The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-02-18

rants were issued today for the arrest
of Joseph Pulitzer. Caleb M. Var
Hamm and Robert H. Lyman of New
York. proprietor and editors nf the
New York World, and for Delevar
Smith and Charles r. Williams, own.
ers Of the Indianapolis News, fol
criminal libel in connection with the
publication of charges of irregularities
in the purchase by the United States
of the Panama canal property from
the French owners.
The indictments were returned today
by the United States grand jury, sit
ting in this city. The warrants are
directed against all five of the natural
defendants of the two newspapers
The summons requires the corporate
defendants (the Press Publishing COM
pany Of New York; to appear in court
forthwith.
Copies Of the bench warrants and
the certified copies of indictments
were placed in the hands Of the United
States marshal here, and he will pro-
ceed In accordance with the directions
Of District Attorney Baker
Those viIIified.
Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft,
Elihu Root, J. Pierpont Morgan,
Charles p. Taft, Douglas Robinson
and William Nelson Cromwell are
named in the indictments as the per-
sons villified.
Copies Of the summons and of the
indictment were served this evening
upon the Press Publishing company by
service on Otto Carmichael, its agent
In this jurisdiction. The certified copies
will be filed with United States Com
missioner John r. Shields in Ne Y
York, who will issue warrants for tle
arrests of the natural defendants of
the New York World, who will be
brought before him to show cause why
they should not be extradited to this
Jurisdiction for trial.
In the event that the commissioner
should hold the indictment sufficient
and the offense one upon which the
defendants may be extradited to this
jurisdiction, the defendants may seek
a writ Of habeas corpus in the United
States district court for the southern
district of New York and may appeal
to the United States supreme court.
II the defendants should pursue the
course outlined above at least year
probably will elapse before they can
be brought before the court for trial.
BIackmail Fails.
Failure of an attempt to blackmail,
according to William Nelson Cromwell,
was the reason for the publication Of
the stories which he declared today
were premedltated and made with
foreknoWledge of their infamous
sources and after specific warning by
me of their falsity."
1.-THE stories," he added, were con-
cocted more than two and a half years
ago by INSCRIPTIONS parties in New
York. some of whom have criminal rec
ords, in an attempt to blackmail me-"
He said he was asked to pay $25,000
to have the stories suppressed.
Il do not believe the World was a
party to these attempts, but it was
dealing with the same gang. The
indictment OF the New York World
and the Indianapolis News is not an
indictment of the press of the United
States, as they would like to have it
appear, to obtain the support Of the
general press Of the country. I am in
favor OF free and unmuzzled press"
Cromwell Talks.
Mr.. Cromwell, in making charges of
blackmail, said:
THE parties who conceived the
stories more than two years ago made
a demand on me to pay them a large
sum of money with threat that If
did not comply the stories would be
published
This attempt was temporarily
dropped, but was renewed again in |
July and August last, when was ac-
tive In the political campaign. I de- |
cided that the time had come to place |
the matter before the district attorney |
Of New York, and did so. I have |
absolute proof that the parties behind |
these stories were at the time In fre-
Quent conference with the managers of |
the World at their office and residence |
upon the subject of these stories.
Explicit Denial.
"On the very eve of the publication
of the story the New York World lot
op'y received my explicit denial and
denunciation of the stories, but re-
oeived direct personal notice from me
IN us editorial 70 pms that the StOl les
were false in every respect
There never existed the slightest
foundation upon which to base any of
the allegations printed in the stories
in the World. am sure the papers of
the country will indorse the straight
forward and manly act of President
Roosevelt denouncing in his message to
congress the action of the newspapers
in bringing into disrepute the greatest
action Of all ages and unjustly assail-
ing those who have devoted their best
efforts to make the Panama canal a
glory to the American nation the
world over"
Nothing To Say.
New York. Feb. 17.-Bowers and
Sangs. of the counsel for the World,