Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-03-01
ATLANTA MAYOR
Tells STORY OF
BLACKMAIL CASE

Atlanta, Ca. Feb. 27-Mrs. H. H.
Hirsch and J. W. Cook came up for
trial today on the charge of attempt
ing to blackmaiI Mayor Asa Gambler,
from whom it Is charged they sought
to extort 100000 by threats. The
state has subpoenaed many witnesses
including H. H. Hirsch. husband of
the accused woman, while the de-
tense has subpoenaed women employ
ed by the city.
A request for a change of venue
was denied. Mayor Gambler, in re-
spouse to questions, said he became
acquainted with Mrs. Hirsch last
summer when she came to his office
accompanied by another woman, in
connection with selling an automo-
bile by tickets for Red Cross bene-
fit. She was in doubt as to whether
the city ordinances would allow it
Several days later, the mayor testi-
fed, Mrs. Hirsch came to see him-he
believed it was in his office in the
Gambler building-to request his as
sistance in handling some tickets on
the automobile at a dinner to be
given in honor of Brig. Gen. Eber
Swift.
Attorney Arnold, for the prosecu
ton, asked about a photograph OF
Mayor Gambler, Gen. Swift and Mrs
Hirsch.
'I' had nothing to do with the ar
rangement of that group" said Mayor
Gambler. THE photographer selected
ha -
and I simply consented to his ar
rangement. My recollection is that
about a dozen persons were in the
snapshot, although only three Of us
appeared in the newspaper reproduc-
ton
Continuing his account of his &C
quaintance with Mrs. Hirsch, the
mayor said:
Mrs. Hirsch called on me a tint
or two later in my office in the Cand,
Ter building The conversation all the
time was about the tickets for the
automobile She did nothing that in.
Dictated that she was not a lady. She
visited me once in my office in the
city hall. I think that was last Jan
uary She was interested then in OBJ
|
against cruelty to animals. She asked
that a new humane officer be assigned
to this work.
81 saw her again on Feb. on For
sythe street, on my way from the city
hall to the Gambler building. Shit
asked me for conference that after
noon in my office in the Candlel
building. 1 told her it would be i'm
possible, but 1 would see her on Wed
nesday afternoon, Feb. 6, at o'clocl
in my office in the Gambler building
She did not state the matter sh'
wanted to discuss with me, although
she made mention of the humane 50
ciety.
ION Wednesday afternoon she cam
to my office in the Gambler building
She removed her coat and sat dow
beside the table. The door from m
private office into the hallway wa
locked on the outside, as it Away
is.
'She had hardly seated herself be
fore she sprang up and excla1me
that she saw a man outside the win
dow. I remarked that it wa
probably a window washer, and turne
around to look, but saw nobody. Mr.;
Hirsch claimed it was not a windo7
washer, but a well dressed white ma
standing on the ledge. again turr
ed my head to look out the window
When 1 turned back to Mrs. Hirsc
she had removed her hat and ha
opened the door leading into tn
hallway. A man was standing in tn
door and immediately entered tn
office I had never seen him c
heard of him before. He said:
"'Our honorable mayor, this
nicer I at once suspected that
trap had been laid for me"
Attorney John R. Cooper of couns'
for the defense objected to whs
Mayor Gambler suspected. The OF
lection was sustained.