Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-01-25
METHODS Of COL.
MANN EXPLAINED
WITNESSES TELL HOW TOWN
TOPICS THRIVED
Former Editor Of Famous Weekly Re.
lates Names OF Those Who
Contributed News to lts
Columns
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Jan. 24.--Bernard n.
Baker OF Baltimore was the first Wit
ness to testify today in the trial of
Norman Hapgood, editor of Golfers
Weekly, on charge of having crlm-
inally libeled Justice Joseph M. Deuel..
Mr.. Shepard of counsel for the de-
Tense showed to Mr.. Baker two copies
Of Town Topics of 1898, called his at
| tention to the items under the head
| of "Saunterings," and asked If they
referred to Mr. Bakers family. Mr..
Baker said they did. After reading
the item, Mr.. Baker said he visited
Col. Mann, editor Of Town Topics, in
his office.
Continuing, Mr.. Baker said: 81 saw
Col. Mann. We talked over the OBJ
jectionable articles appearing in Town
Topics and l said L wanted them
stopped"
Col. Mann showed him the advertise
ment of the American line of steamers
and told him that of the Atlantic
transport company. OF which Mr.
Baker was president, should be of
equal size, said the witness. He then
authorized the insertion of the adver-
tisement.
The witness said the advertisement
continued to be published in Town
Topics for about year.
Three years later, in 1891. an item
concerning the family appeared again
in Town Topics. said Mr.. Baker, and
he consulted his counsel about stop
ping them. After that witness said,
Moses Il. Wooster, the agent, visited
him and asked him to subscribe to
Fads and Fancies. HE told me the
subscription price was $780,
He wanted to borrow money" said
the witness. HE wanted me to take
five shares of Town Topics stock for
$4,000. 1 said that / was not inter-
ested in Town Topics or it's stock
Mr.. Baker refused to take the stock.
Names of Newssathers
Charles S. Wayne, formerly managing
editor of Town Topics, was recalled. He
Identified some anonymous paragraphs
published In that paper in 1902 and 1903
and said they had reference to DIR. Sew
ard Webb. Il. J. Berwind and James w.
Girard. jr., and to the presidents
daughter.
District Attorney Jerome cross exam
ined Mr.. Wayne. He said:
who wrote the article that caused
Billy Travers to commit suicide?'
Rowe, the Newport correspondent"
"O'Neil Sewer. Belmont Purdy, Harry
G. Smith. Mrs. II. L. Robbins, Edward
Heigler, Acton Davies, James Hueneker,
the musical critic, and Oscar Cotton
were writers for Town Topics" con-
tinued Mr.. Wayne.
How about Harry Lehr?'
He never wrote anything for the
paper, but contributed information"
Wayne said that Burton Harrison
wrote an article for the Christmas num-
Der of Town Topics: that Abraham
matter; Mrs. Simmons was a contribu- |
tor; Mrs. Goelets servants furnished
information through Rachael Techman,
Mrs. George Kemp furnished inforlna-
ton about herself: Rev. G. de Lyon
Nichols was a Newport contributor of
social news about Newport society and
of anonymous paragraphs under the
head of "Saunterings.''
You suppressed paragraphs prepared
for the printer at the office of Town
Topics because the persons referred to
were subscribers to "Fads and Fan
cies?" asked Mr.. Shepard.
II did"
He said that Justice Deuel. never OBJ
jected to the publication of any article
or the ground that it was brutal or
indecent, but on legal grounds, from
fear of libel
Harry Lehr Testifies
Harry F. Lehr was the next witness.
He said Town Topics had been print
ing articles about him ever since he
came to New York eight years ago
Subsequent to his marriage in 1901 |
Lehr said he went to see c. Coleman
at his office and asked him to leave |
his name out of Town Topics, explain
ing that the attacks in the paper were |
extremely distasteful to himself and |
his wife.
He promised to do So" said the wit
ness, Saying he had no i'll feeling to-
ward me-" Mr.. Lehr said the following
summer he subscribed to "Fads and
Fancies."
"And at the time you subscribed for
Fads and Fancies it was understood
that the request came from Col
Manu-
'It vas
when you saw Col. Mann what did
you say to him?' asked Mr.. Jerome
on cross examination.
II told the colonel that after those
attacks on me in Town Topics L felt
very badly about them and was
ashamed to go among my friends"
"Why did you not sue him."
They were not serious enough for
that"
"Why did you not thrash him?"
'It never occurred to me to thrash |
COl. NdllI
Robert Rowe was called to the
stand. TTe gave his opinion as the
Newport correspondent of Town Topics |
you were a telegraph operator
while acting as Town Topics cores
pondent?"
Yes"
Mr.. Osborne asked IL the information
he obtained through being an operator
was given to Town Topics.
xrrttt, ha Pc - 1
true.
The witness said he had resigned as
an operator; that he was not the only
person in Newport giving the telegraph
companys news to Town Topics.
An adjournment was then taken until
tomorrow morning.
is "KlTTEN" A PROPER GAME?