The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-24
Victims of Alleged New York
Blackmailing Scheme
Stand by Accused Publishers of
Town Topics.
PAID MONEY FREELY.
Thought "Fads and Fancies" a
- Good Thing at the Price.
Schwab Says '"TOpics'' Is Only
Paper That Told Truth.

New York, July 24.-With the full
list of the subscribers to "Fads and
Bancies'' in the possession of the dis
trict attorney, showing just what each
~ the wealthy persons had paid for
the book which Town Topics has
promised for the last four years to
print. it was believed that much
might be learned from some of them
to show if their payment of sums
ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 was
entirely voluntary or if suasion sim
zIsr to that exercised on Edwin NJ.
Post was brought to bear which re-
suited in their deciding to make a
financial sacrifice in fear otherwise of
seeing unpleasant articles about
themselves in the columns of Town
Topics.
SIN addition to this. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Krotel, who is in charge
of the investigation following the
3rrest of Charles H. Able, a solicitor
Tor Americas Smart Set" has re-
ceived half a hundred communica-
lions, all of them anonymous, but
each telling of some scandal in the
}3fe of some of the subscribers and
asserting positive knowledge that
Abe fear of it becoming public prop
erty had been used as a lever by those
who needed the money. But so far as
his investigation has gone, those OF
the subscribers to whom he has ap-
pied for confirmation of these
synonymous reports have declared that
not scintilla of truth was in them,
saying their subscriptions were made
Voluntarily, no coercion being exer-
cised or threats made.
Following the receipt of one of
these letters Mr.. Krotel called on
Charles M. Schwab, formerly head of
dhe United States Steel corporation, i'll
his office at II Broadway, the meet
ing having been made by appoint
ment over the telephone. Mr.. KroteI
had been told that Mr.. Schwao. learn
ing that a certain episode in his pri-
officers of Town Topics, had sought
10 prevent its publication in the
columns of the weekly.
Schwab Denies Paying $4,000.
AS the story went, while he appeared
as one of the subscribers to "Fads and
F'anctes," having paid $500 for the
work, he really had sent check after
check to the concern until he had paid
more than $4,000 to it.
Emphatic was the denial given by Mr..
Schwab to this story, and he told Mr.
Krotel there was nothing IL his private
life which he would not have every one
Know. Instead of having b zen forced to
pay money to Town Topics he asserted
that Colonel w. D. Mann its ptincipaI
owner, was one of his best friends
~ have known him for sprne years.
said Mr.. Schwab, and I want to saw
that he was the one who told the truth
about a recent visit made by me to
Monte Carlo. Newspapers were filled
with all sorts of stories about me- some
saying that I had broken the bank
others that I had lost millions. They
had me chasing madly around the coun-
try In my automobile, some of them in
sinuating / was mentally unbalanced.
Town Topics printed the truth about
that trip and it was the only publica-
ton which did.
Under all these circumstances when
was called up on the telephone by
Colonel Mann, who told me about 'Fads
and Fancies' and asked me to become a
subscriber, I promptly and willingly did
50, sending to him my check for the
amount he asked for. In no way have
I ever been harassed, annoyed or threat
ened by any one who asserted he had
any connection with Town Topics or
could influence the printing of stories in
it or had the power to keep them cut
for a consideration"
Mr.. Cutting Not Inundated.
Robert Fulton Cutting was another
who had an interview with Mr. Krotel
and with Acting Assistant District At
torney Cans as a result of an unsigned
letter sent to them concerning him. The
letter had been received the day prev
fous, and when the head of the Citizens
BJnfon was communicated with he said
he would willingly go to the district at
torney's office and answer and tell any
thing of which he had any knowledge.
IN the letter it was said that some
years ago a story which did not place
Mr.. Cutting in very pleasant light
was actually printed in Town Topics
put that before one copy of the paper
had been sent from the Office Mr. Cut
ting was called upon and the article
Hss shown to him. SO outrageous was
il that, according to the writer, he SAID
IL would almost ruin him. The letter
added that he was told the only way tt
ant i'm IN bI1X
the whole printed edition of the paper
which he might do for $4,000.
This he did, the anonymous writer
said, and thought he was done with the
matter until after the election of Mayor
Strong, when he was called upon by
Colonel Mann, who told him his friend
Deuel., then a police magistrate, desired
TO be made a judge. He was asked t
use his influence with the mayor K
have the appointment made, and, on the
same day that William Travers jerome
was appointed to the special session;
bench, Deuel. was made a magistrate.
(. To Mr.. Cans and Mr.. Krotel Mr.. Cut
ting said there was not one grain O.
truth in all this. He said he never haC
seen Colonel Mann and did not know
him; that never did any publication
have anything in the nature of a scan
dal about him, nor did he ever pay an!
money to have a story kept secret. Al
for Judge Deuel.. he said he hardl!
knew him; that once, when the judg'
was presiding in the children's court
some one had spoken about his excel
lent work and he went to the court an,
was pleased with the judges manner o
dealing with the little fellows.
Declares President Accepted.
OF those who appeared before MI
Krotel one was Robert A. irving,
director of the New Yorker Publish
fn< company and associated with tn
Social Editors society, who obtained
most of the subscriptions for Fad
and Fancies,'' working for his friend
Moses Ellis Wooster. whose idea tn
work was.
re said that President Roosevelt
would be one of the features in tn
forthcoming book, and that he hat
consented to accept a presentation