The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-01-17
VASH|NCT 7 ON
REPORT TERS
CALLED
To Testify Before Federal
Grand Jury Regarding
Canal Stories.

washington, Jan. 16.-SIx Washing.
ton correspondents of out of town pa
pers and local news bureau were to-
day subpoenacd to appear next week
before federal grand juries and testify,
presumably in connection with state
ments appearing in their publications
bearing on theh Panama canal pur-
chase.
So far as it has been possible to
ascertain, there were the only ones
ciated;
Otto Carmichael. Charles s. Ambert,
and z. Jesse Conway OF the New York
World. James Hornaday. indianapolis
News: Jeremiah Matthews. New York
Sun: Harris NJ. Crista, Brooklyn Eagle,
and William Smith. newsboy Of
Washington. engaged in selling New
York papers. With the exception of
Mr.. Crista, who is commanded TO GO
to New York and present himself to-
day before the federal grand jury, the
parties are directed 10 appear before
the federal grand jury of the District
of Columbia. next Tuesday.
The World men also were directed
to bring with them files of the paper
for September. October. November
and December, 1908. in the case of
the United States vs.. the Press Pub
lisning company. publishers of the New
York World
There is no doubt that the subpoe-
mas all have 10 do with suit for libel,
which il Is believed has been brought
BY the government in New York.
against the World The publishers OF
the New York Sun and the indianapolis
News, Mr. Laffan and Delavans, were
denounced by the president in letter
dated December L. last 10 w. A, Dud-
Icy Foulkc. In his special message to
congress of December 10. regarding
the charges OF corruption. the presi-
dent announced that tnhe attorney gem
eral had under consideration the form
in which proceedings for libel against
Joseph Pulitzer publisher of the New
York World. should be brought. No
where in the annals of the government
has such action before been taken, as
the government suing for criminal
libel.
The president in his message, was
most emphatic in saying that ii should
not be left to private citizen TO en-
ter suit, and was particular TO state
that he did not believe I'VE should
concern ourselves with the particular
individuals who write the lying and
libelous editorials. articles from cor
respondents OF articles IN news coll
umns. The real offender is Mr.. Jos.
Pulitzer. editor and proprietor of the
World"
It therefore is inferred that the cor
respondents were summoned as Wit
nesses and not with the ultimate idea
of making them co-defendantS.. All
efforts 10 get any information regard
ing the statute under which the suit
has been brought, failed
That every effort was made to pre-
vent a Teak in New York before the
subpoenas we're served. is evidenced
hy the fact that the Crista subpoena
was directed 10 'Joha" Crista. the in
dorsement later being written upon it
that John" was a fictitious name.
The fact that Mr.. Crlsta has been or
dered to appear in New York is re-
garded as evidence that II any purpose
had been entertained to bring such
an action in New York state courts 1t
mad been abandoned.
Grand jury proceedings In the Dis
trict Of Columbia are always conducted
With theh greatest secrecy.
Additional interest is lent TO the
case by the presence here OF VIM
Nelson Cromwell. who represented the
canal company In the negotiations
with the government Several al
tempts were made to reach him at his
hotel. but all callers were informed
that he was not in.