New-York tribune., 1905-07-25
COLONEL MANN ARRIVES.
TOO LATE FOR JEROME.
Says He Does Not KnO50 1Ahle-
Praises "FadS and FancieS."

Colonel W. y. Mann, principal owner or
Town Topics" accompanied by Mrs. Mann.
arrived last night the Red Star liner iceland
from extended vacation abroad The Zee
land was late in docking. so that it after
s O'Clock before Colonel Mann landed.
District Attorney Jerome who has also been
on a vacation at Lakeville. Conn. beat the
colonel by a few hours. He reached his Office
during the afternoon He had, it is believed,
intended 10 invite the colonel TO his Office
once II the liner had reached her pier earlier,
but the meeting was postponed until to-day.
The colonel was met at the pier by State
Senator Wray, of Brooklyn. and Justice deuel..
He defended Town Topics" its methods its
opinions. its everything. He said he was pre-
pared for any and all investiga tions. and in
vites them.
When asked what he knew of Able and his
methods, the coioners face reddened with anger
and he said:
Any man or set Of men that would fall to
game like that must he fools or towards.
don't know Able. never heard OF him. and
want 10 say right here that II any Town
Topics men have been guilty of backmaiI
hope they will go 10 jail, and III help 10 put
Just before sailed I heard about Able being
in trouble. but I do not know the man. / never
heard of him and neither he nor any one else had
any right 10 use the name Of Town Topics
10 convey any threat
But Nj Able had letter 10 MI Post from
Mr.. Wayne. it was pointed out.
Well, suppose he did. ANY one can write a
letter Wayne is not the editor Of Town Top
les" I am the editor. He is on the staff and
has been on ana off occasionally.
Concerning the several publications under fire
the Colonel said:
You speak Of Americas Smart Set" That Is
a publication 7 know nothing about. ''Fads and
Fancies?" That's ours I supposed that work
was published by this time 1t was completed
when I left for Europe. and should have been
out July -. 1t will be the finest ever turned
out by a publishing house and is intended for
private circulation only
OF Justice DeueTs connection with the COM
pany Colonel Mann said:
I have several eminent lawyers whom con-
suit from time TO time. Maybe I consult Justice
Deuel.. He is an eminent jurist.
The story that Theodore P. Shonts, chairman
of the Panama Canal Commission. had said that
he had given 500 70 "Fads and Fancies7 as an
act Of friendship TO the colonel and that it
was admitted that the book was not worth the
money made Colonel Mann indignant
If Mr. shonts said that he gave that money
because he was a friend Of mine ne did not
90 the act Of a friend. I do not get money
from any one In such way I know Shonts
but he is not friend Of mine in the sense that
friendship implies
Concerning the publication itself, he said:
Town Topics is all right. I'm not afraid of
manner in which il is published my methods
and opinion OF such a publication, I viii discuss
freely. Ny business is above reproach; il has
never been used TO secure some Of the alleged
high price subscriptions. I court any investi-
cation that may be wanted.
In a paper of this kind, one that is gossipy
you understand that some things might
creep in that would do harm. 7 go over the
proofs carefully and look out for such things.
but sometimes I have been imposed upon. For
instance. a paragraph might appear with q
hidden meaning. and one which I did not catch
when going over. In some cases person might
pay money. and in others the man might De
kicked out Of the place but in either case il is
not probable that 1 would hear of it.
Colonel Mann was asked if Magistrate Deuel.
goes over the proofs and strikes out anything
that might be construed as crossing the libel
line. The colonel squared his shoulders, and
said.
No. sir. No one can change d line Of matter
appearing in the paper but myself. I have very
often kept out a story which l thought might
work serious injury 10 some person or family.
I have many such stories in my safe.
The colonel denied that he had cut short his
stav abroad and said that he was not going TO
run away from trouble. If there any