Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-28
IAN Who SOUGHT
bLACKMA|L GETS
YEAR in PRISON
w. Cook Guilty of At
empting to Extort Money
From Atlanta's Mayor.
MDLER TELLS HOW TRAP
WAS SET TO ENSNARE HIM
nspirators Demanded Amount
Equal Sum He Had Given
Emory University.
b CONDUCT ABOVE REPROACH
Ia Only Met Mrs. Hirsch When
She Came to Discuss Char
ity Work.
MDLER TELLS HOW TRAP
WAS SET TO ENSNARE HIM
CONDUCT ABOVE REPRoACH
! Only Met Mrs. Hirsch When
Slo Game to Discuss Char
ity Work.
Ipy Associated Press. J

fBy Associated Press
TIIANTh GA. February 2T.-Ouc
at hard labor on the chaingang
Gne OF 3l.0o0--the maximum
atty for a misdcmeanor-was the
tence imposed in Fulton County
berior Court to-day upon J. W. Cook,
real estate agent. indicted jointly
h Mrs. Margaret IIirsch, wife Of
II. Hirsch, an insurance man, for
attempt to blackmail Asa G.. Cand-
Atlanta's ?car-old multi
lionairc mayor. for 100000. Mrs.
sch will be placed on trial Fri
me Jury deliberatcd less than half
Phour and the entire trial consumed
quito eight hours. a jury was
urcd and the State had presented
bulk Of its evidence before the
bn recess, In the testimony Of Mr..
ldier. the first witness. and Forest
air. who acted as his agent in deal
with Cook and Mrs. IIirsch. The
Tense consisted OF brief statement
Cook himself.
URT SETS MARCH 10
For HEARING NEW TRIAL FLEA
Hftcr sentence had been imposed By
dge Hill. counsel for Cook made
motion for new trial. The court
March l6 as the date for hearing
;umcnts on the plea and fixed tho
cunt OF Cooks bond ~ $4,000.
irhc courtroom was crowded through
the trial the spectators incluhing
my women and children. Mrs. iIirsch
tercd court wearing Il heavy veil.
after taking her scat with counsel
Cook. she removed 4; and smiled
III nodded to those about her Ia ala
concerned manner.
:ook told the Jury that he at no
ne sought 10 procure any money
pm Mayor Gambler. and that tho two
differences that he had with Forest
lair were ut the lattnr's solicitation.
told OF seeing Mrs. IIirsch go TO
J. Mayors Office on two occasions
Pa of watching through the letter
k,t In the door. lie said he once saw
I'm In compromising position, and
at while he Mas AZ the door Mrs.
rsch rushed over and opened Il.
las. mInSCH DISCUSSED
CHARITY WITH MAYOR
Mayor Gambler told of meeting Mrs.
3rsch in connection with charity work
d of her visiting his Office TO dis
IS such work. He said he never
I'D made any improper advances TO
Pr and that on her last visit. after
had removed her coat and hat.
hile he was Investigating her state
ent that man was looking in tho
indow, he left the office TO go 10 that
his son in the same building and
| ct Cook outside the door
\Adair told OF conference with Mrs.
{irsch. February IL. at which Asa q.
hndler, Jr, was present. Mrs. lIirsch,
. asserted. asked for 100000 for her
II and $4,000 TO pay her husba s.
ebts. Cook. he said. had been tho
FIST one TO suggest money payment,
pat having been at 4 previous confer
bee, Adair said his object in carry
kg on tho negotiations was to secure
Eidencc and report the matter TO the
)lthorities.
The State introduced witnesses in an
Hort 10 show a close relationship be-
9veen Cook and Mrs. Hirsch
Thomas c. Martin. vice-prcsident Of
he Third National Bank. testified that
|wo days before the grand jury re-
|urned the indictments, Mrs IIirsch
Expected soon to come into possession
e large sum of money and wanted
lis advice about investing il,
After reviewing his acquaintance
18th Mrs. Hirsch. which he declared
rev out OF her activities in Red Cross
york. Mayor Gambler described in de-
Pill her visit TO his office on February
when Cook also appeared.
r. ONCE SUSPECTED TRAP
HAD BEEN LAID FOR HIM
when Cook suddenly appeared and
aid: our honorable Mayor. this is
iicc! ] at once suspected that a trap
lad been laid for me-" the Mayor tes-
ifcd.
ON cross-cxamination by John R
cooper. of counsel for the defense. Mr..
;andler denied that he knew Cook be-
pre- meeting Mrs. IIirsch. He also de-
lied. in answer to questions, that lie
lad ever taken any liberties with Mrs.
Irsch on her various visits 10 his
tHccs
Forrest Adair. wealthy real estate
lealer, followed Mr.. Gambler on the
'tand. He related how the Mayor had
;ome TO him on the day OF Cooks and
Yrs. Hirschs visit to his Office. and
low he had acted in behalf OF the
Mayor in subsequent dealings with the
puple.
Continuing his account Of his &C.
iuaintance with Mrs. Hirsch. the Mayor
said:
MRS. Hirsch called on me time or
rwo later In my Office in the Gambler
Building. The conversation all the
lime was about tho tickets for the
ktomobile. She did nothing that in
licated that she was not lady. She
Iisited me once in my Office in City
Hall. think that was last January.
Continued on Fifth PageD