WOMEN ACCUSE
WEALTHY MANS SON
AS Their ASSAILANT
Alexander Macarthur Ar
rested Here on Charges
From New jersey.
FAMILY is PROMINENT
Foster Fathers Firm Built
AshOkan Dam and Other
Big Jobs.
YOUTH rs AN ARTIST
Served in Machine Gun Bat
talon and Considered as of
High Character.
YOUTH IS AN ARTIST

Alexander Macarthur, 2S years old.
artist and war veteran and adopted
son of John r. Macarthur, nationally
known for his work as a contractor,
was taken from his bed in the Mac
Arthur home at 1T East Seventy
eighth street early yesterday, and last
night he was being held at Police
Headquarters at the request of the
New Jersey police. 1t is alleged that
he attacked two prominent women of
Cedar Grove last September.
After Macarthur had been taken to
headquarters he was confronted by the
victims of the attacks. They identi-
fed him as the man who attacked
them according to the police. The
women were Mrs. Helen ID. O'Neill, As
years old, mother OF five sons, and
Miss May Louise Bradshaw, 10 years
old student at the Montclair Normal
School
MacArthur's foster father, John Mac
Arthur. is in Italy, it was learned at
his home. He will be apprised of the
young mans arrest Immediately it
was said.
OF Exemplary Habits.
One member OF the family speaking
for tho others. insisted that Macarthur
was innocent and that he will be proved
innocent as soon as an opportunity is
afforded TO do so. He related stories
aimed 10 throw light on the exemplary
tabits of the young man, told OF his
education in art and of his travels in
Europe. and said "he played with the
King of Spain as. boy.
John X. MacArthur's work in the con-
tracting field has included some of the
biggest construction jobs in the country
lis firm was in charge OF the building
cf the Ashokam Dam and other equally
important public works. Mrs. Mac
Arthur. the prisoners foster mother,
was actively engaged in relief work DUR
ing the war. She was active in work
for the Red Cross and was one Of the
founders and president of the Circle Ro-
chambeau, an organiza ton the purpose
Of which was the combating of German
propaganda. Mrs. Macarthur was over
come by the news of the arrest and the
,nargcs that are alleged against her
adopted son. s
Young MacArthur's arrest followed a
request from the New Jersey authorities,
Who already had investigated the COM
plaint of Mrs. O'Neill and Miss Brad
shaw and supplied the New York off,
cials with the name and description of
the man wanted. It was said he might
be seen around the neighborhood OF
Broadway and Forty-second street. Two
days ago Detectives Corell and Barth of
the Bomb Squad picked up MacArthur's
trail and followed him to the family
home. The young mans foster mother
was not aware of his arrest until notified
by newspaper reporters yesterday after
loon.
Young Macarthur, who was educated
In private schools, has travelled extern
sivcly and studied art in New York Los
Angeles and Paris. took his arrest cooIIy.
According to the detectives he betrayed
no great surprise when told he was
wanted, went willingly enough to Head
quarters and told his story 10 Capt Ar
thur Carey. head of the Homicide Squad.
Capt. Carey took charge OF the case be-
cause OF the fact that the prisoners de-
scription as furnished by the New Jer-
scy authorities tailed surprisingly with
that of person for whom the local
police have been searching for nearly
two years in connection with the murder
of sixteen-year-old Rene Hoxie in her
home at az West Eighty-ninth street on
February ., 1920.
9~vte Murder Recalled.
Macarthur was under questioning be-
fore Capt. Carey for nearly three hours.
after which Capt. Carey admitted that
nothing had been developed tending TO
show any connection with the Hoxie
murder. The prisoner, THE New York
HERALD was informed. told the police
that at the time of the Hoxie murder he
was studying art In Paris. Capt. Carey
was making an effort last, night to con-
firm this part OF the young mans story.
MacArthur's arrest and detention
caused something of sensation, par
ticularly because OF the dramatic cir
cumstances attaching to his identihca-
ton. Mrs. O'Neill, the elder OF the
women whom the Jersey authorities
accuse him OF attacking, was in tears
"a she pointed him out in line up OF
nine. Miss Bradshaw was no less posi-
tive In her identification and nearly
collapsed. She murmured. Yes. am
sorry, but that Is the man."
MacArthur's story 10 Capt Carey was
general denial. He had heard in a
general way OF the New Jersey cases.
He admitted even that he's was in the
locality when the attacks occurred The
MacArthurs have a summer home In
Cedar Grove and the young man has
been a more or less familiar figure
among the summer colonists all season.
He denied however. any part in the
attacks and said that so far as he knew
ne never had seen either Of his accuscrs
before.
Macarthur said he had been a men,
per OF the 105th Machine Gun Battalion
and that he had been honorably dis
charged from the army in spartanburg
Continued ON Page Three.