New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-12
JERSEY MAYOR IN
JAIL FOR ASSAULT
Robert L. Craig, of MoonaChie,
Charged with Attacking
Brother of Woman Who
Opposed Him.
SHE TOLD OF DEATH THREAT
Victim Is in Serious Condition
in Hackensack Hospital
Miss Livesey Testified
Against Official in
Divorce Suit.

Divorce Suit.
Hackensack, May 11.--Mayor Robert
L. Craig of Moonachic was arrested to-
day and is in the Bergen County jail
here charged with an attack on James
Livesey, Democratic Committeeman of
Moonachie Borough, Yesterday after
noon.
Livesey is in the Hackensack Hospi-
tai with his head swathed in bandages,
his risht jawbone fractured in two
places and his left jawbone out of place
and with bruises all over his body. His
condition is serious.
Livesey managed to tell his sister,
Miss Mary f. Livesey. member of the
Board of Education. that Craig struck
him alongside the head with some kind
Of blunt instrument after approaching
quietly from behind. The blow fellei
Livesey. and although he was in semi
conscious condition Livesey SAYS Mayer
craig pounded him about the head for
several minutes.
Liyesey lives with his sister, and about
$50 o'clock went to the Woodbridge sta
tIop 10 see friend off for New York,
Navor Craig alighted from the train,
having been at Hackensack. Livesey
started along Woodbridge avenue. toward
Moonachie. with Mayor Craig following
The attack was made about a quarter
OF 2 mile east Of the station, near an Old
bridge. No one is known 10 have seen
the assault, though Livesey thinks on
of the Saviello boys was d witness. He
&c friend Of the Mayor, however.
It is said that the assault OF "lr.
Livesey grew out Of dispute concern
ing the laying out of new public road
Craig thinking that more Of his lan1
was taken than that Of his neighbor.
II is also attributed TO the fact that Miss
Mary Z. Livesey and her brother have
been thcrns in the side OF Mayor Craig
and his political workers in Moonachie
Borough.
Woman Thorn in His Side
AIiss Livesev is member of the Board
Of Education there. of which Craig Is
The clerk. This progressive woman
aimed to give her home district clean.
businesslike administration, and in this
erdeavor she met vigorous opposition.
She caused the arrest Of relative OF
AJavor Craig who attempted TO vote
twice at school election. and he was
convicted in a Hackensack court. In
other matters the Livescys won out, and
a Nr,1o MT
morning that she was warned that
Mavor Craig had threatened to kill her
brother.
81 am sure that Craig intended to Kill
nv brother yesterday afternoon when
he struck him alongside the head with
some instrument, but his aim was bad,
and the blow landed more on the face
and Jaw than on the back Of the head"
said Miss Livesey.
1T is wonder he didn't try to kill
me, for | have assailed him and his
henchmen at every opportunity. testi-
fed in behalf of his wife in her divorce
suit and he didn't like that, either.
My brother is in d serious condition.
Drs. White and Macdonald. | will see
TO it that Mayor Craig gets his just dues
for this brutal and cowardly attack"
Two days ago Mayor Craig was ad-
judged guilty of contempt Of court by
Vice-Chancellor Howell at Newark for
falling to pay his wife S273 % back ali
mony Craig was given a weeks time
In which TO pay this amount, together
with fine Of SO, or be committed to
the Hackensack Jail The court records
show that Mayor Craig deserted his wife
and two daughters on February 26. 1904.
and from that time until a petition for
divorce was filed by his wife, in April,
1911, he failed to support them except
on an order Of s. a week Of Justice
Bratt from Love, Poormaster Of Moona-
chic, on May 2, 1911. That payment
continued six months, and had stopped
at the time Of filing papers for divorce
on July 1S 1911, when Vice-Chancellor
Howell made an order that Craig pay
~ week alimony and $50 counsel fee.
since that order nothing has been paid.
Justice z. NJ. Johnson, of Hackensack,
issued the warrant for the arrest OF
craig last night and Constable Hager-
man was sent TO Moonachie 10 get the
accused Official. but was unable to find
MIN after a search which lasted nearly
all night. Friends Of the Mayor had
promised Constable Hagerman last night
mat they would deliver Craig this morn
ihg' and they kept their word, bringing
craig to Hackensack, and Constable
hagerman met them at the car and
placed him under arrest
Craig was committed TO Jail, and the
matter Of bail will be considered on
monday. He is forty years old. When
arrested Mayor Craig was asked to make
statement. He declined, saying he
oio not think 1t proper at this time. He
o!o not deny the assault however. His
lawyers are Captain Addison Ely. OF
rutherford, and e. c. Irion, Of Hacken-
sack.