The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-01-25
BAKER PURSUED
BY TOWN TOPICS
Alleged Victim Describes Col.
Mann'S Fine Work in
Detail.
DESCRIBES METHODS OF
SOLICITING BUSINESS
Broker Who Preferred Charge
of Blackmail Is Also
Heard.

Baker of Baltimore was the first witness
TO testify today In the trial of Norman
Hapgood. editor of Golfers Weekly. on
charge Of having crlmlnally llbelled
Justice Joseph NJ Deuel. Mr.. Baker said
he was president Of the Baltimore Trust
company and was president OF the Allan
tic Transport company from 1880 to 1900.
Mr.. Shepard of counsel for the defense.
showed to Mr.. Baker two copies of Town
Topics of December 10, 1898, called his at
tention to the Item under the head of
"Saunterings," and asked II they referred
to MIR. Bakers family. Mr.. Baker said
they did
Their Blossoming Forth.
Mr.. Shepard then read them to the
jury They referred TO the "bloSsoming
forth OF Mr.. Bakers family Into Balti-
more society. After reading the Item ME-.
Baker said he visited Col. Mann. editor
OF Town Topics, In his office. He had no
acquaintance with Col Mann, but intro
duced himself.
Continuing, Mr.. Baker said:
Mann Talked Business.
Il saw Col Mann We talked over
these Objectionable articles appearing In
Town Topics, and | said / wanted them
stopped. no tOlu me lndl IL WAS Ouly tuc
best people who were mentioned In Town
Topics He said that other steamship
lines had advertisements in Town Topics
and that my company ought 10 secure
one He said that all the steamshipmen
were after something and that might
want something which Town Topics could
help me to get He said there ought to be
reciprocity. l told him that II he wanted
our advertisement he ought TO say so
He said Town Topics had friends as well
as enemies"
Ought to Have an Ad.
Col Mann showed him the advertise
ment OF the American line Of steamers
and told him that of the Atlantic Trans
port company should be OF equal size,
said Mr.. Baker.
He then authorized the Insertion of the
advertisement. The witness identified IL
In an Issue of Town Topics Of January p.
Did those articles referring 10 you and
your family cease after the insertion of
the advertisements" asked Mr., Shepard.
Il think So, said Mr.. Baker.
Objectionable Articles Cease.
The witness said the advertisement con-
tinued to be published in Town Topics
Three years later. in 1891, an item con-
cerntng his family appeared again In
consulted counsel about stopping them
After that. witness said, Moses Z. Woos-
ter, the agent visited him and asked him
TO subscribe TO Fads and Fnncies.
Wants Him in "Fads."
II was surprised that Town Topics
should ask me TO subscribe" said Mr..
PRICE s' was $3.50 AfterWsrd war s'' he Called called
again, showed me copies of Town Topics
and told me the paper was saying pleas
ant things and thet # | would consult
wanted" Mr.. Baker said that on tho
second visit Mr.. Wooster showed him
clippings from Town Topics and again
1, to ot,l, ll, -, NaIo nj EN1y
cies. but he aid not do so. After that the
witness said, more items about Mr.. Baker
and his family appeared In Town Topics
and Mr.. Baker went again to sec Col.
Mann.
On a Higher Plane.
"He Informed me that there had been
a definite change in the running of Town
Topics and that 1t was to be run on a
higher plane, because he was associated
with better people," said Mr. Baker Il
told him | wanted to be let alone and he
promised that ! would not be troubled
again. He again asked me to subscribe
for FadS and Tancies. and said that he
was going TO send a solicitor 10 see me.
Irving afterward called on me with a
letter from Col. Mann
Irving told him IN substance, the wit
ness said, that Col. Mann would be 'cx-
tremely sore and that the friendship of
Town Topics was worth having
Friendship Worth Having.
Mr. Baker refused again 40 subscribe
to Fads and Fancies. In May, 1902 Mr.
Baker said. he had a third interview with
Col Mann He wanted to borrow
money" said the witness. "He wanted
me to take fve shares OF Town Topics
stock for 5000. ] said that / was not In
terested In Town Topics or Its stock"
Urged to Reconsider.
Mr. Baker refused TO take the stock
Col Mann, he said. promised to see him
again, and authoUgh the witness told him
II was no use, Col. Mann went to see Mr.
Baker In Baltimore, said he was sorTy
and that the friendship of Town Topics
was worth having and urged him to re-
Cnsider. Mr. Baker did not subscribe to
Fads. and FancicS.
Post Preferred Charges.
Mr. Baker was excused and Edwin NJ
Pest a stock broker was called Mr.
Post preferred charges OF blaCkmail
against Charles Ahlc. an agent for tho
publication called Americas Smart Set"
Mr.. Post testified that Able came to his
office with a letter from Mr.. Wayne OF
Town Topics on June 90 1905
He said continued Mr., Post that
stories had been printed OF my connection
with the races. | told him | was sorry
ard that l hoped that IT would not occur
again,
Becomes Suspicious,
we have an article in Town Topics
about you he said. and the boys want
to put IL In Al this | became suspicious
and asked him how much the book cost a"