The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-02-27
GAMBLER BLACK
MAILCASEOPENS
Atlanta Mayor First Called to
Stand in Trial Mrs. Hirsch
and J.W. Cook.
COURTROOM is CROWDED
Many Witnesses Subpoenaed,
Including Woman's Two
Husbands.

Atlanta, Ga, Feb. 27-Asa G. cand
Ter, millionaire mayor of Atlanta, was
the principal witness in the trial here
today Of ]. w. Cook, Jointly indicted
with Mrs. n. n. Hrsch on a charge
Of attempting to bIackmaiI Mr.. Cand
Ter. The case is tried in superior
court before Judge Benjamin n. Hill
After reviewing his acquaintance
with Mrs. Hirsch, which he declared
grew out of her activities in Red Cross
work, Mayor Gambler described her
visit to his office on Feb. 6, when he
declared Cook suddenly appeared and
said:
Our honorable mayor. this is nice"
On cross examination by John r.
Cooper, of counsel for the defense, Mr..
Gambler denied that he had ever taken
any liberties with Mrs. Hirsch on her
various visits to his office.
Forrest Adair, a wealthy real estate
dealer, related how the mayor had
come to him on the day Of Cooks and
Mrs. Hirsch's visit to his office, and
how he had acted for the mayor in
subsequent dealings with the couple.
Despite the large number of wit
nesses summoned, counsel expressed
the belief that the trials would be con-
cluded within two days. The state it
was said, had subpoenaed about forty
witnesses, including II. III. Hrsch,
husband of the accused woman, while
the defense late yesterday issued sub
poenaes to be served ON women en-
ployes of the city hall.
r. H. Jackson, a divorced husband
of Mrs. Hirsch, was also said to be in
the city. but it could not be learned
which side of the case he would tes-
tify for. Both defense and prosecu-
ton late yesterday laid claim to him.
Whole Story at Trial.
Mrs. Hirsch and Cook were indicted
by the Fulton county grand jury on
Feb. IA on evidence submitted by the
attorney of Mayor Gambler. 1t was
alleged in testimony at the hearing
that they had sought to extort half
srlsiilien dollars from Mr.. Candlervby
threats of revealing certain alleged
actions OF Mrs. Hirsch and the mayor
during a visit Of the woman to his
Office.
Mayor Gambler, in quoted testimony
before the grand jury, denied he had
ever received Mrs. Hirsch in his Office
except on what he supp 3sed to be a
visit connected with Red Cross work,
she having been an active Red Cross
worker in this city.
Mrs. Hirsch and Cook. on the her
hand, have maintained a strict silence
concerning the case from the begin
ming. Their only comment when ques-
toned about the charges, has been
'the whole story would be told at the
trial."
Court Room Thronged.
Long before court opened the last
available seat in the court room had
been filled and it was announced that
standing in the aisles and sabout the
walls would not be permitted.
After Judge Hill overruled motion
for a change of venue and several de-
murrers filed on behalf of the defense,
selection Of a jury was completed in
twelve minutes.
Mayor Gambler was called as the
first witness.
PAPER PRINTED PHOTO.
In response to questions by Attor-
ney Reuben r. Arnold, associate coun-
sci for the prosecution, Mr.. Gambler
said he became acquainted with Mrs.
Hirsch in the summer Of 1917 when
she came to his office in the city hail.
accomp anied by another woman. She
was interested in selling an automo-
bile by tickets for the benefit of the |
Red Cross. She was in doubt as to
the city ordinances would |
permit this plan. Several days later,
the mayor testified, Mrs. Hirsch came !
to see him-he believed it was in his |
office in the Gambler buiIding-to re-
guest his assistance in handling some /
tickets on the automobile at dinner
to be given in honor of Brig Gen.
Eben Swift.
Here Attorney Arnold asked the
mayor some questions that were ruled .
out by Judge Hill on the ground of
irreIevance. Arnold then took up the
m after of a photograph taken of
Mayor Gambler, Gen. Swift and Mrs.
firsch, which one of the Atlanta pa
perss printed.
Il had nothing to do with the ar
rangement Of that group" said Mayor
Gambler. THE photographer selected
the people he wanted in the picture
and simply consented to his arrange
nent- My recollection is that about a
dozen people were in the snapshot,
although only three of us appeared in
he newspaper reproduction"
About Humane Officer.
Continuing his acquaintance with
Yrs. Hirsch, the mayor said:
Mrs. Hirsch. called on me a time or
.wo later in my Office in the Gambler ,
The conversation all the ,
ime was about the tickets for the au-
omobile. She did nothing that indi- ,
,ated she was not lady. She visited /
ne once in my office in city halli I
hink that was last January. She was
Interested then in securing enforce /
nent of the laws against cruelty to q,
Lnimals. She asked that a new hu- =,
name officer be assigned to this work. &
Il saw her again on Feb. on For I
yth street. on my way from the city i
Iall to the Gambler building. She
sked me for a conference that after
Don in M Office in the Gambler build
ng. told her it would be impossible. 9
ut l would see her on Wednesday !
fternoon, Feb. 6, at o'clock in my 7
flee in the Gambler building. She :
Id not state the matter she wished to .
iscuss with me, although she made
lention of the humane society.
Saw Man Outside Winde~. &
"On Wednesday afternoon. Feb. 6, :