Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-27
To Prosecute the World
For Criminal Libel.
Provided Federal Authorities
Give Him First Chance.
Panama Canal Purchase Slandsr
Cannot b Overlooked.

New York, Jan. 26-The possibility Of
the federal authorities having to stand
aside to permit the state and county Of
New York to proceed against the pub
fishers of the New York World for the
alleged libel in connection with the Pam
anna purchase, was made apparent today
in letter written by District Attorney
Jerome to United States District Attor-
ney Henry L. Stimson.
Provided Douglas Robinson, broher-in
law of the President. is willing to appear
as complainant 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 ifslis inquiry is not given prece-
dence over that begun before the federal
grand jury, as acquittal or conviction in
one court would act as sufficient defence
in the other.
Il have given the matter published in
the New York World of Oct 8. 1908, care
full consideration" the letter says, land
am of the opinion that it is plainly q libel
upon Mr.. Charles p. Taft and Mr.. Doug
las Robinson, assuming, of course, that
it is untrue as to the things mentioned
therein. Under the law of this state its
publication is a crime and as it was pub
lished in the county of New York 1t is
my duty, under certain circumstances,
to prosecute those responsible for the
publication.
The publication has much wider
general importance than is found in most
libels. 1t, in substance, charges that by
corrupt and dishonorable, If not criminal
means. the treasury of the United States
was depleted to the extent of s36,5OOOOO
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 IA
vorites in the world of politics and fl
nance.'"
Mr.. Jerome then voices his conviction
ut SO serious a charge should not pass
unchallenged and that adequate justifica-
ton should be shown or those making it
properly punished
From this point of VIEW, the letter
continues, 1.-The federal authorities, it
seems to me, have distinct interest and
a positive duty to perform, and from
what you tell me it would seem that the
jurisdiction of the federal courts is ade-
quate. There is another point of view,
however. While the whole people of the
United States have been injured by the
publication of such false and libelous
matter, the people of this state have re-
ceived a distinct and separate injury in
that one of its citizens, Mr.. Douglas Rob-
inson, has had false matter published
about him in the community in which he
lives and is respected, the direct purpose
and tendency of which is to brand him as
dishonorabie and dishonest man and
one who was willing to trade upon the
honor of his brother-in-law, the President
of the United States.
"This offence 1 am loath to allow to
pass unpublished, or, at least, without an
effort to properly punish it. Therefore,
should Mr.. Robinson express to me his
wish to have an action for criminal libel
instituted, 1 shall institute such an ac-
.unwise interference with a matter over
which the federal courts have jurisdiction
and in which action has already been
taken by the federal authorities"
Mr.. Jerome is of the opinion that the
state prosecution should take precedence
over one by the United States.
Taken in connection with the fact that
the hearings today before the federal
grand jury were adjourned until next
Monday, after but one witness. John Z.
Wier. reporter for the New Aork Amer
lean, had been examined Mr.. Jerome's
letter is believed by many to augur the
suspension momentarily at least of tho
federal inquiries and the early inception
of an inquisition by the state Win Mr.
Robinson as it's moving spirit