Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-24
EASY MONEY.
When Col. Mann Was Hard
UpAe Levied Toll +.
On Vanderbilt, Morgan or Some
Other Rich Man.
Another Slice Of The Town Topics, Fads
and Faneies Dirty Scandal.

Anotner SIlce OF me IoWn Topics, fda!
and faneies Dirty Scandal.
New York, Jan. 23.-The trial of Nor
man Hapgood. editor Of Golfers Week
ly charged with criminal libel by JUS
tice NJ. Deuel., as result of the publ
cation of a paragraph concerning the
latter's connection with Town Topics.
is nearing an end. After the examina-
ton of Gel. w. d. Mann, editor of Town
Topics. was concluded today the de-
fence introduced number of witnesses
counsel for Mr.. Hapgood announced
that they probably would finish their
case tomorrow.
The witnesses introduced by the de-
fence included Commodore Elbridge
r. Gerry, who testified as to Justice
Deuels efforts to induce him to SUBJ
scribe to "Fads and Fancies'; Charles
Stokes Wayne, formerly managing emf
tor of Town Topics, who gave the Sim
mune list" Of that publication: two So
licitors for "Fads and Fancies," and
James A. Burden, Jr., of Troy, N. Y,
who also was approached in connection
with "FadS 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.. Burden said that when he
was approached he was told that Col.
Mann welded trenchant pen. This,
however, did not induce him to SUBJ
scribe.
New York, Jan. 23.-Several society
women We're present as spectators in
the supreme court today when the
trial of Norman Hapgood, editor of
Golfers Weekly, on a charge of GRIM
nal libel was resumed. Col. Mann, ed
itor of Town Topics, was recalled to-
day by the prosecution, District Attor-
ney Jerome questioning him. Col. Mann
testified that Abraham H. Hummel. the
lawyer, had consulted him about an un-
pleasant paragraph in an issue of the
paper in 1899. Col Mann then told OF
the beginning of his connection with
Town Topics and how w. X. Vanderbilt
came to be a stakeholder of the paper.
Col. Mann said:
I'm 1918, L was connected with the
Pullman Car Co. When the crisis came
| in Wall street, or l might say the con-
spiracy," said the witness, Il found
myself suddenly changed from being
a millionaire to owning not a dollar
and being 100000 in debt. 1t was at
this time became interested in Town
| Topics and l went to Mr.. w. X. Van
| derbilt and asked for loan. think he
gave me about $4,000.
81 told Mr. Vanderbilt that I wished
| to get out of debt and wanted him to
help me. He told me that what 1 owed
him l need not worry about. sent to
Mr.. Vanderbilt and told him l needed
! more money and 1 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
tc loan me any more money but he said
he hoped l would get on
| Asked how he came to be sufficiently
| We'll acquainted with J. p. Morgan tC
| borrow $500 from him without securi-
| ties. Col. Mann said:
| Il knew his father. I think I knew
him well enough to ask him. l Went tC
Mr.. Morgan the same as l did to the
other men of prominence and asked
| them because | felt they were of such
standing that there would be no occa-
sion for me to criticize them"
| Col. Mann was questioned about a
story written by Edwin Lefevre and
entitled "The Great Revenge" He said
he did not remember the story but the
title sounded familiar to him.
Don't you remember speaking to j
p. Morgan about it," asked Mr.. Os-
borne.
81 did not"
"The story was about two great fl
nanciers?"
Il don't remember" said Col. Mann
Col Mann left the witness stand at
this point.
| Edwin BOrkman, reporter, testified
| that Justice Deuel. told him that he
| (DeueD was the censor of Town Topics
and that when Col. Mann was away he
| DeueD was editor-in-chief.
The next witness was Robert A. 1rv-
ing. editor of the New Yorker, who is
under arrest on charge of libe
brought against him in connection with
q story in his own paper.
Irving in response to questions by
District Attorney Jerome said that ht
had been told he would not be prosecut.
ed on the charge pending against him
if he told the truth in this case.
Ibid you ever threaten to roast peo.
ple?" asked Mr.. Jerome.
"No occasion to-" replied Irving. 'It
was all done by flattery."
Moses Ellis Wooster. who solicited
for "Fads and Fancies" was the next
witness. He said he gave up the work
because he found the interviews dis.
greeable.'
The witness said that Harry Lehl
subscribed to "Fads and Fancies" anG
paid 5000 on his subscription. This
money was later returned with the
contract.
"Lehr told me-" said Wooster, "that
he had been badly treated in Towr
Topics"
The witness said that pleasant
stories were then printed about Lehl
for time but later the unpleasant
ones re-appeared.