Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-01-24

New York, Jan. 24.-Two features Of
the Town Topics libel proceedings, yes
terday, in the trial of Justice Deuel's suit
against Norman Hapgood, editor OF Col
lier's Weekly, were:
Evidence that Harry Lehr, society's
special pet and giver of monkey dinners,
doll promenades, dog teas and other
freak entertainments, was a reporter for
Town Topics, the Society journal" Of
scandal and blackmail
That Town Topics had O special list Of
"immunes" whose names were not used
in that paper except in a complimentary
and pleasing manner.
Charles Stokes, former managing edi-
tor of Town Topics, in his testimony
named as many of the Town Topics "im-
munes" as he could remember The "im-
munes7 are persons about whom Town
Topics printed nothing but pleasant para
graphs. This is Wayne's lists
Gen. Russell A. Alger George II. Daniels,
James Hazen Hyde, stuyyesaut Fish.
Perry Belmont, Henry NJ. Flaglor,
james X. keene, Ahraham n. hummel,
". X. Vanderbilt, n Carcance Jones,
George }. Gould, Thomas W. Lawson,
J. Pierpont Morgan, Harry Lehr,
A. j. Cassatt, John r. Madden,
Melville T. stone, Reginald Ward,
Senator Senator ". a. Clark charies ifas'i i. YefEes
The witness said that there We're forty
OF fifty in all but that he could not re-
member any more. He said that Col. w.
ID. Mann, editor of Town Topics, had
suggested to him that he have list of
the "immunes' printed so that all the
members of the editorial staff could have
access 10 it for their guidance. Wayne
was examined by Edward NJ Shepard,
and the word 'immunes," as applied 10
the favored persons, was introduced by
Mr.. Shepard.
Commodore Elbridge I. Gerry testified
that he had been asked to subscribe for
"Fads and Fancies' by NJ. r. Wooster,
one of the solicitors for the publication,
who visited him armed with a letter of
introduction written by Justice Deuel.
AS soon as he learned that "Fads and
fancies" was n Town Topics scheme, he
said, he refused to consider the PROPOSE
tion. lie then received a letter from JUS
tice Deuel. describing Col Mann as hui
manitarian and philanthropist, who had
been stripped of his substance through
his "conhding nature" and, for the time
being, was keeping out of the Town
Topics columns anything detrimental to
Commodore Gerry.
NJ. H. Wooster one of the "Fads and
Fancies' solicitors, testified that Harry
Iehr had subscribed for the book, but
had refused to pay for it. His contract
was returned 10 him, he said, and Lehr
paid him 5000, but that was for himself
Wooster also said that after Lehr had
called at the Town Topics Office to sec
Col. Mann about unpleasant paragraphs
about him which had appeared in the
publication. Col. Mann had declared that
he was a clever young man, who had sup.
piled him with valuable information, and
nothing more unpleasant should appear
about him.
A man. who said he was telephonine
from Mr. Lehr's house. and Mr.. Lehi
was at his elbow, offered the following
statement to the newspapers from Mr.
Lehr;
q deny positively that have ever
| given any information of any nature, di.
rectly or indirectly, TO Town Topics oi
anyone connected with IL. No one ever
suggested that ] give such information
I shall make this statement in court al
the flrst opportunity"
James A. Burden, Jr., told of visit tC
him Of Robert A. Irving, one of the
"Fads and Fancies" solicitors, and how
Irving had informed him, when he re
fused to subscribe, that Col Mann
welded a very trenchant pen"
Wooster and Irving We're called TO de
scribe the methods of soliciting for IN,
book. and their knowledge of the Towr
Topics business routine. Wooster alst
told Of the planning of the America,
Smart Set" scheme He said that IL haC
no connection with Town Topics, al
though three or four of those who wer,
interested were on the Town Topics edi
torial staff.
Moses Ellis Wooster proved an inter
esting witness. He was canvasser fol
"Fads and Fancies," Town Topics 81 50l
book. Part Of his testimony ran in thi
manner;
Q. Did you ever get subscription
from Harry Lehr3 A. Yes
Q. Where did he sign the contract
A. At the Waldorf.
Q. Did he pay for it9 A. No.
Q. What was donel a. He returne,
the contract. He paid me PERSONAL!
5000.
9, Did YOU ever ask him 70 pay tn
81 800 for the bookf A. I did He tol,
me he would not pay the subscription
and that at the time he signed the con
tract Col. Mann did not expect him {,
pay It, He said that he had been 81
shamefully treated in Town Topics tha
he did not like 10 face his friends afte
some issues of the paper were published
He said he would 20 and see Col. Nam
about il himself