The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-26
DRAGNET SPREAD F0RbLACkMA|LERS 0F RICH CLUbMAN
Convinced New York Model Was Murdered as Result of
 Plot Against Mitchell

NEW YORK, March 25.-Police spread their net over Broadway to-. night in search for the person or per. sons who are believed to have at- tempted to blackmail John Kearsley Mitchell, the mysterious "Mr. Mar shall' in the Dorothy Keenan case, and who arc thought to have mur- dered the model because she refused to participate in the plot against him.
 Although Assistant District Attor- ney Ferdinand Pecora has said that he has very definite idea" as to who the black mailer is, and de- clared that he is convinced that Dor othy was murdered as the result of au alleged plot, no arrests were made today. 1t was indicated that while they may have their suspect under surveillance, the authorities are searching for others whG may also have been implicated in the plot to obtain large sum of money from the wealthy Philadelphia clubman, whose wife is the youngest daughter of Edward T. Sotesbury, a partner in the firm of J. F. Morgan & Co.
 MT. Pecora today reiterated his be- lief that MT. Mitchell had no part in the crime other than that Cf the in- tended victim of the blackmailers. He said the story told by both Mir. Mitch ell and MT. Jackson. who was the "Mr. Wilson, described as a body guard for the former. and who Is New York attorney, was most straightforward and frankly told.
 CONFIDENCE UNsHAKEN
 PALM BEACH, Fla, March 25.- E. T. Stotesbury cf Philadelphia. father Jaw of J. Kearsley Mitchell. identified as the mysterious MT. Marshall'' in the Dorothy Keenan murder case at New York, today told the Associated Press his confidence in MT. Mitchell was unshaken as the result of yesterdays developments.
 We are pained and mortified, of course" MT. Sotesbury said, but we still believe in Mir. Mitchell, who has always been all that was right and we are not inclined tL believe news paper reports of his Aggression now" He said that he and Mrs. Mitchell will leave tomorrow morning for Phil adelphia.
 Mir. and Mrs. Stotesbury authorized the following statement to the Asso- ciated Press before their departure:
 MT. and Mrs. Stotesbury had ar ranged some weeks ago to leave for their home in Philadelphia tomorrow morning. Upon learning yesterday of the newspaper publicity affecting their family. their daughter. Mrs. J. Kearsley Mitchell, at once decided to go up with them on their private car to rejoin Mir. Mitchell With the . least possible delay"
 Mrs: Mitchell declares. as do the members of her family, her un- bounded faith in her husband
 Reiterating her lack tf knowledge of any relationship between her hus- band and Miss Keenan, Mrs. Mitchell ba faith in her husband. Wife Has Faith.
 why we are the best of chums, my husband and. l. and ! know he ne" she said..s What if he did dine. pany of friends, is there anything wrong in that?" she dueried. AS for Mir Mitchell giving any woman money or presents s-without my knowi- edge. l simply d. not believe it." she exclaimed. w
 'I do not mind these reports ex- cept for our two children, because know that all our friends will un- derstand,' she said. and choking sobs stopped further conversation. The Mitchells have two children, Fran- ces.. 12, and Jack, TO-
 Mrs. Mitchell has been In constant communication with her husband, but had not heard from him since Friday which distressed her, she said. Mitch ell left Palm Beach abL two weeks ago. where he had made himself a general favorite. During his stay here his wife was daily companion at all the various social functions and in their almost daily dips in the ocean.
 All of the friends of the Stotesbury family here. where they are very popular, are unanimous in expressing the opiuion that some mistake has been made and that Mir. Mitchell.s connection with the New York affair can be of only the most casual sort.
 Mir. and Mrs. Stotesbury are going north earlier than usual because or inc arrival of their daughter, wife of General Caruther, from the Philip pines. to visit the generals mother who Is i'll at Washington.