The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-01-18
New York World Editor Sub.
poenaed to Testify Before
Federal Grand Jury
ACCUSATIONS OF PANAMA GRAFT
TO Be PR0bED TO THE BOTTOM
Sensational Journal is Trying to Avoid
Being Proven Falsifier by Prevent.
ing Its Editor From Being Forced
to Testify as to the Charges.

New York, Jan. 18-The nature of
the proceedings which have been in
stltuted against the New York World
and Indianapolis News because of
their criticisms of the methods by
which the purchase of the Panama
canal was made, was not disclosed in
the brief hearing in court here to-
day. Acting under instructions be.
lleved to have been issued by the au-
thority of the United States govern
ment United States District Attorney
Henry l.. Stimson had subpoenaed
William B. Mclaughlin, managing
editor Of the World, and ]. Angus
Shaw. secretary of the Press Publish
ing company. to testify before the
federal grand jury today in an action
which was not described in the sub
poenaes. 1t 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. the brother
of the president-elect, and J. Douglass
Robinson, the presidents brother-in-
law, in the criticisms of the canal pur-
chase. The proceedings were halted
by an order obtained by counsel for
the Worlds editor calling upon Stim-
son to show cause why the subpoenaes
should not be quashed. Brief argu-
ment was heard by United States Cir
cult Judge Henry G. Ward today ON
the motion to quash the subpoenaes.
after which an adjournment was TAX
en- until o'clock this afternoon when
Judge Ward will hear further areu-
ments.
John NJ. Bowers of counsel for Nc
Laughlin and Shaw argued that the
forms of the subpoenaes were illegal
| inasmuch as the following concluding
words of subpoenae: "In a certain
cause now pending and undetermined
In this said court between the United
States 8" were crossed out
making the subpoenae read, testify
to what they may know generally"
Bowers held that the subpoenae was
illegal inasmuch as it did not state the
nature of the inquiry or the person
accused and that the proceeding was
an abuse of the process.
District Attorney Stimson. speaking
for the United States, argued that the
form of subpoenae had been used in
practice in this district for fifty years
and was recognized by the statutes
of the United States. He said: THE
same situation arises in corporate ex-
ecution to find out who is responsible.
1t is often impossible to find out who
is responsible in corporation. How
can we name the man accused until
we know who is to be indicted?"
Judge Ward interrupted to say that
this was case of practice and that
no one should be given an opportunity
of bringing a man before grand
jury and rake about his affairs to
make criminal of him.
Democrat Kicks.
Washington, Jan. 1S.-The resolu-
tion introduced today by Senator Rey-
ner of Maryland calling on the attor-
ney general for information concern
ing the bringing of the suit for libel
against certain newspapers. went over
until tomorrow under the senate rules
despite the fact that Senator Reyner
asked for its immediate consideration.
The objection was lead by Senator
Lodge.