New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-28
Refine Davies
Admits Serving.
Gin Cocktails
Actress Tells What Hap
pened at Party Before Os-
car A. Hirsh Was Shot;
Says Marion Not There
Questioned About Hearst
Attorney for DAILY News
Wants to Know Who Is
Employer of Film Star

Mrs. Refine Davies Ledcrer was q
cool and complacent witness under
ross-examination before Magistrate
George w. Simpson in the Municipal
Building yesterday in the hearing on
the complaint in a criminal libel suit
brought by George B. Van Cleve,
brother-in-law of Marion Davies,
against Merton Z. Burke and Philip
A. Payne, managing editor and city
editor, respectively, Of "The Daily
News" The compliant is the outgrowth
of articles published in connection
with the shooting OF Oscar A. Hirsh
by his wife after a party given on
June "a at the Freeport home Of Mrs
Lederer.
The witness admitted that cocktails
OF orange juice and gin were served
before dinner by Mr.. Van Cleve and
herself but said that no other liquor
was in the house so far as she knew.
She also said that Marion Davies had
been invited to her home that day, al
though she could not come.
"Do you know that Mr.. Hearst en-
ploys Marion Davies ?" inquired Mac
donald De Witt, counsel for the de-
PENDANTS.
81 know she works for the Interna-
tional."
"Do you know that Mr.. Hearst owns
the film productions in which Marion
Davies appears before the public and
that he is her employer?
"Isn 'tMr. Hearst Her Boss?"
81 consider that Marion Davies is
employed by the Cosmopolitan Films"
isn't Mr.. Hearst her boss?"
william Harmon Black, counsel for
the plaintiff, rose to object and h,s
objection was sustained.
Mrs. Leierer was questioned at
length on her theatrical career for the
purpose of showing that she was a
prominent and successful actress on
the speaking stage and in motion pic
lures, Mr.. De Witt said when Mr..
Black objected to his interrogations
along this line. Since the libel was
claimed to consist in part of the state
ment in the heading of the story and
pictures that the shooting occurred in
a I'm stars home Mr.. De Witt argued
that his questions were pertinent.
Apparently the most trying moment
of the afternoon for Mrs. Lederer was
when Mr.. De Witt asked her point
blank if she would call herself star.
She hesitated and sidestepped until
she va forced to give direct answer.
Then she said:
"Well, l am a stage star"
She opened her gold and jade vanity
case, took out a mirror, patted her
Titan hair into place over her ears
and smiled. She was wearing a beige
silk frock and cape with hat to match,
trimmed with falling loops of brown
velvet ribbon.
The Earnings of Star
Questioned as to her earnings on the
stage, Mrs. Lederer professed forget
fulness on specific points, but admit
ted that the statements made by her in
the accident suit brought against the
Briarclff Lodge Association some time
ago were true. Reading from the rec
ord Mr.. De Witt showed that she had
then testified that she earned on ar
average of from 100000 to $35, 900 6
year and that as vaudeville headlinel
she had earned on an average $500 8
week
Asked if Sine Silverman, owner OF
variety" had been invited to hel
party, Mrs. Lederer said ne had. The
Hirshes had not been invited to din
ner, but were asked to come in after
ward, she said.
"They were your invited guests :?
pursued Mr. De Witt.
They were not invited to dinner"
why you are not ashamed that yo,
invited them, are you?'