The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-06
RENT WAR is
CARRIED TO
SYNAGOGUE
Rabbi GrOssbart Claims to
Have Been Assaulted By
Leveen-=C Case Dismissed.

Three cases of assault and battery
ment house people and their landlords
on the Hill section were heard in the
First Criminal Court this morning, al
though only one was tried. Severalland-
lords were present. The case tried was
in favor of the tenants. Judge Howell
declared that a landlord had a right to
ask a tenant to remove a flag from his
property, which was injurious to the
latter's interests.
So bitter has the fight between the
landlords Inc their tenants become that
it was taken into the synagogue on
Friday night, and there a quarrel upset
the services and provoked Rabbi Max
Grossbart so much that he took from
the altar a brass candlestickand threat
ened to strike Moses Leveen with 1t.
The result was that Leveen struck the
venerable rabbi and h latter had him
arrested. The case was the n heard
before Judge Howell in the First Grim
inal Court today. Leveen was found
not guilty. and in disgust the rabbi LEFT
the court room.
On Friday night, according to the tes-
timony, Leveens who has long black
hair flowing over his shoulders, went
into the synagogue, not to pray, the
rabbi said, but ito talk rent" During
the services Leveen got into an alter
cation with2one of the landlords. Rabbi
Grossbart entered into the controversy
and Leveen called him names, he tes-
titled.
Grabbing a heavy brass candlestick
from the altar he pointed it toward
Leveen's face and threatened to hit
him. He did not get a chance because
Leveen struck first. The complaint was
dismissed by Judge Howell
The case of Harry Stambul, a landlord,
against Samuel Ross, was heard this AFTER
noon and the complaint was ADJOURNED
nv Judge Howell. Stambul declared that
the defendant knocked him down ana
kicked him.
attempt to scare the strikers was made
Saturday when Isadore Krafchik' q
tenant in the house of Louis April, al
271 Prince street, was placed under ar
rest on a charge of assault and bat
terry. An examination was held be-
fore Judge Howell and Kfafchik was
paroled until tomorrow, when he VIII
furnish bond of $25 to await the &C.
ton of the Grand Jury.
on Friday April called at the nome
of Krafchik and asked the latter to re-
move a flag which was suspended from
a pole on the window, which warned
would-be tenants not to hire n rooms
in the house as there was a strike
against the landlords. April objected
to the flag, inasmuch as he had rooms
vacant on the lower floor, and the flag
was injuring his chances of having
them rented, he claimed.
Krafchik and April had an largumen'
over the flag and April claims that IN
was assaulted.
ut was a regular robbery" April told
Judge Howell Lawyer Henry Carries ap'
peared for Krafchik and asked that the
case be sent to the Grand Jury. Judge
Howell, however, said that following tht
request of the county prosecutor, cases tnal
can oe we'll disposed of in the lower courl
be tried there. Carries, however, insisted
holding of the prisoner the matter should
be sent I'M 10 the Grand Jury.
Judge Howell decided that April had z
right to go to the house of Krafchik anc
ask that the flag be removed. This shoule
have been done. even though kratchll
occupied the premises and had not ordered
April from his tenement, the judge stated
The defense maintained that April tolt
lJustice of the Peace Max Mueller thai
Krafchik was not the mar who had as
saulted him, but that q bearder IN tht
house had committed the deed, and \
Krafchik was arrested and locked in 1ai
they could get him to tell who assaulted
| April.