The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-01-18
SUIT FOR
| | B E |
BEGUN
Representatives ofWorId
Subpoenaed to Appear
Before Grand Jury

New York, Jan. 1S.-The nature OF
the proceedings which have been In
stituted against the New York World
and the Indianapolis News because OF
the criticisms OF the method by which
the purchase OF the Panama canal was
made. was not disclosed In the brief
hearing in court here today. Acting
under instructions believed to have
been Issued by authority of the Unit
ed States government. United States
District Attorney Stimson. has sub
poenaed VIM. B. Mclaughlin, sporting
editor of the World, and j. Angus
Ahaw. secretary of the Press Publish
ing company. to testify before a fed
eral grand jury today In an action
which was not described in the sub
poenaes. It was believed, however, to
be the outcome of President Roose.
velt's message to congress. in which
he protested against the linking OF
the name of Charles P. Taft brother
of the President-elect, and j. Douglass
Robinson, the Presidents brothcr-in.
law. in criticisms of the canal pur-
chase.
The examination of The Worlds
men was halted by an order obtained
by counsel for The Worlds editors.
calling upon Mr. Stimson to show
be quashed.
Several other witnesses In whose be-
half no information was obtained.
were called before the grand jury to
give evidence today. The first to be
examined was H, II. Bjornsen. who is
said TO be connected with the Wash
ington Office of Sullivan and Cromwell,
the lawyers. Mr.. Cromwell had a
prominent part in the acquisition OF
the Panama canal. Mr.. Bjornsen said
that he was questioned as to whether
the firm of Sullivan & Cromwell had
offered to pay for the suppression OF
stories about the canal. He said that
he replied that he knew nothing about
1t as he was otherwise engaged at the
time of the canal negotiations.
Other witnesses who were waiting
to go before the grand jury were d. NJ.
Engelman, of an international news
service. who said he went abroad to
investigate the canal purchase. and
on his return, submitted a report to
the national Democratic committee
which afterward got into the possess
sion of the World.
Jonas Whitley. formerly of the
World, but now in the office of Sulli-
van & Cromwell; A. c. Rowsey of the
Boston American, and John l. Weis, ot
the New York American. were also
waiting their turn TO testify
Brief arguments were heard by Unit
ed States Circuit Judge Henry e..
Ward today on the motion to quash the
subpoenaes after which an adjourn
ment was taken until this afternoon,
when Judge Ward will hear further
arguments.
]. NJ, Bowers, of counsel for Mr..
Mclaughlin and Mr. Shaw, argued
that the form of the subpoenaes was
illegal, inasmuch as the following con-
Guiding words of the subpoenae I'm a
certain cause now pending and unde~
termined in this said court between
the United States" were crossed out,
making the subpoenae read TO testi-
fy to what they may know generally"
Mr. Bowers held that the subpoenae
was Illegal inasmuch as it did not state
the nature of the inquiry or the per-
son accused and that the proceedings
were an abuse OF process.
District Attorney Stimson. speaking
for the United States. argued that the
form of the subpoenae had been used
in practice in this district for f1fty
wears and were recognized by the
statutes of the United States. MIR.
Stimson said,
1.-The same situation arises In a cor
rorate examination to find out who is
responsible. 1t is often impossible 70
find out who is responsible in cor
poration. How can we name the man
accused until we know who is to bo
indicted?"
Judge Ward interrupted to say that
this was a case OF practice. md that
10 one should be given an opportunity
OF bringing a man before the grand
jury and rake about his aIairs TO
make a criminal of him.
zaNcr nanDAy