Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-22
BOTH SIDES CONFIDENT
OVER BLACkMAIL TRIAL
Mrs, HirSCh Better Thursday
After Slight IIIneSS-Cook
Writes Card

Their plans practically complete. coun-
sci for both the state and the defense
are perfecting the details of their court
room campaigns for the trial of Mrs II.
II. IIirsch and ]. w. Cook, jointly In
dicted for an alleged attempt to black
mail Mayor Asa q. Gambler. Declining
to issue any further statements regard
ing the various phases of the case, At
torneys James and Bedgood, for the de-
Tense, and Attorney Reuben F. Arnold,
who is assisting Solicitor General John
A. Boykin for the state, expressed them
selves Thursday as being. content to
await developments as they shall appear
when the issue is joined in Judge Ben H.
HILLS division Of the Fulton superior
court on February %.
Attorney John r.. Cooper, of Macon,
who has been retained to assist in the
defense of both Mrs. Hirsch and Cook,
is expected TO return to Atlanta on Fri
day to hold further conferences with the
defendants and their original counsel.
He has already spent one day here, ar
irving Tuesday morning in response 20
a telegraphic summons and returning to
Macon Tuesday night.
Mrs Hirsch, who was suffering from
a cold on Wednesday, was somewhat i'm
proved Thursday and displayed her US
uaI interest in the preparations for her
approaching trial.
A short statement was issued We'd
nesday afternoon by !. w. Cook, who did
not elaborate on his bare declaration
contained in the signed card, which was
as follows:
ITO the Public: Keep this for future
reference Asa c. Gambler. ST., Asa G.
Gambler Jr., Judge John Gambler, For
rest Adair and George Adair know the
truth as to this case now, and ev-
erybody will knodw, when the trial is
over.
Mrs Hirsch had no callers at the
Tower Thursday morning. Her husband
left the city Wednesday night on n
short business trip, expecting to re-
turn It is understood, in time for the
trial next Wednesday. His friends state
that he is determined to stand by his
original declaration that he would tul-
fill every obligation placed upon him
BY the predicamcnt in which his Wlte
has been placed.
Previous Relations
AS the result of Investigations con-
Quoted since the indictment or the two
defendants. it is announced by Solicitor
General John A. Boykin that evidence
has been secured to show that Mrs.
Hirsch and Cook were on terms of IA
miliarity for some time previous to the
alleged attempt to eXtort $500, 600 from
Mayor Gambler.
witnesses have been found, the solicit
tor general declared Thursday, who will
testify regarding an incident occurring
at the Southeastern Fair grounds last
fall. On the occasion in question, the
solicitor says, Mrs. Hirsch and Cook
were seen a a refreshment stand on the
midway. taking alternate bites from the
same piece Of pie.
Additional evidence has been secured
according to the solicitor general, which
will be introduced in an effort to show
that Mrs. Hirsch and Cook sought to
obtain legal advice as to their status
in the affair. Several days before the
grand jury was called upon to investi-
gate the case, it is claimed by the
state, Mrs. Hirsch and Cook together
visited the office of a well-known At
lanta attorney, but details concerning
this bit of evidence are not divulged by
the prosecution