The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-01-26
TOLD HAPGOOD
WHAT TO WRITE
Robert J. Collier Responsible for the
Article Upon Which the Libel
Suit is Based.
JEROME ALSO HAD HIS SAY
PROSECUTION MAKING A POOR
SHOWING.

New York, Jan. 25.-The Town Topics
libel case against Norman Hapgood' edi-
tor of Golfers Weekly. resumed this
morning Robert J. Collier, publisher or
Golfers Weekly, was the first witness
today. He said
in Town Topics, in October, 1904, saw
an article referring TO Miss Alice Roose-
welt only by her first name. When l
went down TO the office 1 called Hap
goods attention to that article and told
him ! thought 1t was the vilest article
ever printed in any newspaper, and sug-
gested that he write something about it.
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 l wrote in the name Town
Topics, telling Hapgood at the same time
that my action would doubtless involve
us in personal abuse"
Collier Dictated 1t.
After the arrest OF Charles Able, the
solicitor, Mr.. Collier said, Mr.. Hapgood
wrote another editorial, and while he was
doing so Mr.. Collier told him to say IN 1t
that it was a disgrace for any Juoge 10
be connected with Town Topics.
Under cross-examinatiOn by District
Attorney Jerome, Mr.. Collier said that
before the article about Miss Roosevelt
appeared in Town Topics a series of ar
ticles containing unpleasant things about
the witness was published in Town Top
les. Mr.. Collier said he was Indifferent
to what Town Topics said about him.
The meaning of the editorial 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 fore
IDLY to his mind.
Mr. Jerome asked Mr. Collier if he
knew that President Roosevelt and Gro
yer Cleveland were to be subscribers to
and have their names in ''Fads and Fan
cies,' to which he replied that he did not
know it.
Hapsood's Testimony.
Norman Hapgood was then called TO
the stand.
I believe you are the defendant. al
though 1 am not certain" said Mr.. Shep-
ard.
Mr.. Hapgood admitted it. He described
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 a public duty.
In reply to questions by District At
torney Jerome, Mr.. HapgOod said he IN
derstOOd the scheme of Town Topics was
TO blackmail. He did not think that
eminent people were dubbed into 'Fads
and FdncieS.
Mr.. Jerome showed the witness a let
ter which he had not read, but which
purported TO relate to the admissibility
of President RooseveIts name into 'Fads
and Fancies. and asked.
Do you believe he was forced into the
- book"
Il believe he was not forced" said Mr.
What induced you to print this edf-
The information given me by the dis.
triet attorney himself was the immediate
cause, but 1 had had knowledge for 2
number OF years of the policy of the
paper"
Yes
After all, I am writing this article ,
finally said District Attorney Jerome.
Yes. in a measure"
did you understand that the distin.
guished ex-president, Mr.. Cleveland, gave
money for the use OF his name in Fads
mo, 1 understand he was to have E
free copy"
Describing his interview with Mr.. Je.
rome, Mr.. HapgoOd said:
He told me that the scheme ought tt
be eXpUrgated. He described what he
called the whole bunch with extreme
vigor, and expressed the belief that most
OF these men got their information from
Town Topics. He said he believed al
striking at the root at the very fountain.
head OF the whole matter. We were Of
one belief and concord on the subject"
AT this point counsel for the defense
rested their case.
Colonel Mann Recalled.
District Attorney Jerome then recalled
Colonel Mann, who gave his version OF
his interview with Bernard NJ Baker o,
Baltimore. He said:
Mr.. Baker came to my Office and
spoke to me about the 'Nouveau1
riches He said he had noticed in
Town Topics advertisements Of steam.
ships, railroads, etc, and I told hin
that we made 1t a feature I said NJ
word TO him about asking him for ad-
vertisements Of steamships. but wher
leaving he said he would send his
manager to have him insert an adver-
tisement. Later, when he came to see
me. I came to the conclusion that the
man must want notoriety from his talk
He objected to articles printed in Town
Topics, but I said that we would mo-
Trint any more Of them. I told hin
that our editorial department was rur
i'm the interests of the public good
that is to say, in the interests of what
cur readers demand. Later on, when
was in Baltimore, I called upon Mr.
Baker again.
He Needed Money.
The secretary of war. a friend o.
mine, told me that Mr.. Baker was
very wealthy man. l n eeded money a.
the time and I went to Mr.. Baker anC
asked for loan Of $1,000, and told hin
/ would give him twenty-five share.
or stock IN Town Topics. There wer,