The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-02-03
JEROME TO SUE WORLD.
SAYS GOVERNMENT MUST STAND
ASIDE, HOWEVER.
Thinks Douglas Robinson was Lii
belcd In the Panama Canal Stock
and Says that ne is Willing to Pro-
ceed Against Editor Pulitzer.

New York, Jan. 27.--The possibili-
ty Of the Federal authorities having
to stand aside to permit the State and
County OF New York to proceed
against the publishers of the New
York World for the alleged libel in
connection with the Panama purchase
was made apparent today in letter
written by District Attorney Jerome
to United States District Attorney
Henry l. Stinson.
Provided Douglas Robinson, broth
er-in-law OF the President. is willing
to appear as a complaint witness. Mr..
Jerome Is ready, the letter states, to
begin action at once In the State
Courts. 1t would be useless for him
to do so, however. he explains, II his
inquiry Is not given precedence over
that begun before the Federal jury
as acQuittal In one court would act as
sufficient defense in the other.
II have given the matter publish
ed In the New York World, of Octo-
ber 8. 1908. careful consideration"
the letter says. "and am OF the opinion
that 1t is plainly libel upon Chas. p.
Taft and Douglas Robinson, assuming,
OF course. that 1t is untrue as to the
syndicate mentioned therein and their
alleged connection Herewith. Under
the laws Of this State. It's publication
Is crime. and as 1t was published in
the county of New York. It is my duty
under certain circumstances to pro-
secute those responsible for the pub
lication. The publication has much
wider general importance than is
found in most libels. 1t in substance,
charges that by. corrupt and dishon-
orable. IL not criminal means, the
treasury of the United Statees was
depleted to the extent Of $36,600. 900
through the connivance, to give it
no harsher description, Of some of
the chief officers Of the State. and
that this great sum was divided
among Government favorites in the
world OF politics and flnance."
while the whole OF the United
States have been injured by the pub
lication Of such false and libelous
matter, the people Of the State have
received distinct and separate injury,
In that one Of It's citizens. Douglas
Robinson. has had false matter pub
iished about him in the community In
which he lives and is respected. the
direct purpose and tendency Of which
In to brand him as . dishonorable and
dishonest man. and one who was will
Ing to trade upon the honor of his
brother-in-law. the President OF the
United States. g.
This offense Am loath to allow
tn pass unpunished. or at least WITH.
out an effort to properly punish It.
Therefore. should Mr.. Robinson ex-
'pi ess to me his wish to have an act
ion for criminal libel Instituted, I
will institute such action, provided
I may do so without an unwise inter
ference with q matter over which
the Federal courts have jurisdiction,
and In which action has already been
taken by the Federal authorities"
Taken in connection with the fac:
that hearings today before the Fed
e.al grand Jury. which were adjourn
Ell until next Monday afternoon. but
one witness. John Weir. a reporter
for the New York American. has been
examined. Mr.. Jerome's is believed
by many to augur the suspension
momentarily. at least. Of the Federal
Inquiries and the early inception Of
'n in"uiritiGn by tho State.