Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-29
: Col, VIM. Mann Of Town
TOPICS Is Arrested
Charged That He Swofe Falsely
In Denying His %. K"
One Of The 0uleones Of the Sensational
Hapgpod Libel Case.

New York, Jan. 2S.-Col. William
dalton Mann, editor of Town Topics,
was arrested late Saturday on charge
Of perjury growing out Of his testimony
In the recent criminal libel proceedings
against Norman Hapgood, editor of
Golfers Weekly.
Col Mann was arrested in his offices
at 425 Fifth avenue by a detective OF
District Attorney Jerome's stan. he Or
dered his automobile and with the cfii-
Ger drove down town to the criminal
courts building, where he was ar
raigned before a city magistrate ana
held in $4,000 bail for examination
next Thursday, Feb. !. Bail was 1ur-
nished by Mrs. Albert A. Wray,
daughter of Col. Mann. who pledged as
surety uptown real estate valued at
$500, 0ON.
The specific charge against Col. Mann
as stated in the warrant for ms arrest
Is that he swore falsely in the Haps"od
trial in denying that an initiated 20.
K" on a letter from Count Reginald
Ward to Moses Ellis Wooster, solic-
itor for "Fads and Fancies. was his
own, The letter frora Count Ward 10
Wooster was offered in evidence by Mr..
HapRood's counsel. 1t referred to GER
tain paragraphs that were to appear
concerning the count and asked that he
be put on the regular posting list OF
Town Topics
This request was underlined in the
original Of the letter and line drawn
from it led to a circle in which was
marked 20. X. w. D. NJ" Col. Mann,
when shown this letter while wit
ness in the Hapgood trial. said he had
not placed his initials upon it.
The criminal action against COL
Mann followed a day of conference at
the district attorneys office. partici-
pated in by Robert ]. Collier, James
W. Osborne, who acted as counsel to
Norman Hapgood; Moses r. Wooster
and a handwriting expert.
Col Mann had been informed of these
conferences early in the day when 1t
was intimated to him that he might be
wanted. He replied that he would be at
his Office until late in the afternoon.
He did remain at his office and when
the detective with warrant for his
arc st finally arrived, he was pleasant
" greeted by the head of the Town
Topics company and was invited into
private offices. 1t was then that the
trip down town in the automobile was
arranged Col. Mann shook hands witt
all the employees in the Town Topics
offices and babe them good-by.
Justice McAvoy. sitting as magis-
trate, was waiting at the crimina
courts building to act in Col. Mann's
case.
The colonel was represented in theh
proceedings by his son-in-l2w. Former
State Senator Albert a. Wray, az
counsel.
When formally arraigned Col. Mass
said he did not know what the charge
against him was. The warrant, cover
ing three pages of typewriter legal
cap paper, was read. 1t related the in
cidents leading up to the Hapgood
trial. the introduction of the Count
Ward letter and the denial of the ina
tials by Col. Mann.
Col. Mann asked for an early hearing
saying he would prefer that the case
should go on Monday. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Hart objected to coming
into court on Sunday and next Thurs
day then was agreed upon.
Senator Wray asked that Col Mann
be paroled in his custody as counsel
out the QlStTlCI attorney Ollce oOJScl-
ed vigorously, Mr.. Hart declaring the
charges were SO serious he would have
to ask that at least $4,000 bail be re.
Quirec.
Justice McAvoy upheld the request
Of the prosecution and Mrs. Wray ex-
ecuted the bond of $4,000.
Col. Mann, In leaving court, said he
would make no statement.
81 have nothing to talk about" he
declared. ct have committed no crime
and the public will learn that this is
20 In n short time