Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-09-01
BANK IS HEAD IS
TARGET FOR FIST
OF ANGRY DOCTOR
DR.. Thayer Learns Sundry
Things from Wife--D. N.
Cook Gets Blow.
EX-NEWARKER FIGURES In
DRAMATIC DEPOT INCIDENT
Victim Well-knOwn Since Hasty
Marriage to His Dead
Wife's Nurse.

For reasons withheld, DR.. Henry w.
Thayer punched David M. Cook, presi-
dent of the Citizens National Bank, in
Netcong. instead OF taking his out
stretched hand. The blow was struck
in sight of scores of commuters, as
the two men were about to board
Lackawanna train at Netcong for New
York
"I certainly did strike Mr., Cook.
had good reasons too" said DR..
Thayer.
why, there was no trouble at all"
said Mr.. Cook.
Mr.. Cook has been an intimate friend
of both Dr. Thayer and his wife for
upw ards of eight years. He came into
the limeiight last February by marry
ing three months after his wifes
death Miss Letitia Elder, of this city
nurse who attended Mrs. Cook in
her final Illness Mr. Cook. previous
10 his second marriage, was fre-
uuent visitor at the Thayer home,
and incidentally aided Dr. Thayer in
various business transactions.
DIR. Thayer went to the Pocono
mountains for a vacation three weeks
ago. He returned Wednesday night
During his absence Mrs. Thayer con-
fided to friend that she had received
several letters from Mr.. Cook. She
said she intended showing them to
her husband
DIR. Thayer's only explanatioa- was:
"I was amazed. after what / had
heard, upon my return wednesday,
when the man stretched out his hand
to me on the platform. I made sure
he had offered his hand. and then
eaid:
"'Damn you. never hold out your
hand to me again!'
"Then / gave him one solid punch
eight here" and DR.. Thayer put his
finger on his right cheek, below the
eye and between the nose and ear. He
looked at me queerly for moment and
then he turned away"
did Dr. Thayer say anything to you
when he met you?" Mr.. Cook was
asked
mot word
"He didn't shake hands with you. did
he?"
mo, he didn't; but suppose that
was because of the little difference
spoke to you about"
Some time ago an anonymous note
was given Mrs. Thayer by A. j. Drake,
postmaster at Netcong Mr. Drake un-
III two years ago was a director in Mr..
Cooks bank, but having trouble with
Mr.. Cook, he retired. This note handed
to Mrs Thayer, she alleged at that
time, arranged for a clandestine meet
&ng in the basement floor of the post
office. She showed the note to her hus-
band. Mr.. Drake denied all knowledge
of 1t. He said that If Mrs. Thayer had
received 1t it must have been included
in her mail, and that 1t might have
been secreted by some person in the
Thayers' lock-box at the postoffice.
Cook Denies Blow.
MI. Cook denied the doctor struck
him, declaring a delusion must have
possessed the physician when he spoke
of a blow being struck According to
Mr.. Cook, the doctor did not say a
word to him and this slight was prob
ably caused by a little difference be-
tween the two over real estate tran
saction.
David M. Cook, who is reputed to be
very wealthy, has been very much in
the public eye since his marriage last
February to Letitia Elder, a trained
nurse, of 154 Somerset street, who
nursed Cooks wife during her last
illness His first wife died in Novem-
ber last Much secrecy was main
tanned about the wedding, which fol-
lowed so soon after the death of Mrs.
Cook and 1t is said the influence OF
many relatives and friends of the Cook
l, IN, 81, l1n