Evening star., 1939-07-23
British Troops
And P|anesH
Cleric
Failure to Contact
Arabs Diminishes
Ronsoming Hope
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
JERUSALEM July 22.-British
troops, warplanes and police pre-
pared tonight to seek the Rev
Gerould r. Goldner, kidnapped Ohio
pastor, as failure to contact his
Arab abductors diminished hope for
ransoming of the American.
United States Consul General
George Wadsworth said action was
being taken to launch the search
probably tomorrow in the Moap
hills, where the 29-year-old Moga-
dore (Ohio, preacher has been held
since Tuesday.
The latest disappointment came
tonight when search of the Beth
lehem countryside, touched off by
an anonymous telephone call from
Bethlehem, proved fruitless.
The message from Bethlehem said
the Arabs were ready to release the
American. but Bedouin tribesmen
were unable either to trace the call
or to find any clue to the where
abouts of the kidnap band
Kidnapped Tuesday.
A. A. Miller of Sioux City, Ia.
general secretary of the Y. M. C. A.
in Jerusalem, said the failure of this
lead destroyed hopes of establish
ing contact with Mr.. Goldncr's alb
ductors before morning.
The pastor. who has a wife and
child in Cleveland, was kidnapped
Tuesday and his father, DR.. Jacob
Goldner, Cleveland pastor who was
captured at the same time. was sent
on to Jerusalem to try to raise the
$4,000 demanded as ransom. Armed
search was suspended while friendly
Arabs endeavored to negotiate for
the sons release without ransom or
for smaller sum-
The elder Goldner. who was con-
Quoting his son through the Biblical
Holy Land he visited alone IS years
before, collapsed under the strain
and went to bed at physicians
orders just as he was preparing to
seek the kidnap band himself.
Il am confident my son is safe
and will be released shortly" the
father said.
Appeals to ex-Mayor.
But Mr.. Wasdworth intensified ef-
forts to establish whether the Young
man still was alive He carried his
appeal to Mustafa Bey Khalidi. who
was Mayor of Jerusalem before Tur-
key surrendered the city to the Brit
ish on February 9, 1917.
In those days, by ways peculiar to
the Near East, he would have known
within six hours the Americans S
fate. Khalidi indicated he still had
influence among wandering tribes OF
Palestine and promised to have an
answer for Mr.. Wadsworth tomor-
row morning.
One message signed with young
Goldners nickname Jerry" was de-
livered in Jerusalem yesterday with
his written assurance that L am
safe. Please bring money if possible
Friday"
The donkey boy also brought q
message from the bandit chief dis
claiming responsibility for the
safety of the captive if the money
were not paid soon.
The difficulty has been in estab-
fishing direct contact with the kid
napers.
Two Reported Waiting.
Rev Clifford Moore, an Akron
Presbyterian pastor and friend of
young Goldner, who at the last
minute decided not to make the
trip to the Mar Saba Greek Monas-
terry, where the abduction occur
red. said. however, he understood
two men were remaining on the
outskirts of Jerusalem to await
payment of ransom.
Before he collapsed, the elder
Goldner announced his intention to
return to the band with his sons
and his own donkey boy and an in
terpreter to offer 81 900 for the life
of my boy" He hoped, however, to
(See KIDNAPPING, Page A-4D