New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-04
TREES TOPPLE
IN HYPHEN WAR
DIR. MOldenke's Axes
Sweep Away Parson
Eaton's Shrubbery.
WASHINGTON VALLEY
STIRRED BY STRIFE
German American Revenge,
Allies Friend Charges-High-
way Ordinance, Says Savant.

hlilCo IIiCuu SudI 3 SSihsH-
way Ordinance, Says Savant.
From STAT Correspondent Of Tns Tribunel
Plainfeld, N. j., Dec. 3.-In peaceful
Washington Valley, near here, which
has not seen bloody strife since George
himself led his bedraggled troops
through the Orange Mountains, the
Rev. DR.. Charles A. Eaton, pastor OF
the Madison Avenue Baptist Church,
New York City, and DR.. Charles Mol
denke, scholar ard Egyptologist, are
engaged in a tree-cutting controversy
which threatens to assume interna-
tional significance
While Dr. Eaton was at breakfast
Wednesday morning DR.. Moldenke, who
is a neighbor, descended on the Eaton
property with squad Of woodmen and
proceeded TO put to the axe cedar and
cherry trees, lilac bushes and honey
suckle vines adjoining the roadside.
The reason DR.. Moldenke, who is a
member Of the town highway commit
tee, gave for this act was that the
said trees and bushes were obstructing
the roadway In violation Of an ordi-
nance Of 1911.
A clerical defamation Of Wood
man, spare that tree!" had no effect
on the dutiful highway-man, and II
was only after the arrival of the two
other members of the committee, Will
lam de La Roche and Albert Brokaw,
that DR.. Moldenke would desist. Now,
through his attorney Judge W. A. Cod
dington, DR.. Eaton will ask for an in
junction in the Court Of Chancery, at
Trenton, to-day, and in the near future,
he says, an action for damages will be
begun against the township and DR..
Moldenke
The Troublesome Hyphen.
Let it not be supposed for a moment
that this is the end of the tale. So far
facts alone have been stated; the mys-
terious Interpretation thereof is yet to
be stated.
According to local gossip, the entire
affair is the result Of the trite, insig-
nifcant, inconsequential sign which
he's caused more trouble on this CONT
nent than whole regiment Of alpha
bets-the hyphen!
DR.. Moldenke has been accused by
frequenters Of local barber shops and
hostleries Of being-hushl-a German
American. On the other hand, DR..
Eaton has never been bashful about an
nouncing TO any one that the Kaiser Is
the worlds greatest nuisance.
Between DR.. Moldenke's estate, on
which there are no trees near the road,
by the way, and Dr.. Eaton's, lives Mrs.
Moldenke, mother Of DR.. Moldenke and
his brother DR.. Richard Moldenke,
motallurgist, who occupies an imposing
chateau modelled after the castles on
the Rhine. grove of fur trees on
this place reaches right up to the road
edge, but they have not heen touched.
Why is this? DR.. Eaton wants TO
know.
Further, among all the people living
along Valley Road, why is his place
selected for the first and only serious
destruction DR.. Eaton asks.
"Trees are like human beings" said
Dr. Eaton. "They ought not to be cut
down unless they do wrong. Even then.
am in favor of a suspended sentence.
Pm for free speech, free men and free
trees. DR.. Moldenke has felt it his duty
TO deface my property, and ! shall see
what redress | have. II find the Jaw
is with him, very well. But | assure you
/ mean to take full advantage Of my
rights in this matter"
Doing His Duty, He Says.
DR.. Moldenke, on his side, denies
any possibility of a feud. He was
merely doing his duty, ne said. The
1911 ordinance provides that the road
should be SO feet wide. Also, all
shrubbery and bushes which interfere
with the electric lighting of the thor
oughfare must be removed. Dr. Eaton
received written notice, and he failed
TO comply with the committees re-
quest to remove the offending trees
and shrubbery.
Attorney Coddington said that this
contention was all bosh. They claim
to have a road map, bat they have
been unable to produce it," he said.
Further, the act under which they
pretend to be proceeding has been
abandoned. The township has no
right to make a claim under any pro-
ceedings on behalf Of the county OF
Somerset to acquire lands for road
purposes by condemnation. Under any
circumstances, however, they have no
right to cut down a mans shrubbery
right to his corn burrows without no
tice."
A squad of surveyors hired by DR..
Eaton were trying II figure out yes
terday just where TIE road should lie.
A week ago last Tuesday a house on
DR.. Eaton's property, valued at $4,000,
burned to the ground. The cause of
the fire was mystery, since no one
occupied it at the time. DR.. Eaton
says maybe II was spontaneous combus-
ton, and maybe a tramp that caused
the fire.
DR.. Eaton formerly was pastor at
Cleveland Of the church attended by
John d. Rockefeller.