Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-20
Uncle Sam:=|s Plaintiff and
n, Y, World DEPENDENT.
Subpoena, In Usual Form, Is
Served on a World Emp|oye.
Man Said TO Have furnished Data
On the Rack All DaytTuesday.

|
terry which for the past two days has
enveloped the secret examination before
the Federal grand jury here of newspa-
per men and others believed to have
knowledge regarding the publication of
| alleged libelous matter concerning the
purchase by the United States of the
Panama Canal Co. would seem to have
been lifted tonight by the issuance of a
subpoena in which for the first time the
names of both the complainant and de-
PENDANT are made public.
This document, made out against John
Doe was served upon William j. Demp-
sey head of the mailing department of
the New York World, and commands his
appearance before the Federal grand jury
to testify in the matter of the United
States against the Press Publishing Co.,
which company publishes the World.
1t is generally believed that the action
of the Federal authorities in thus COM
ing out in the open as complanants
against the World will result in the
abandonment of the proceedings begun
by J. Angus Shaw, secretary of the Press
Publishing Co., and four other employees
of the World, to have the subpoenas
served upon them quashed on the ground
that the omission of the names of both
complainant and defendant rendered them
invalid or else in the issuance of new
subpoenas naming compliments and ac-
cused.
Argument on the validity of the orig
inal subpoenas was to have been heard
by Judge Ward in the United States cir
cult court this afternoon. but was adj
nv mutual l.
sent.
Another of the days developments
which definitely established the proceed
ings as an action for libel against the
World was the calling into consultation
by United States District Attorney Henry
L. Stimson of William Travers Jerome.
district attorney for the county of New
York
Mr. Jerome would not reveal the ma
ture of this conference. but admitted that
it had a direct bearing on a question of
libel alleged to have been committed III
the county of New York.
Until the issuance of the John Doe
subpoena subsequently served upon Mr..
Dempsey. many conjectures had been
current as to just what was the nature
of the secret investigation being con-
Quoted by the Federal grand jury
Although the only witness examined
today was +. NJ. Engelman. an en-
ploye of Il news association, who is said
to have furnished the data upon the al
legged libeous article subsequently pub
lished by the World We're based. the
presence outside the grand jury room of
two Secret Service men from Washington
with a mass of documents and number
of account books gave rise to all sorts or
rumors one which had to do with the
possible bringing by the government of
an action for criminal conspiracy.
Mr. Engelman was closely questioned
bv Mr. Stmson and special deputy at
torney general from Washington, but
what disclosures were made by him in
the course of his examination was not
revealed.
Mr.. Engelman is said to have made an
investigation last year in Paris of the
purchase of the canal property by the
United States from the French stock
holders. and to have submitted the re-
suit of his investigation to the Democratic
national committee during the last cam
pagn. 1t was upon hts findings in the
matter, he declares. that the World bas-
ed the articles attacking the purchase ana
rejecting upon the manner and method
of it's comsummation Although the eX-
animation of Mr.. Eengelman occupied the
entire session of the grand jury. it had
| not been concluded when that body adj
| journed for the day While it was being
! conducted Il number of other witnesses
sat impatiently in an anteroom waiting
| their turn to be called. Among those
| in attendance We're Edward II. Craggln
| a one-time advocate of the Nicaragua ca
nal route: A. G.. Rousey, Washington
newspaper correspondent and Alexander
s. Bacon. who is said to have been en-
gagged with Engelman in the investigation
of the canal purchase in Paris.