Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-01-26
HAP PGOOO TALKS
IN LIBEL SUIT
EXPLAINS WHY HE ROASTED
TOWN TOPICS
Editorial Was Based on Information
Furnished by Mr.. Jerome-Mr.
Collier Also Gives His
Testimony
BY Asaoclnted Press.

By Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Jan. 25.-The last stage
of the trial of Norman Hapgood, edi-
tor of Golfers Weekly, charged with
criminal libel in the publication Of
paragraph commenting upon city
Magistrate Deuers connection with
Town Topics, was reached today when
the taking of testimony was ended and
Edward NJ. Shepard of counsel for the
accused editor made the opening argu-
ment for the defense. AT the conclu-
sion of Mr.. Shcpards address to the
jury, in which he declared that every
thing stated in the paragraph in Col
lier's Weekly was true, and in which
he commented severely upon the char
acter of Town Topics as u publication,
an adjournment was taken until tomor-
row, when District Attorney Jerome
will sum up for the prosecution
Several Witnesses were examined
during the early hours of todays ses-
sion. The striking feature of the testi-
mony was given by Mr.. Hapgood him
self when he took the stand in his own
behalf and declared that what he had
written about Town Topics was based
District Attorney Jerome himself.
Mr.. jerome here caused some merri-
ment by his statement that it showed
after all he was the writer of the ar
ticle involved in the trial.
THAT is true in IL measure" assented
Mr.. Hapgood.
Robert Collier publisher of Golfers
Weekly, testified today that Mr.. Hap
good had written the article concern
der instructions from him. District At
torney Jerome recalled Colonel w. d.
Mann. editor of Town Topics, to give
his versions of his dealings with Ber-
nard N. Baker of Baltimore and also
to deny the statement that Harry Lehr
and several other society people had
furnished paragraphs to Town Topics.
Letter From Cleveland
The last act of District Attorney
Jerome for the prosecution was to place
in evidence a letter from Former Presi-
dent Grover Cleveland, who had been
given an honorary subscription to Fads
and Fancies, stating that he had eX-
amined the publication and thought IL
IAN admirable book"
Robert J. Collier, publisher of Col
lier's Weekly, was the first witness to-
day! He said:
I'm Town Topics ins October, 1904, 1
saw an article referring to Miss Alice
Roosevelt only by her first name. When
/ went down to the office called Hap
goods attention to that article and told
him L thought it was the vilest article
ever printed in a newspaper and Sug-
gested that he write something about
1t. He did so in an editorial headed
The Most Degraded Paper in the
United States Hapgood, in his article.
however, did not name the paper but
when / read the proof | wrote in the
name Town Topics telling Hapgood
at the same time that my action would
doubtless involve us in personal abuse"
After the arrest OF Charles Able, the
solicitor, Mr.. Collier said, Mr.. Hap
good wrote another editorial and, while
he was doing so, Mr.. Collier told him to
say in it that it was a disgrace for
any judge to be connected with Town
Topics.
Under cross examination by District
Attorney Jerome Mr.. Collier said that
before the article about Miss Roose-
welt appeared in Town Topics, a series
of articles containing unpleasant
things about witness was published in
Town Topics. Mr.. Collier said he was
| indlffernt to what Town Topics said
| about him. The meaning of the edi-
toral on which the complaint of libel
was based he said, was that Town
| Topics was engaged in the business of
| blackmail.
Fads and Fancies, he said. brought
| that aspect of the publication more
! forcibly to his mind.
Mr.. Jerome asked Mr.. Collier If he
| knew that President Roosevelt and
| Grover Cleveland were to be subscrib-
| ers to and have their names in Fads
| and Fancies to, which he replied that
he did not know it.
Norman Hapgood TestifIes
Norman Hapgood was then called to
the stand.
81 believe you are the defendant
although / am not certain" said Mr.
Shepard.
Mr.. Hapgood admitted it, He de-
scrlbed the circumstances attending the
writing of the editorial on which libel
action was based as related by Mr.
Collier and said that he wrote various
articles about Town Topics as public
duty.
In reply TO questions by District
Attorney Jerome, Mr.. Hapgood said
he understood the scheme of Town Top
les was to blackmail. He did not think
that eminent people We're dubbed into
Fads and Fancies.
Mr.. Jerome showed the witness a let
ter which he did not read, but which
of President Roosevelts name into Fads
and Fancies. and asked
do you believe hewas forced into
the book"
II believe he was not forced" said
Mr., Hapgood
What induced you to print this
editorial?"
"The information given me by the
district attorneys office was the inn
mediate cause, but 1 had had knowl-
edge for a number of years of the policy
of the paper"
'Then your judgment was based
upon the Judgment of the district at
torney?"
Eyes"
"After all, am the writer of this
article finally said District Attorney
Jerome.
Yes; II a measure"
"Dld you understand that the dis
tinguished former president, Mr.
| Cleveland, gave money for the use
of his name i'm Fads and Fancies?'
asked Mr. Shepard.
"No; l understood he was to have 9
free copy"
Describing his interview with Mr.
Jerome, Mr.. IIapgood said
HE told me that the scheme ought
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