The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-05
Attorney General Says True
Bills May Soon Be Return
ed Against Editors.
ROOSEVELT HIGHLY ELATED
HOWEVER IN WASHINGTON OFF,.
GAL CIRCLES OPINION is Elk
PRESSED THE ACCUSED WON'T
BE TRIED.

Washington, Feb. 5-Indictments Of
Joseph Pulitzer, editor OF the New
York World. and of Delavan Smith, ed
itor Of the Indianapolis News, on
charges OF criminal libel are expected
by the law officers of the administra-
ton during the coming few days.
President Roosevelt has been infori-
ed by Attorney General Bonaparte
that the federal grand juries now sit
ting in New York and Washington,
either or both Of them, may return in
dictments at any -Itoment. No infor-
nation is obtainable as to whether the
true bills are to be found in New
York or here, though it is considered
probable they will be returned in both
cities. The program Of the admins
tratipn. It is believed. is to prosecute
the. cases, in the federal courts of New
York; first, and afterward, If neces-
Uary,dn this jurisdiction.
President Pleased.
President Roosevelt is naturally
elated over the information brought
him by the Attorney General and be-
lieves Mr. Bonaparte is not mistaken
IN his estimate of'what the grand jur-
les are about to do. This news, in
connection with the word from Okla
homa that. Governor Haskell has been
indicted for alleged land frauds, has
given the President a great deal Of
satisfaction. He feels that at last he
Ne getting even with some Of the men
who. have fallen under his displeas-
ure. His~chieft regret is that in the
cases. OF the editors against whom he
Instituted proceedings they cannot be
brought to trial during his admins
kration.
Declines a Forecast.
Attorney General Bonaparte, in an
ticipation of the return of indictments.
IL now preparing a statement to the
public giving the governments side
OF the case. He declines to forecast
the substance of this statement, but
It is understood to be justification OF
the action of the President and an out
line of the method of prosecution
which the government is to follow.
Then will be revealed. 1T is believed.
the mystery Of the prosecution, wheth-
er the offending editors are to be ar
raigned for libel Of the Presidents
brother-in-law. Douglas Robinson, and
the brother Of the President-to-be.
Charles p. Taft,.or whether the Presi-
dents original contention that the
government hastbeen .ubeled Is tenta-
lively sustained by the federal grand
jury. The Presidents legal advisers
claim to have discovered method by
which the defendants may be tried In
any, federal jurisdiction-the District
d Columbia, any territory, navy yard.
military reservation, fort or arsenal.
The government district attorney at
ltew York has publicly declared the
many federal jurisdictions, and that
circulation OF their publications in
zach Of these jurisdictions constitute
b separate offense.
Regret the Move.
In political circles here the prevail
Ing comment is one of regret that
Presfaeht Roosevelt embarked In this
enterprise. Senators and others who
are tolerably familiar with the case
do not hesitate to say that If federal
Indictments are returned they will be
presented more to please President
Roosevelt than for any other reason.
but THAT the defendants will never have
kosstand trial in a federLl court. These
senators predict that writs of habeas
corpus will promptly remoAe the de-
PENDANTS from federal custody and
that With Mr.. Roosevelt's disappear
ance into the wilds of Africa, Presi-
dent Taft will drop the whole affair.