New-York tribune., 1912-03-04
ARSON AND QUICK DEATH
STIR JERSEY POLITICS
Some Desperate Enemy Burned
Down "Jim" PidCoCk'S
House.
POLICE! YELLED GEBHARDT
Rival Democratic Leaders Try
to Discredit Each
Other by Stage
PlaV.

Fiemington, y. j., March 3 (SpeciaD.-
Another chapter was added TO the now
famous Gebhardt- -Pidcock controversy in
this county by the publication OF an adver-
tisement in Jersey City newspaper last
night under the caption Information
Wanted" 1t said:
l will pay $1,000 reward cash for the de-
lection and conviction OF any person OF
persons implicated in the burning OF my
home. situated at Whitehouse station,
" j.. about S p. IN. on the 14th day OF
November last The Rev. II. l.. Jones.
pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church of
Whitehouse Station. who was one OF the
first TO enter said house, advises me that
he Is positive the same was hred py tie tne
use OF naphtha or some other lnilamHlaDle
material. All others who endeaVoTeu 10
save my home advise me practically the
same. JAMES w. PIDCOCK, Whitehouse
Station. n. j.
Hunterdon County is a rural county IN
the western side OF New Jersey, but from
the prominence II has achieved In the last
few weeks one would think it was part
Of the famous old state Of Kentucky TOT
II is doubtful II a more bitter political feuo
ever existed in the Blue Grass state than
that now existing in the ranks Of the Demo-
Gratis of Huaterdon.
camp Of this tubulent agricultural COM
munity. One of them is led by Senator VIII
lam c. Gebhardt. and has been dubbed the
"Holy Rollers" while the other. known as
'the Pirates" is led by James w. PldcocK'
who UP TO few years ago was the undis-
puted boss Of all things Democratic IN
Hunterdon. So keen and bitter has the con-
test between these two factions become that
even the children have been infused with
it, and it is said that in some parts OF the
county the offsprings Of the Pidcock sup
porters have refused to play with the chil-
dren of Gebhardt's followers, and vice
versa. so prominent a part has the feud
taken in the discussions Of the household.
The trouble began about two years ago.
when Senator Gebhardt. after serving two
terms. insisted on running for third time
He defeated the machine at the primaries
and was reelected by big majority. This
was contrary TO the machine custom that
no Senator from the county should nave
more than two terms, In order that some
Of the other boys might have chance'
so war was at once declared on Geohardt'
Things kept getting warmer all the time.
until one day last week Pidcock appeared
at the state House, at Trenton. Gebhardt
saw him. and at once dashed out OF side
door OF the Capitol. returning soon with
guard Of two patromen. He had announced
10 the Senate that his life was in danger.
Nothing out Of the ordinary took place
that afternoon. and when one OF the per-
sons in close touch with things In Hunter
don heard of the incident he laughed
heartily. and even went so far as 10 assert
that Gebhardt, who is known as a shrewd
politician, was quick 10 see TO what ad-
vantage he could turn Pidcocks presence
IN the senate chamber. and Immediately
made the most OF It. why. Jim Pidcock
is as much afraid of Gebhardt" said this
oracle, "as Gebhardt is Of Pidcock.'
Pidcock's advertisement last night. some
observers say is for the purpose OF on
setting any sympathy Gebhardt may have
gained by the incident Of last week. IT Is
pointed out that the date OF the fire at
Pidcock's house is given in the "ad." as
November Il, nearly four months ago.