Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-20
SMITH-GAUL FEUD
WAKES WARMER
AS WOMAN TALKS
Wife of Plaintiff in Bogota Scan
dal Airs Her Views
of Case.
ASSERTS ATTACK is
UNWARRANTED AND UNJUST
Mayors Own Family Defends
Him and Declares Him
Model Man.
From . star Correspondent

PATTERSON, Dec. 20.-"He Is a
beast. / left him because he was bru-
tai and could not live with him. All
his charges against me are lies-the
BLACKLIST sort of lies .
This is the statement made today by
Mrs. Ray Gaul while discussing the
divorce suit brought by her husband
In which William n. Smith, mayor of
Bogota and director of the American
Paper Company, Is named correspond
ent. Mr.. Smith was equally emphatic
in denying that he had been guilty of
any misconduct with the pretty choir
singer that Is the storm centre in the
litigation that has proved the biggest
sensation in Bergen county in many
moons.
Gaul, who is employed in the engi-
neering department of the Lacka-
wanna railroad, stands pat on all the
accusations he has made against mis-
wife and Mayor Smith. In response to
the comment by both Mayor Smith
and Mrs. Gaul that he has brought the
alienation suit against Mayor Smith
for s50, 900 because he wants to turn
his marital troubles into cash, Gaul
declares that he will gladly give any
money damages awarded to him to
charity. He brings the suit, he as
serts, merely to punish Smith for
breaking up my home"
The One Topic of Conversation.
The divorce suit has excited greater
interest in Hackensack, Bogeta and
Ridgefield Park than any happening
in years. Not only are there all sorts
Of gossip in the social circles in which
the principals move, but in business
and political circles in all the towns
hereabout the scandal has proved OF
unusual interest. Some have gone so
far as to say that politics is at the
bottom of it all. Efforts to prove this
have thus far proved unavailing, but
there are indications that strenuous ef-
forts will be made to show that Gaul $
SUITS were inspired by political hatred.
Through all the storm Mayor Smiths
family remains steadfast in the belief
that he is guiltless of the charges
brought against him. According to his
wife and her mother, Mrs. Ellen L.
WeIch, who makes her home with the
couple, there is every evidence that
Mr.. Smiths conduct toward Mrs. Gaul
has been proper in every respect.
"will Smith is one of the best men
I ever knew" declared Mrs. Welch to-
day. There never was a more de-
voted husband, and my daughter and
myself believe none of the charges
brought against him. The only times
he has been with Mrs. Gaul were when
he took her home from church In his
automobile, and on all those occasions
Mrs. Smith was with him. He was
never away from home at evening, ex-
cept when his official duties called him
to the Town Hall, so we know he
could not have been in hotels with Mrs.
Gaul, as her husband alleges"
Declares Husband "Beast."
Fire flashes from the eyes of Mrs.
Gaul when she discusses the attack
made upon her character by her hus-
band. He Is beast. He treated me
brutally and I left him. The whole
thing is born of his unreasoning jeal-
ousy. He is an habitual liar. and these
suits are proof of IT," These are Mrs.
GauPs comment on the case.
Through her counsel, J. S. Maekey,
of Hackensack, who IS also Mayor
Smiths attorney, Mrs. Gaul went even
further and declared that Gaul is
bringing the alienation and divorce
slits to make money.
"Gaul is a small-sized man. At best
he Is out of his mind" said. Mr..
Mackey TT is thing that any ir-
responsible person could do and we
intend to fight all of Mr.. GauPs charges
to the last ditch"
Speaking for Mayor Smith, Mr..
Mackay said:
"Mr. Smith does not intend to let this
assault on his character go unpunished.
He is public figure and will demand a
full investigation of the charges
brought against him. We have not
yet decided as to what action we will
take, but we will not let the matter
drop" Mr Mackay intimated that a
slander suit will be Mayor Smiths re-
taliation.
Have Proof, Says Gaurs Lawyer.
On behalf of Mr.. Gaul. his lawyers,
Ward & McGinnis, of this city, declare
that pecuniary gain is farthest from
the thoughts of Mr.. Gaul in the suits
he is bringing against his wife and
Mayor Smith 1t was stated at this
office that Mr.. Gaul has proof of five
specific instances of misconduct by
Mayor Smith and Mrs. Gaul. Mr.. Gaul
would only say that he will welcome
suit for slander. and that he will
make no compromise.