The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-24

paid 5000 on his subscription. This money
was later returned with the contract.
'Lehr told me-" said Wooster, that he
had been badly treated In Town Topics"
Mr.. Lehr, the witness said. called on
Colonel Mann, who afterward told the wit
ness that Mr.. Lehr should not have been
treated so badly and told the witness to
see Mr.. Lehr and get him to pay the SUBJ
scription to Fads and Fancies. Lehr,
however, refused. Witness said to Lehr
that he CWooster) was interested in Lehr's
subscription to the extent of $500 and
Lehr gave him a check for that amount.
The witness said that pleasant stories
were then printed about Lehr for a time,
but later the unpleasant ones reappeared.
Wooster continued his testimony after
first stating Colonel Mann told him he was
not TO exploit the columns of Town Topics
for the purpose of getting subscriptions to
Fads and Fancies.
The witness said he had asked Bishop
Potter to subscribe to Fads and Fancies,
meeting him in Washington.
District Attorney jerome then began
questioning Mr. Wooster about "Ameri-
cas- Smart Set" a publication similar to
Fads and Fancies, which was published
by the Society Editors association.
was Americas Smart Set connected
Win IpNH LUPUS dShtQ MI. JtIOllit.
Not as a publication"
About Sixty Written Up.
The witness said the price for a small
paragraph in Americas Smart Set was
$3.50, and for an extensive write-up $500.
Among sixty persons who he said paid for
being written up in this publication Mr..
Wooster named Colonel John Jacob Aston
and Reginald and Alfred Vanderbilt.
Mr. Wooster denied in answer to Mr..
Jerome's questions that Wooster had said
If person refused to subscribe to Fads
and Fancies unpleasant things would be
printed about him in Town Topics.
In your experience as a canyasser you
found the alleged society leaders to be
easy marksY asked Mr.. jerome.
II cannot say that but society publica-
tons like Fads and Fancies have all been
financial successes"
Mr.. Shepard of counsel for the defense
here questioned Mr.. Wooster, who said
that in many instances subscribers to
Fads and Fancies, and Americas Smart
Set were the same. He said that letters
were sent from Town Topics to prospec
tive subscribers to Americas Smart Set.s
The witness replying to questions by
Mr. Osborne said that he had received a
letter from Justice &eul stating that bus
mess was slow and that he then secured
the services of Robert A. Irving as an
Mr. Wooster then left the witness stand
and Commodore Elbrdge L. Gerry which
was sworn. Mr.. Shepard questioned him.
He testified that in 1901 while he was at
Newport Wooster called on him with d
letter of introduction from Justice Deul.
This letter was produced In court the
writer stating in it that the ideas of
Fads and Fancies were his and that he
had complete control OF the scheme.
COmmo1Ore Gerry said that he found
out that Town Topics was interested in
Fads and Fancies and that he refused to
subscribe for It. He was then excused.
Burden Tells His Experience.
James A. Burden, Jr., of Troy, ~ Y,
was the next Witness being called by the
defense. He said that he was asked to
subscribe to Fads and Fancies by Robert
A Irving.
"He showed me several names of sub
sciibers, including Mrs. Astors and Mrs.
Mackays, and | was surprised to know
they had subscribed" said Mr.. Burden.
'sHe told me that Colonel Mann used
very trenchant pen, and that had better
subscribe. ! told him that that was all
| wanted of him, and that he had better
get out and he did"
Charles stokes Wayne, formerly man
aging editor of Town Topics, was the
next witness. Mr.. Shepard questioned him.
lie SAID lIlaI JUSTICE Dtul Itdu piOOlS
of Town Topics every Tuesday night. FREE
quently the work was done at Colonel
Manns house the witness sail lie next
described a card index which he said
Town Topics kept of persons about whom
it printed paragraphs, saying;
THE person referred TO by name in the
paragraphs were written on the cards
and those referred to anonymously were
indexed by the cities or places where they
resided"
'aIad Town Topics a list of immunes?'
asked Mr.. Shepard
YES"
Name some of them
Russell A. Alger, James Hazen Hyde
Perry Belmont, James r. Keene. William
X. Vanderbilt, George Gould, J. Plerpont
Morgan, Chauncey M. Depew, A. j. Cas-
att and about fifty others"
WAS not Abe Hummel the lawyer, an
immune?"
"He was
was Melville E. Stone of the Assoc
ciated Press?"
YES"
Thomas w. Lawson?"
Yes
Harry Lehr?''
AT one time"
"Stuyvesant Fish,
Yes
Henry Flagler?"
Yes
creighton Webb?'
Eyes, / would say he was an immune"
"John e. Mallton?'
yes"
"Reglnald Ward?"
Undoubtedly, for some time"
August BelmontT'
"Yes.'
Before going to Europe in 1905, did
Colonel Mann have a conversation with
YOU about his fund.-" asked Mr.. shepard
"He did
'.What cld lie say"
"TIe said lie thought 1t was advisable To
prepare a list of all people who would
ponre In Town Tonnes and | told him that