Evening journal., 1918-05-02
FIGHT IS AFTERMATH
OF TIL. MIS- CO. Fire
Jacob Thomas, Treas, Fineo
at Newark for AS aulting
Bookkeeper
CROOKS. LIARS"
HEARD IN COURT

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
NEWARK, May 2.-Accusations anu
some Of them very serious, flew thick
and fast during hearing before Masis-
frate Lovott, Tuesday night when jacob
Thomas. treasurer Of The Jacob Thomas
wall paper Co.,whose plant was destroy
ed by fire last January was charged
with assault and battery on Morris /
Dnenberger, a bookkeeper for the coA-
sern.
The hearing was the result oi an all
lion between Mr.. Thomas and Mr.
berger which occurred in The tenn
~ Office of the company, on Main
openod shortly after the ilrc,- 10
ly close up the affairs og the com
v This occurred on Monday ana
Thomas contended 20 was duo 10
fenberger IAN employee, ordering MN
.easurer and director Of the company
M of the Office. At the trial OnenDer-
NJ carried one arm in a sling. ms
nm was injured when he fell against
window during the altercatlon. iii nis
,sfimony ne claimed that he thought
lr. Thomas was going TO h't MN ana
nicked up book to ward OFT lte
.oyv Miss Edna Campbell, a clerk in
te ONCE. gave similar testimony Mt
,oroas -contondcd that he thought
,enberger was going 20 hit him win
fbe nook Magistrate Lovett held that
The evidence would indicate that MT.
irbomas was the aggressOr and fined
lin S5 and costs.
nurine The course Of the trial the lie
Is passed several times between tue
men and Mr.. Thomas referred 10
snberCer aud George y. Brown. geu-
manager Of the company, as
ioks robbers and thieves" Mr.
vn was present at The trial. MI
mas also intimated that the plant
y have becn set on fire. but did mol
.rerty accuse any Individual OF apply
inc fhe match. Several years ago Jane:
a. Prayer and bis brother, or New lorh
r,,rchseed large interest.in the Thorn
as Wall Paper concern. They, VIII
NJ Thomas were the officers OF thl
company and Offenberger and broNl
represented the Prayer interest al IN
plant while 10 was in operation.
I After the Insurance was adjusted o.
Me plant following tho fire, litigation
started In the state courts, but
40 leroent was reached IN that sui
since. however, there have been rumoI
of disputes between the two partie
over the nnal adjustment or the auaiI
Of the concern.
n was while giving his testimony o
the assault and battery charge tht
Mr. Thomas made some accusation
orainsi other officials OF the compan
M said he had been robbed OF every
thing and that Newark haa Dee
robbed OF an industry.
At the close of the hearing there WI
tongue battle with Mr.. Thomas q
-e Side and Onenberger and Brow
the other. The former repeated son
his accusations ard the room was
turmoil for a few minutes whhe th'
caiied each other crooks and liars.
Mr. Brown took no part III the Oh
e cuesion while the hearing was going
buf at the close he also took part
the wrangle. He told Mr. Thomas that
fThomas) had been loud in his chars
and that he (Brown) would get hi
for H. Onenberger made similar urei
TO Mr.. Thomas.
= Magistrate Lovett suggested TO Mess
Rrr,n and Onenberger that as y
. Thomas had made serious accusatlo
AGAINST them and other officials Of
company. they had their redress IN
state courts II 70 was desired to 81
action for slander, but that he had
, jurisdiction In such matters.
Nu Thomas paid his fine and the m
.r ended there but there is a pos
,Qv that there may be other litiI
"a. MIR Thomas has been resid
Newark for twenty years and
nv years was the sole owner Of
paper plant.