The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-26

New York, January 24.-The defense
in the trial of Norman Hapgood, edi-
tor of Golfers Weekly, charged with
criminal libel in publishing a para
graph relating to the connection OF
City Magistrate Joseph M. Deuel. with
Town Topics, continued today the in
PRODUCTION of testimony as to the
methods employed by Town Topics in
securing it's news matter and gossip,
along with the experience of several
men of prominence In dealing with
publications concerning them in that
paper.
Charles S. Wayne, formerly manag-
ing editor of Town Topics, was again
a witness and testified at length. He
said that Recorder Golf and Justice
Van Brunt of the appellate division
Of the supreme court, had been crit
icised in Town Topics, while Justice
Deuel. was connected with the publica-
ton
"Who wrote the articles that caus-
ed Billy Travers to commit suicide?''
asked District Attorney William Trav-
ers Jerome for the prosecution.
Rowe, the Newport corresDOE dent. -
the witness replied.
Robert r. Rowe, who gave his OCcu
patton as Newport correspondent OF
Town Topics, later was called to the
stand He said he had been a tele-
graph operator at Newport and admit
ted he had given the information Sc
cured by means of his connection with
the telegraph company to Town Topics.
Other witnesses today were Bernard
N. Baker, of Baltimore, former presl-
dent OF the Atlantic Transport Com
pany, who declared that annoying arti-
cles concerning him did not appear in
Town Topics during the time his COM
nany advertised in the publication;
Edwin NJ. Post, a stock broker, whose
testimony was stricken out by the
court because it did not refer speciG-
cally to the case on trial. Harry Lehr.
who denied that he had ever given
news to Town Topics or it's correspoI-
dents, and George Creighton Webb.
who said he told Colonel Mann he
would no. stand for any more articles
about him in Town Topics.
Mr.. Baker told of Colonel Mann's ef-
forts to get him to subscribe to "Fads
and Fancies," which he refused to do,
also to borrow money from him and
to sell him five shares of Town Top
les stock for $4,000. Mr. Baker refus-
ed to take stock.
Mr.. Wayne gave the namSs Of con-
tributors to Town Topics, saying that
Mrs. Wade Hampton contributed arti-
cles about southern people in New
York.
Wayne said that Burton Harrison
wrote an article for the Christmas
number of Town Topics, that Abraham
Hummel- the lawyer, contributed SER
ial matter: Mrs Goeiet's servants fur
nished information through Rachael
Techman; Rev. C. DeLyon Nichols was
a Newport contributor Of social news
about Newport society, and of anony
NOUS paragraphs under the head of
"Saunterings." He thought the Town
Topics had contributors at the Knick-
erbocker, Metropolitan and University
Clubs. but hs. did not remember who
they were. All the contributors were
paid, he said.
"You suppressed paragraphs prepar-
ed for the printer at the Office OF
Town Topics, because IT, persons re-
ferred to were subscribers to "Fads
and Fancies?" asked Mr.. Shepard.
'I did"
In reply to other questions by Mr..
Shepard. Mr.. Wayne identified an ar
ticle which appeared in Town Topics
in 1905 as having referred to Harry
Lehr. The witness said he composed
the article except four lines of it,
which were dictated by Justice Dcuel
whom the witness had consulted about
It. The witness said that he tod
Justice Deuel. that the publication CT
the item might prevent a lady's mar
riage and that he consented on thai
ground.
Harry Lehr said he subscribed to
"Fads and Fancies,' after which Col
onel Mann let up on him. He told
the Colonel that "after these attacks
on me in Town Topics I felt very