– SOCIETY JOURNALISM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 72, 24 March 1906, Page 10

- SOCIETY JOURNALISM.

1 METHODS OF BLACKMAIL IN AMERICA. A. -stateinen_»_vy+ -eokmel aged- editor and p_*pitetwr-<_. -'Town ■ Topics,'*-- was- published extensively recently, mating a virulent att__ck upon President Eoosevelt, declaring that the President had enlisted with "Colliers Weekly" to destroy an "honourable, honest, clean society paper," namely,"Town Topics.'' Colonel Mann says that Mr Roosevelt J__sj_lted_.l___ _ __ . returning the" free copy of that "marvellously beautiful volume, "Fads and Fancies," to which, according, to the evidence, many people were virtually compelled to subscribe heavily if they wished to safeguard themselves from ■the poisoned attacks of "Town Topics."

J _M-eanwhile- Americans have- been aroused to Indignation by the revelations of the -methods of -blackmail employed by- Colonel Mans, and there is -talk of a fresh prosecution, which, it is alleged, will disclose in detail the plan established to persecute rich society people in the columns of "Town Topics."" The system of espionage extended apparently from' tit Chens to Clubhouses, aDd piirsiica its' victims at home and abroad, and contributors of paragraphs likely to bring grist to what is called here the "Town Topics" Scandal Mill were well paid. When any particular spicy piece of information

came silong there was usually a preliminary paragraph in the. paper, such as, "Mr So-and-So, who is well known in church circles at Chicago, is on estranged, terms with his wife owing to th_ compromis-rig attentions he displayed towards Miss So-and-So, who is. equally well known in "Chicago." Then an emissary from the paper would see Mr So-anrl-So, who frequently, to avoid a scandal, made the best terms-he could. If he

failed to come up to- seratcb. more _arcumetantial detail was printed;and another paragraph went the rounds.

It was the systemattgatlpn. of this class of black-tali which excited the indignation of the Public Prosecutor, though the char-

■aefser'-of some of the victims, it is admitted, deserves no sympathy.

In _rdcr to avoid impeachment proceedings before the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Deuel, whose connection with "Town' Topics" was exposed recently, will resign his seat on the bench f orthwith. The evidence showed that Mr Deue.". whDe receiving £1800. yearly from the State as a judge, also received a salary from "Town Topics" of £'250, and from the "Smart Set." another of Colonel Mtinn's publications, £300.

Some of the best;!?npwn . and wealthiest Americans have now. been . subpoenaed to give ""evidence in "the perjury ..case against the proprietor of "Town Topics."