Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-26

an editorial in Golfers in August
last bearing on Justice Deuel's con-
nection with Town Topics.
NEW YORK. January 26.-'I will not at
tempt to disguise from you the utter loath-
ing and contempt l feel for some of the
witnesses whom l myself have introduced"
declared District Attorney Jerome to the
jury today in his argument for the prose
cution in the action for criminal libel
brought against Norman Hapgood, editor of
Golfers Weekly on complaint of Justice
Joseph NJ. Deuel. of the court of special
sessions.
For more than two weeks now we have
been wandering through Vanity Fair said
Mr.. Jerome, witnessing exhibitions of
human weakness and folly and, in some in
stances, of human degradation"
Continuing, Mr.. Jerome said: at may be
that ought not to be here prosecuting one
of the best friends I've got for a crime
which in my private judgment L believe he
ought TO have done. and which might have
done in his place with more heat and more
vim than he displayed. The law not to
restrict the liberty of the press has pro-
v!ded that If the published article be true
and published with justifable ends, it is a
defense. On the ground of excuse the
prosecution comedies that this publication
was honestly made in a belief that it was
true. If you find that the article was true
you have got to acquit.
Character of Paper.
Now let us see the character of this
paper (referring to Town Topics. Mr.
Shepard has told you that Col Mann has
stated that it was the natural evolution of
personal journalism. If this Is true, 1t
ought to be applicable to more than one
daily paper in New York whose trend is
that way. There Is scarcely morning
paper that does not print vile scandals and
obscene matter l don't see what interest il
conserves to publish such stuff. l don't see
what interest articles relating to the aaul-
terry or this or that person have for you
and l.
Does it serve any useful purpose? Is II
other than filth? 1t is put there for no
other purpose than that of paving diyi-
dends to the stockholders. The average
newspaper is run from the counting room
standpoint. Many Of the advertisements
are but corruption fund to induce ouiet
about TINS, that or the other. This Is not
pleasant statement to make but If you
ask the average newspaper man WHY a
certain paper let up on certain PROPOSE
uon his reply will be-. Why didn't you
see that ad Of and so?
These papers haven't yet reached the
condition that this vile sheet has reached
am not here to justify Town Topics"
Justification of Editorial
Justification OF the editorial denouncing
Justice Deuel." Mr.. Jerome said. means
that Deuel. was part owner of the paper.
censor and reyisor of proof and that the
3aper which he edited in part extorts
money and prints scandal 1t is alleged
that he threatened to make public the fam
lily skeletons Of society people unless given
money
The district attorney asserted that Judge
Deuel. did not violate the statute which
forbade Ia in l,,,t
said he, in my opinion he violated the
statute In carrying on business. 1t cannot
DE said that In carrying ON business he
neglected his judicial duties. AS a justice
l Will say for him that he conducted his
judicial duties honestly, fairly and well.
Mr.. Shepard has admitted that great
turist did violate the statute but Deuel. was
not drawing a salary of SiT.50O a year. One
rules banking house from the supreme
court bench as others have from the bench
Growing gray and with his back to the wall
Deuel. violates the city charter in an en-
deavor TO provide for himself in his old age
Initiated Another Judge.
'Iie does what a great judge who took a
position with a trust company did before
him. Don't say that he is a vampire or
blackmailer because he violates the city
charter There IS not n sc!ntilla of evil
dence to show that Justice Deuel. knew
about the borrowing of thousands of dol
lars by Col. Mann.
show that E. Clarence Jones was black
mailed. He made a loan on collateral. If
you gentlemen happen To know Thomas F.
Ryan l don't believe that you would think
that much progress could be made with
him along the lines of blackmail He has
been abused and vilifed In the papers for
years and he Is not very sensitive. He has
dealt with commercial guerrillas and would
not be shaken down by Col. Mann.
This old man had been power In rail-
road affairs and had been driven to the wall
His money had been taken from him and
he was forced 10 make his living I'm this
way. 1t is reasonable TO suppose that these
great iinanciers had a soft spot In their
hearts for man driven 10 the WALL and
that II wasn't very hard for them TO give
him an acCommoda tion."
20. II. p Belmont did not say on the wilt
ness stand that he was backmailed He was
pounded before and after he refused to
loan to Mann. and yet he gave to Col.
Mann. the man who pounded him. an inter-
view.
Perry Belmont's Case.
New take Perry Belmont This rising
son got stuck on the horizon You would
think that Mr.. Osborne thought Perry was
shaken down. Was he? lie got shares of
Carbon steel.
James r. Keene is a rough-and-t tumble
fighter in the field of flnance and yet We
are told that $4,000 was taken from him