New-York tribune., 1905-12-29
TWAIN AT MANN TRIAL.
ONLY FOR FAD OR FANCY.
James Il. Burden, Jr., Tells of Inter
Uiesc uith IrUisg.

Mark Twain was an Interested spectator yester-
day in the West Side court, where the case OF
Colonel W. D. Mann. publisher OF 'Town Topics,
against Golfers weekly continued before
Magistrate Whitman Mr.. Twain into the
court with Mrs Robert j. Collier. Mr.. Osborne
counsel for the Golfers. explained that Mr. Twain
was there just spectator. was In no wise mixed
up in the case, and would not be put on the stand
James A Burden. Jr., who was instrumental in
the arrest OF Robert A. Irving, testified that Irving
went TO his home. No East 79t1-st-, in Decem-
ber, 1s01, an appointment having been made by
telephone,
irving" said Mr.. Burden. "sald he came to me
by appointment made by Colonel Mann. He went
on to show me proof sheets of 'FadS and Fancies
and said he wished to become a subscriber
The price, he said, was $780, and he showed me
the of subscribers to the work told him
I was not Interested IN the proposition and said
that could not take up the matter"
''He went to say that Colonel Mann had been
friendly to the members Of my family for many
years and that he would be sorry to so back to
Colonel Mann and report that not interested
Then he said that Colonel Mann welded a trench
ant pen and IL did not subscribe that the colonel
might not be so agreeable in the future looked
on this as a threat and brought the interview to
a close very quickly,
Mr. Burden said he thought he saw the name Of
John Jacob Astor and Clarence Mackay among
Others and when counsel for the prosecution. on
cross examination, asked why Mr.. Burden objected
to being a subscriber the latter replied;
'I don't like the men whose names saw-so1ne
Of them"
This remark caused general laughter.
Mr.. Burden said that before Irving went away ne
pleaded for the price OF his commission for Sc
curing a subscriber, a matter OF 500 or $SOl as
Christmas present, which was refused.
Mr.. Burden declared that irving used Coionei
Mann's name whenever he referred to the Editor
Of Town Topics"
'rYour family has been prominent In the COM
uaunity?' asked Mr.. Craig
'.I viii conoeds that. too," sad Mr.. OSBORNE
general laughter
Both here and in Troy"
..T VII, concsa that too" said Mr. Osborne.
Mr.. Burden was asked many questions about the
night of the Irving interview. Mr. Burden said ne
ained out that night, but didn't remember where'
He was then asked;
DO you remember coming back?
.syes" :" he replied. while the spectators laughed
heartily.
A letter written by Colonel Mann to irving was
read by Mr. Osborne as follows:
.erown Topics" No. 452 5th-ave.
n Dasr a. Mr irving; Your favor Of the 3D. find this
morning with check nelesed, 81 500 congrat@uiate @
gPa speaf on many ag egibie people Newport h9pe
you'll gather them all In W. T.
All efforts to get Justice Deuel. on the stand were
iDefectuaI 1t was said the justice was ILL Coionel
Nm too was Ill and his counsel showed phy-
scians certificate in corroboraton & oT TINS ooics..
c,ompany Was put on the stand again to complete
his testimony of the day previous; He said tnat
iG3 conies of "a Americas Smart Set had been Of
dered. and then suffered in manner that dion
please the court. When Magistrate Wni{r4anb "a bi ne
Inanded sternly how many were delivered TO MIN
Daniel replied los copies He said there were ninety
six Individual subscribers. and ninety-three palo'
Edwin Nav Post, the broker, whose refusal to Pc
hoodwinked resulted in the arrest OF @ Gharies l. & =.
AbIe. fbe alleged solicitor for Town Topics, was
also put on the stand. He gave an 11Se exhausf1ve
version of the story already publshed concerning
Ahles alleged attempt at blacknail and his arrest
"n l Pat ret festied that Able told him OF little
red book' in the 'Town Topics office IN which Tss f
eds' that went to the different men in the offlce
from Colonel Mann down.