The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-24
Many Testify in Town Topics
Hold Up Case
HARRY lEHR PAID BUT $500
Publication Has a List of lmmunes
About Whom Only Good Things
Were Said-colonel Mann
Finishes Testimony.

New York. January 2S-The trial Of
Norman Hapgood, editor of the Golfers
Weekly. charged with criminal libel by
Justice NJ. Deul. city magistrate, as a
result of the publication of a paragraph
concerning the latter's connection with
Town Topics is nearing an end. After the
examination of Col w. D. Mann. editor Of
Town Topics, was concluded this morning
the defense introduced a number of Wit
nesses and after adjournment this after
noon counsel for Mr. Hapgood announced
that they would probably finish their case
tomorrow
The trial was followed today with the
same interest that has been manifested
since the hearing vas begun.
Fashionaby attired women were again
conspicuous among those in the court
room. The witnesses introduced by the de-
fense included Commodore Elbridge I.
Gerry who testified as to Justice Deul's
efforts to induce him to subscribe to hads
and Fancies. Commodore Gerry said he
found that Town Topics was interested
in Fads and Fancies,' and that he refused
to subscribe to the work. Mr.. Buroen said
that when he was approached he was told
that Colonel Mann welded a trenehent
pen. This however, did not induce him to
subscribe
Colonel Mann, editor of Town Topics.
was recalled to the witness stand today
when the trial was resumed. A copy Of
Town Topics issued in 1899. was shown
the witness. who denied that Abram II.
Hummel. the lawyer, had consulted him
about an unpleasant paragraph in that
issue of the paper.
Colonel Mann Is Recalled.
Colonel Mann then told af tie begin
ming of his connection with Town Tepes.
and how w. X. Vanderbilt ef,rse IT, be a
stoci5holder Of the paper Colonel Mann
said In 1878 | was connected with the
Pullman Car company. When the crisis
came in Wall street. or | might say the
conspiracy" said the witness, Il found
myself suddenly changed from being
millionaire to owning not dollar, and
being 100000 in debt. At this time be-
came interested In Town Topics and /
went to w. X. Vanderbilt and asked him
for a loan l think he gave me about $2o,-
600. | told Mr. Vanderbilt that | wished
to get out of debt and wanted him TO
help me. He told me that what / owed
| him / need not worry about. / sent 10
MIR. Vanderbilt and told him needed
more money and | asked him to take some
| Town Topics stock as collateral security.
Later he returned my notes and the
stock and said he did not care to loan
me any more money. but he said he hoped
l would get on
How He Met Morgan.
Asked how he became sufficiently well
acquainted with J. p. Morgan to borrow
$500 from him without security, Colonel
Mann said:
''I met and | knew his father. ] think
| know him we'll enough to ask him.
Will you tell the jury" said District
Attorney Jerome, what reason there was
for Thomas r Ryan 10 lend you No'VoV9
well that was three or four years
ago. AS remember Mr.. Whitney intro
duced me to Mr.. Ryan. He said was
a friend of his He said: Mr.. Mann Is
gentleman and an honest man, and
any time you can do anything for him or
lend him any money. / want you TO
do It,
II did not see Mr. Ryan again for
some time. When ] asked him to lend
me the money. and offered shares as
collateral, Mr. Ryan said he would take
the matter under consideration. Next l
think called Mr.. Ryan, and he sald
:" Il do not want the shares. but |
will lend you the $4,000. Give me your
note and I will give you the money.
Clarence Jones, the witness said, loaned
him $4,000.
Colonel Mann was then questioned by
Attorney James w. Osborne, counsel for
Mr.. Hapgood's defense.
"Do you remember that scandalous
paragraphs were written about IL. C
Jonesg' the lawyer asked.
II do not"
after you got the $4,000. did you writs
pleasant paragraphs?
Possibly then. and possibly before;
why should | not?'
why, OF course. after you got the
money" said Mr.. Osborne.
Colonel Mann when questioned about a
story written by Edwin Lefvler, and en-
titled: "The Great Revenge" he said he
did not remember the story, but the IT,
tie sounded familiar to him
Don't you remember speahlng to j. p.
Morgan about it?" asked Mr.. Osborne.
IT do not"
''rhe story was about two great A.
nanciers."
II don't remember" said Colonel Mann.
Colonel Mann left the witness stand at
this point.
Reporter Takes the Stand.
Edwin j. Workman. a reporter was the
next witness. He said Justice Deul told
him that he ODeuD. the censor OF
Town Topics. The witness said that the
Justice also said that when Colonel Mann
was away he CDeuD. was the editor in
chief and that at all times he was con-
suited by Colonel Mann.
Judge Deul" continued the witness.
gave me to understand that he passed
upon the legal aspect of things appearing
In Town Topics He gave me to UNDER
stand that his connection with the Smart
Set was even closer than with Town
Topics"
The next witness was Robert Irving.
editor of the New Yorker, who is under
arrest on charge OF libel brought
against him in connection with story
I'm his own paper. He was questioned by
Mr. Shepard. of counsel for the defense.
Mr. Irving said that ne had been solicit
tor for Fads and Fancies. He received
Is per cent on all orders secured by him.
He gave a list of persons who refused to
subscribe. among them Andrew Carnegie.
Senator r. A. Algery William Rockefeller.
Mrs Potter Palmer and Cornelius Wander