Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-10-13
NEWSPAPER OWNERS DISCHARGED
Remarks More Than Significant Made
by Court In Refusing to Send Smith
and williams TO DIetrict OF Column
bis for Trial In Alleged LIbe! Pro-
eee6ings. =,
eeedings.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Oct. IL
Judge A. b. Anderson. OF the United
States Court of this district, today DIS
missed the proceedings against Deie-
van Smith and Charles Il. Wiiliams'
proprietors Of the Indianapolis News,
who were resisting removal to the
District of Columbia for trial under
grand Jury indictment charging them
with having committed criminal libel
against ex.President Roosevelt Presi-
dent Taft, Charles p. TAFT. WILLIAM
Nelson Cromwell ]. Pierpont Morgan
and others in publishing articles al
leging that there was corrupt pronl
of S2s, 00O. 900 in the sale OF the Pana-
ma canal to the United states.
That man has read the history OF
our institutions TO little purpose said
Judge Anderson in concluding his de-
cision. who does not view with ap-
prehension the object OF such pro
ceedings as this. to the end that citi-
zens could be dragged from tneir
homes to the District of Columbia, the
seat OF government. for trial under
the circumstances OF this case the
defendants are discharged
Too Busy to Write Long Opinion
At the close today of argument in
the hearing. Judge Anderson said tnat
he was too busy to write long opin-
ion in the case but he would sum up
at once his view of the evidence and
the argument.
Now, there are many peculiar cir
cumstances about the whole Panama
canal business. I do not wish to be
understood as rejecting upon any
body IN or out OF Office, except sucn
person or persons as ! may name
THE revolution In Panama. the cir
cumstances concerning IL, were rn-
usual and peculiar. The people were
interested in the construction OF the
canal. II was a matter OF great pub
lie concern: a large portion OF the
people favored the N;caraguan route;
another portion, those who were m
terested in it. officially and personally
lust ntcrested-preferred the Pana-
ma route. A committee was appoint
ed to investigate the relative merits
of the two routes. They investigated
and reported In favor of the Nicara-
guam. shortly afterwards they chang
ed to Panama.
Judge is Curious Himself.
Now. there were number Of peo-
pie who thought there was something
wrong-something not just exactly
right about that transaction. and say
for myself that now | felt natural
curiosity to know what the real truth
was.
"ThereupoH the committee OF the
United States Senate was appointed
to investigate the matter about the
only way IL could be investigated The
committee met. as stated IN these ar
:icies. these men. who knew all about
1t. I think that is the proper way TO
speak OF William Nelson Cromwell
Well these men were called before
tho committee and so far as the re-
cord has been read. Mr. Cromwell
stood upon h.s privilege whenever
question was asked him which gave
which would OF might reflect upon him
or his associates: but whenever
question was asked him whihc gave
him an opportunity TO say soHaethi7s
in their behalf. ne ostcntatiouziy
thanked the examiner and proceeded
20 answer.
just Ground for Suspicion
TO my mind that was just ground
for suspicion. am suspicious about
u now.
so We have this situation. Here
Is a matter Of great public concern
vas Interested. you vere interested.
We were all interested Here vss
(Conunssd on seventh Psgs-D