New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-14
DEUEL. CHARGES LIBEL.
ECHO OF OLD SCANDAL.
Editor of "CoUier's WeekIy'' dr.
rested for Criticism of MAGISTRATE.

Norman Hapgood, Editor Of golfers Weekly. .
was arrested yesterday morning on a charge of
criminal libel made by Justice Joseph NJ Deuel.
OF the Court of Special Sessions. The warrant
was issued by Magistrate Steinert, in the Jeffer-
son Market court, and served by Sergeant Far
rell. of the court squad Mr.. Hapgood. accom-
panied by his counsel John T. Fenlon a part
ner Of former District Attorney James w Os-
borne, went with Sergeant Farrell to Jefferson
Market court, where he was arraigned before
Magistrate Stenert. Mr. Hapgood pleaded mot
guilty to the charge read to him. which was
that he had written editorial In Golfers
Weekly" in which Justice Deuel. was charged
with violating his oath of Office by engaging in
business while in Office.
The entire matter is an outgrowth of the
Town Topics" scandals, in which a solicitor in
the employ of Town Topics" and Colonel Mann
the principal owner, figured conspicuously in the
papers for several weeks. Golfers Weekly
took up the cudgels for civic righteousness, ,"
and for several weeks bitterly attacked the
methods of Town Topics" and spared neither
Colonel Mann nor Justice Deuel. Colonel Mann
threatened several times to bring criminal
libel charge against the weekly, and II retorted
once by inviting him to do So
In court yesterday Golfers Weekly was
well represented, Robert J. Collier Charles Ber-
man Davis, Clinton Scotland and a staff artist
being there Justice Deuel.. for some reason, did
not appear. and had no legal representative
After some delay Sergeant Farrell said he had
received a telephone message from Justice
Deuel.. saying he could not be there. and asking
a postponement until Monday. Mr.. Hapgood's
counsel asked a postponement for two weeks
because Of tina absences of Mr. Osborne, but
Magistrate Steine-t decided to wait only until
Monday. when Justice Deuel. is expected to be
present. He will then give a further postpone
ment If requested. He paroled NJ Hapgood in
the custody of Mr.. Fenlon.
The basis Of the charge against Mr.. Hapgood
is an editorial in Golfers Weekly Of August
entitled Public Conscience" of which the fol-
lowing is extract:
Joseph NJ Deuel. is a Judge. He is paid S9,0Oe
a year by the people and is clothed with an
honor that should be worth more TO him than
$4,000 What is his return? He is part owner
and of the editors of a paper of which the
occupation is printing scandals about people
who are not cowardIy enough to pay for silence
The law forbids him to engage in practice OF
business and requires him TO give his entire
time to his official duties, What kind Of pub
lie opinion would allow him to remain upon the
bench until 1913? Every day he sits upon it IS
a disgrace to the State that endures him
American opinion is now awakening. 1t has
plenty of work to do before it goes to sleep
among politicians, Judges. lawyers. business
men, Journalists and the public generally In
wakefulness is the price Of liberty.
The editorial closes with quotation of an
address to Mayor Weaver Of Philadelphia by
EIihu Root, Secretary of State. on the question
of the integrity of public officials.
Although not attached to the complaint there
are two other extracts from editorials. which,
it is intimated, may figure in the case when the
examination takes place. These are from the
August 10 and September is numbers of Col
lier's Weekly