The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-25

Mann had called him a blackmailer.
You suppressed paragraphs prepared
for the printer at the office of Town
Topics because the persons referred to
were subscribers to Fads and Fancies?"
asked Mr.. Shepard.
Il did"
Article About Harry Lehr.
In reply to other questions by Mr.. Shep-
ard, Mr. Wayne identified an article
which appeared in Town Topics in 1905
as having referred to Harry Lehr. The
witness said he composed the article ex-
cept four lines of it, which were dictated
by Justice Deul, whom the witness had
criticised about it. The witness said that
he told Justice Deul that the publication
of the item might prevent a lady's mar
riage. He says that Justice Deul never
objected to the publication of any arti-
Gle on the ground that it was brutal or
indecent, but on legal grounds from fear
of libel. He said that Justice Deul was
present when an article was prepared
for publication In Town Topics in which
was described an imaginary visit by God
to Manhattan Island and his discovery
that it was place of lost souls.
Peter Cooper Hewitt who next testified,
said that Irving, the solicitor, tried to in
duce him to subscribe to a book of biog-
raphies of distinguished men, but that he
refused. Ine SOilclIOT, he Sdiu, lOlu MN
that Colonel Mann would take care of his
chosen 1900 but no threat was made.
Harry Himself Is Called.
Harry F. Lehr was the next witness.
1t was stated that he testified at his
own request. He said that Town Topics
had been printing articles about him ever
since he came to New York eight years
ago. Subsequently to his marriage in 1901
Lehr said he went to see Colonel Mann
at his office and asked him to leave his
name out of Town Topics, explaining that
the articles in the paper were extremely
distasteful TO himself and to his wife.
HE promised to do So said the wit
ness, Saying he had no i'll feeling toward
me and suggested that I ought to con-
slider myself complimented at the fact
that Town Topics printed notices about
me-"
Mr. Lehr said the following summer
he subscribed to gFads and Fancies."
After Colonel Mann promised to let up
on you, did he do it?"
HE did,
And at the time you subscribed for
'Fads and Fances' you understood that
request to come from Colonel Mann
IT did"
I'm 1902 did you have a talk with Colo
mel Mann?'
Eyes. a long one He asked for a full
sized photograph of myself. description
of my town house and of my fads. l
then told him 1 objected to being ridiculed
in putting me in the same book with
such prominent men. He agreed that |
was right and said he would leave me
out of the book"
How had Town Topics been treating
your
Some times not very we'll, and at other
times otherwise"
Ibid you ever see Rowe. the Newport
correspondent of Town Topics?'
Yes
Ibid you ever give him information of
social matters?"
mo, and I was never asked to do So"
When you saw Colonel Mann, what
did you say to him?' asked Mr.. Jerome
on cross-examination.
II told the colonel that after those at
lacks on me in Town Topics | 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?"
at never occurred to me to thrash Col
onel Mann
Here Mr. Osborne said he was astonish-
ed to hear the district attorney advocat
ing thrashng of man. He said it was
criminal to thrash any one.
Examines Creighton Webb.
Mr.. Jerome, turning with a smile to
Mr.. Osborne, said:
And you are from the south"
Mr.. Jerome then examined Creighton
Webb. In answer to questions put to him
Mr. Webb maintained he had never been
blackmaied by Town Topics and never
had paid any consideration for any arti-
cles appearing in II.
Mr.. Jerome asked;
Ibid you 60 to see Colonel Mann hA-