The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-01
JEROME WILL
HAVE CHANCE
TO PROSECUTE
limited States District Attorney
Writes Letter Regarding
Case of the World.
GOVERNMENT INQUIRY,
HOWEVER, MAY PROCEED
eoop NAME OF DOUGLAS ROBIN.
SON TO BE PROTECTED,
THOUGH HEAVENS FALL.

Neu York. Jan. S--United States Dis
.,,.+ Attorney Henry L. Stimson made
a,,btic tonight a letter in reply to one
,,rttten By District Attorney jerome on
N. subject of beginning an action for
--'r,inal Hbel in the state courts against
~ publishers of the New York World
5-cause Of publishing charges regarding
she Panama canal purchases.
Mr.. Stimson tells Mr. Jerome to 60
~ l,e Jerome had asked If action in the
.,sfe courts on behalf of Douglas Robin
se1 the presidents brotiler-in-lav would
h. an unwise interference with the ae-
5,oas begun under federal jurisdiction.
May BE Two Prosecutors.
Mr. stjmson answers this question mega
,i-siv INIT he does not state that the FED
raj injuries or prosecutions viii cease
II Mr. Jerome brings an action
y k apparent that while the Federal au-
,bnrjties concede to Mr.. Jerome the right
70 apoear as the protector OF Douglas hoo=
iesoa's good ZANE. they reserve TO them
selves the privilege Of acting IN detelise
of The reputa ton OF "a gentleman wno oc-
cupied the position OF hsaq o. s.;s;..so q
department in any federal Jufiselis'ioA
where the case applies.
Letter Of stinson.
Afr stimson's letter SAYS;
NV Dear SRI have received. your let
Ter of Ian. Is. THE series Of pu5iieatlei1s
in the New York World &c which you re-
fer have for some time been UNDER ny
consideration These Duoiteatlellss when
concur with you IN consfdertRs deeiV ~
spnear TO have been circulated py ths
Newspaper. in a number of distinct ana
irdapendent Jurisdictions and TO contain
charges reflecting upon the personal eiia.-
scter of n number OF men. OF V1on7 some
sre in pubiic life and some are private
citizens. In each Of these J'frIsdi eticES'
under well known PRINCIPLES OF lay, eAsh
Of these publications would constIsttes g
separatc offense. asfs as Il happe4s ~
this case, each one Is CHARACTERIZED "
distinct and peculiar features.
says ofense Is Clear.
,s7Yopr letter makes cIear the offense
aek1fzt ths lass Of New York state con.
sfIfiJted 81 the stack f1pou the reputs tsezi
Of Mr.. Robinson. The eircu'at,on or Sun
liar charges of personal corruption OF dis
honor against a gentleman who OCCUPIED
the position Of head OF the war oepar L
ulent among the officers ana men OF tht
army, resident upon the military reserNs'
tions in nv district, or among the resi-
dents of the District of Columbia, wher'
the war depa rtment Is situated. may WEI
engage the attention of the officials who's
duty it is to enforce the law IN those 10
Calities-
have co ferred with the attorney general
IN answer. therefore. to your query a
10 whether q prosecution on your part a
10 the alleged libel Upon Mr.. Robinson
would be regarded as an unwise inter
ference with a matter over which IN
federal courts have jurisdiction. ana IL
which action has already been taken D.
the federal authorities. | beg to assur
sou that such action on your part viii II
noWise be regarded as such an lnterfer
cnce, but, on the contrary, we snail re
gard il as our duty to cooperate with yol
IN all proper and lawful ways
Truth Would Be d Defense.
I'm all Of these several jurisdictions tn
truth of the alleged libels would in tn
present case constitute d complete defens
TO the prosecution. Should such de
Tense be attempted, it is manifestiy o
the utmost Importance that this question
as to the truth or falsity of the pubitca
tons ST ould be presented 10 the court i
the light Of the fullest possible evidence
and be settled for ali time beyond the pos
siolity Of doubt
You may. therefore. be assured OF m
cordial cooperation in bringing TO Ign
all facts relating to this transaction
Very respectfully yours,
HENRY +. STINSON.
Il -nited States Attorney