New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-25
Woman with Whip Keeps
Vigil Behind Tree in
Lindhurst, N. J.
BATTLE OF BLOWS,
NAILS AND WORDS
Attack in Paper on Lawyer
Led Daughter to Seek for
Vengeance.

Louis Wander Pyl, editor and proprie-
tor of "The Lindhurst Sentinel" the
only weekly paper published at Lind
hurst, n. j., was horsewhipped last
night in front of the Town Hall by
Mrs. Martha Gray, whose father,
Michael n. Richie, was the subject Of
bitter attack on the editorial page Of
last Saturdays Sentinel"
Wander Pyl had just left a meeting
of the Town Commission, of which he
is a member, and had stepped up the
street to where his automobile was
parked. Mrs. Gray, waiting behind a
tree, stood motionless, holding a six
foot horsewhip, with a knotted end, ur-
til Wander Pyl's back was turned.
With cry she rushed at him, deal
ing him cutting blows. When he tried
to clutch the whip she used her nails
and teeth, and dealt him blow on the
eye.
Friends of Wander Pyl stood by, and,
with Chief Of Police James Mcintyre,
they succeeded in securing the woman,
who bit and scratched them all. She
was taken to the station house. where
Wander Pyl entered charge of felon-
ious assault against her, and the chit
supplemented it with another similar
charge, plus one for resisting an OFF,
GER. Bail was fixed at $500, which was
supplied by George Smith, a garage
manager.
According TO town folk the trouble
between Richie and the editor has
been brewing for some time, but it
reached an acute stage last Saturday
when Wander Pyl printed a double
loaded first column editorial in which
he called Richie a lot of names not
exactly complimentary.
Wander Pyl has only lived in Lind
hurst for five years, while Richie is
one of the pioneer settlers, having
been there more than thirty-five years.
The editor dared Richie to sue him,
saying that he had forfeited his citi-
zenship."
Richie said that the attack on him
was provoked by advice which he gave
the Commission, of which he is also a
member AS lawyer he advised them
that there was no requirement by law
to place advertisements of the town
business in the papers, and he advised
them that it was an unnecessary ex-
penditure of money to do so, especially
III Tue DtuAllsNLs MS, dNNuluAl4H "
Richie, highly incensed Wander Pyl
against him.
Mrs. Gray, who is a trained nurse
about thirty-hve years old, said she
had no regrets concerning her action.
81 just thought would do it," she
said, $50 went out and bought nice
new whip. | feel that in a measure
father has some satisfaction and the
Richie family is somewhat vindicated.
This man has been pounding and
vilifying my father in his editorial
column. He has been calling him
jailbird and making aspersions on his
character. He has dared my father 70
sue him. / thought there was more
satisfaction in using a whip on him
than in bringing him to court. He is
irresponsible except physically, so |
thought | would use the one means
that he could appreciate"
Mrs Gray's husband lives in New
York She lives with her father az
300 Stuyyesant Avenue.
Wander Pyl is thirty-six years old.
and lives at $50 Lake Avenue. He is
prominently identified with the civic
life of Union township, of which Lind
hurst is part.