The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-01-27
.HAPGOOD is
NOT GUILTY
Jurors Come to Speedy De-
ciSion In Libel Case.
OUT BUT NINE MINUTES
-----------
Quick Decision Of Jury in Editors Fa-
vor Practically Brands Justice ;.
Deuel. as a Disgrace to
the Bench.
OUT BUT NINE MINUTES

%aw York, Jan 27.--Norman Hap
good, editor Of Golfers Weekly, who has
been undergoing trial in the criminal
branch Of the supreme court on a charge
of criminal libel preferred by Justice
Joseph M. Deuel. of the court Of special
sessions, was trittmphantly cleared Of
the accusation yesterday and found not
guilty BY the jury.
The verdict, which was returned in nine
minutes, is substantially an Endorsement
of Mr.. Hapgood's declaration that JUS
tiee Deuel. is a disgrace to his profess
sion.
The verdict created no surprise in
court, where a remarkable tale Of extor-
tion and blackmail on the part Of agents
and canyassers for Americas Smart Set,
Fads and Fancies and Town Topics It'll
self had been listened to in amazement
for the last week.
After remarkable summing up by
the district attorney, Justice Fitzgerald
reviewed the facts adduced from the tes.
timony and the points Of law involved
and gave the case to the jury.
There was brief whispered CONVEX
sation between the foreman and the rest
III the jurymen evidently on the ques-
ton as To whether or not they would
leave their saats--and, for the sake Of
deoorum no doubt, the twelve men filed
out Of the court.
They had been gone less than nine
minutes when they brought in verdict
Of not guilty.
There was d great stir in The court
room, but the warning Of Justice Fitz-
gerald that any unseemly demonstration
would be promptly punished had its ef-
| feet and there were neither cheers nor
applause. The district attorney leaned
over TO Mr. Hapgood, and, putting his
arm around his neck, said, laughingly:
"Get out of here, you criminal"
The impression that Mr.. Jerome would
occupy the time allotted to him for sub
mission to the jury of facts adduced in
| the testimony as To the conduct Of JUS
| tice Deul, in connection with Town Top
les and excoriating the moving spirit
in it, Col Mann, was confirmed when
with the opening sentence of his sum
ming.up address he declared that in the
seventeen years of his legal experience
| he had never listened to such a story
| OF human weakness and degradation as
that told on the stand by the witnesses
in the case.
Norman Hapgood and Robert Collier
both declined TO say anything regarding
the verdict, pleading modesty. Mr.. Col
/ lier was all smiles.
Golfers Weekly has finished its part
in the matter said Mr.. Collier ANY
thing else viii have to be done by some.
orc else
District Attorney Jerome was asked
whether his office would begin proseeu-
ton for blaekmail.
Il have nothing to say was his an
swer. 81 didn't expect any other YER
Dict he added Mrs. Norman Hap
goods face showed how she left about
It as she and her husband left to-
4 gethcr
Col William dalton Mann, editor Of
Town Topics, threw on his overcoat,
pulled his whiskcrs inst once, seized his
cane and planked his big silk hat upon
/ his head. He hustled out of the court
room, stalked up and down the corridor,
stuck a cigar in his mouth and looked
around. He was very much alone.
"Iudge Deuell Oh, he's laid up
couldn't get here. The strain has been
hard on him. WHAT MOI ! haven't
| anything to say about the trial.
wasn't the prisoner" said Col Mann.
Then the old colonel clustered 4 mo-
ment more, liz his cigar, buttoned his
coat, waddled all alone down the base.
ment stairway and out Of sight.