The evening world., 1909-02-18
FIRST FIGHT HERE
ON INDICTMENTS
/. AGAINST WORLD
u. S. Commissioner Shields in
This City viii Pass on
Extradition.
WARRANTS ARE ISSUED.
Copies Of Federal Presentment
in Hands of Marshal in
Washington.
WARRANTS ARE ISSUED.

WASHINGTON. D. c., Feb. lS-Al-
though copies OK the summons and OF
the indictments have been served on the
Press Publishing Company (New York
World by service on Otto Carmichael,
It's agent In this Jurisdiction, United
States District Attorney Baker probably
will not send for a few days the
copies Of the bench warrants and the
certified copies OF the indictments
against the Press Publishing Company,
OF New York and Joseph Pulitzer Ca
leb NJ. Van Hamm and Robert II Ly-
man, of The World. and Dclavan Smith
and Charles Il. Williams, OF the In
dianapolis News, charging libel in pub
LEGATIONS In connection with the pur-
chase OF the Panama Canal to New
York and indianapolis.
Mr.. Baker says there is no necessity
for haste or secrecy, as no likelihood
exists that the defendants will endeavor
to evade the proceedings,
The bench warrants are in the hands
OF the United States marshal here. ana
he will act in accordance with the d.
rections Of Mr.. Baker Certified copies
of the summons and indictments will be
filed with United State Commissioner
John A. Shields in New York, who will
Issue warrants for the arrest OF the
natural defendants OF the New York
World VINO will be brought before him
to show cause why they should not be
extradited to this jurisdiction for trial
The indictment against the publish
ers Of the indianapolis News charges
Delavan Smith and Charles r. Will
iams with the crime of libel on seven
counts. and that directed against The
World charges Joseph Pulitzer, Caleb
NJ. Van Hamm. Robert H. Lyman
and the Press Publishing Company
with libel in five counts. The persons
alleged to have been libeled in the DIFF
ferent stories are President Roosevelt,
j. P. Morgan, Charles p. Taft Elihu
Root, Douglas Robinson and William
Nelson Cromwell
Can Sue Writ Of Habeas Corpus.
In the event Commissioner Shields
should hold the Indictment sufficient,
and the offense Is one upon which the
defendants may be extradted to this
Jurisdiction, the defendants can sue q
writ of habeas corpus and have the
Commissioners decision reviewed BY
the United States District Court for
the Southern District of New York
Should the decision OF this court also
be adverse to their interests, tine case
can then be taken to the sgpreme
Court OF the United States for final re-
view. This proceeding was followed in
the case OF state Senator George Z
Green, Of New York. mao was indicted
In this city about six years ago in con-
nection with the Post-OIce lrrcgulul.
ties.
II the defendants should pursue TIE
course outlined above at leas: year
probably will clapse before they can
be brought bei.re the bar OF tie Dis
: trict Supreme Court for trial
} In answe. to allegations that libel is al
obsolete offense or one over which tn.
7 District OF Columbia courts have no FUR
Z lsdiction, the Depar, H. Mt OF JUS ice Las:
Z night issued a statement, limited to pro.
ceedings in the District, which say thai,
the courts OF the District c%crc SO with.
out dispute tie common law jurisdiction
possessed by tn courts Of Maryland
prior to its cess.oa," and that libel has