The Elbert County tribune., 1906-02-01
BAD
SCORED BY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
JEROME IN LIBEL SUIT.
JURY AcQuITs DEFENDANT
Suit Of Justice Deuel. of Town Topics
Against Editor tispgood of collier's
Weekly Proves to BE Boomerang.

tional trial came to an end Friday,
when jury In the criminal branch OF
the Supreme Court reported that Nor
man Hapgood, editor of Golfers
Weekly. was not guilty of criminal
libel. The case had been on trial sew
erai weeks. The verdict was rendered
ten minutes after the case had been
given to the Jury.
The charge against Mr. Hapeood
was brought at the instigntion Us jus
tice Joseph NJ Deuel. OF the Court OF
Special Sessions. and was based upon
an editorial in which the editor criti-
cised Justice Deuel. for his connection
with Town Topics.
The plea of District Attorney Jer-
ONE. the prosecutor, was amusing in
its bias for the defendant
The real interest in the case was due
to the fact that the names of ores
OF persons of the highest social and
financial standing became involved
through the efforts of the dcfenae to
prove that the statements contained In
the alleged libel were correct and
therefore justified. To attain this end
some OF the inner workings OF Town
Topics. weekly publication which cir
culated extensively in social circles.
were laid bare.
II was in this connection and also
through testimony concerning linn
tied edition book which bore the title
''Fads and Fancies" that the names
of prominent persons became involved,
"Fads and Fancies' was sold to sub
scribers at $500 or more per copy.
Il viii not attempt to disguise from
You the utter loathing and contempt |
feel for some OF the witnesses whom
myself have introduced" declared Dis
trict Attorney Jerome TO the jury in
his argument for the prosecution.
For more than two weeks we havo
been wandering through Vanity Fair"
said Mr.. jerome. witnessing exhibi-
tions OF human weakness and folly and
in some instances OF human degrada-
ton"
Continuing. Mr.. Jerome said:
Now, let us see the character of
this paper treferring to Town Toplcs).
Mr.. Shepard has told yon that Colonel
Mann has stated that II was the nat
ural evolution of personal journalism.
If that is true, II. ought TO be applicable
to more than one daily paper In New
York whose trend Is that way. There
is scarcely n morning paper that does
not print vile scandals and obscene
matter. | don't see what interest arti-
cles relating TO the adultery of this or
that person have for you and me.
Does It serve as a useful purpose?
Is It other than filth? II is put there
for no other purpose than that OF pay
ing dividends 10 the stockholders. The
average newspaper is run from tho
counting room standpoint. Many OF
the advertisements are but n corrup-
ton fund to induce quiet about this.
that or the other. This is not pleas
n at a N. ma n hui nulr
the average newspaper man why GER
tain paper let up on a certain proposi-
ton. his reply win be Why, didn't you
see that ad of so and so?'
"These papers haven't yet reached
the condition that this vile sheet has
reached. l am not here to justify Town
Topics.
classification of the editorial de-
nouncilg Justice Deuel." Mr.. Je,cme
said. means that Deuel. was part
owner of the paper. censor and reyiser
of proof. and that the paper which he
| edited In part EFFORTS money and prints
scandal. 1t is alleged that he threat
ened to make public the family skele-
tons of society people unless given
money
In closing Mr.. Jerome said:
"The defendant in this case Is an
o1d-time friend of mine. Only the best
of motives could have actuated him in
writing these articles from informa-
tion obtained by talk from me.
I'm measure ! was the expurgated
author. / talked to him honestly and
| told him what thought Of Town Top
| les. But he did not violate my conf
| dence. His actions throughout this
whole proceeding have indicated firm
ness of professional honor. He did not
| even reveal to his counsel the talks
| that he had with me until suggested
| it to him. If people had the courage to
come into court. this scandalous paper
| would have been wiped of the earth
long ago.
Il think in your deliberations the
| question you will turn on Is that of JUS
| tification, and whether Hapgood wrote
the article with good intentions. The
| gist OF 1t will be. was there reasonable
| ground for arraigning judge as a
| blackmailer?"
Justice Fitzgerald then charged the
| jury.
The jury was out about ten minutes,
| returning with verdict of not guilty
Colonel Mann, editor of the Town
| Topics, who was present when the YER
| dict was announced, said that he had
nothing to say regarding the verdict,
but that he had brought a civil suit
| against Golfers.
| AS MIR. Mr.. Hapgood left the room
| District Attorney Jerome. who con-
Quoted the case against him, slapped
| him on the shoulder, saying:
my dear old man, / am very much
| pleased that 1t turned out as II did"
They left the court room together.
l