New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-18
FOR ARREST OF PULITZER
SMITH md OTHERS.
President, ". II. Taft and j. r.
Morgan Among Those "Vilifef
-Crom5ceH AHeges Blackmad.

/ The New York World ana DslaNan Silitn anu
Charles R. Williams. owners OF The Indianap-
oils News" for criminal libel in connection with
the publication in those newspapers OF charges
| of irregularities in the purchase BY the United
States government Of the Panama Canal prop
| erty from the French owners
Theodore Roosevelt. William H Taft. EHhu
Root. ]. Pierpont Morgan. Charles P Taft.
Douglas Robinson and William Nelson Cromwell
are named in the indictments as the persons al
legged 70 have been viIiied by the stories ap-
pearing in the two newspapers.
The indictments on which the warrants we're
based were returned to-day by the United states
grand jury sitting in this city. and the var
rants were issued later by the clerk OF Criminal
Court No 1 The warrants are directed against
all Eve of the natural defendants OF the two
newspapers. The summons requires the cor
porate defendant Cthe Press Publishing Com
pany of New York; to appear in court forthwith
to answer the indictment
District Attorney Baker will probably not
send the copies of the bench warrants and the
certified copies Of the indictments TO New York
or to Indianapolis for day or two They were
placed late to-day in the hands OF the United
States Marshal here. and he Will proceed with
them in accordance with the directions Of Mr.
Baker.
Copies of the summons and Of the indictment
were served this evening upon the Press Pub
fishing Company by service Otto Carmichael.
its agent in this Jurisdiction. The certified
copies will be filed in New York with United
States Commissioner Shields. who will issue
warrants for the arrest Of the natural defend
ants 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 offence
is one upon which the defendants may be ex-
tradited to this Jurisdiction the defendants can
sue out 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, the case can
! then be taken TO the Supreme Court OF the
| United States for final review This proceeding
| was followed in the case Of state Senator
| George e Green Of New York. who was indicted
in this city about six years ago in connection
| with the postoffice irregularities
II the defendants should pursue the course
outlined above at least a year will probably
| elapse before they can be brought before the
bar Of the District Supreme Court for trial
BLACKMAr.. CROMWELL SAYS
Failure Of an attempt to blackman him. ac7s
cording to William Nelson Cromwell. was the
reason for the publicat tion OF the stories which.
he declared to-day were exceptional and pre-
meditated and made with foreknowledge Of
their infamous sources and after specific warn
ing by me of their falsity-
The stories he added. were concocted more
than two and a half years ago by unscrupuious
parties in New York. some Of whom have Grim
fnaI records in an attempt 10 blackmail me"
He said that he asked to pay $4,000 20
have the stories suppressed He continued:
7 do not believe The World" was party to
these attempts. but IL 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
thev would like to have il appear to obtain the
support of the general press of the country
am in favor of a free and unmuzzled press
wish 10 say in the most positive manner
that the stories respecting the Panama Canal
purchase published by The New York World.
for which these editors are indicted. were not
legitimate newspaper publications
,n1estieation into every feature OF the case. IN
Guiding the complete documentary evidence COW
ering all points, has found all Of the published
allegations in connection with the puIcnase ~
the United states of the Panama Canal property
to be wholly false and has indicted some or the
parties responsible for the clrculation q tnese
falsehoods 1 feel that am free TO speak
The parties who concocted the stories more
than two and one-half years ago made de-
nnand upou me at that time to pay them large
sum of money. with threat that If did not
@ o,1, +ba stories would be published in
stantIy and indignantly denounc ed the stories
as false in every respect. refused to entertain
their demands and dismissed the miscreants
ATTEMPT
dronned but was renewed again in July and
August last when 1 was active IN the political
campaign At that time some of the same peo-
pie with their group enlarged. again attempted
TO blackmail me, and again put before me the
alternative Of paying them $4,000 for the sup
preston of the stories or having them puo-
iisbed In answering to my indignant refusal
the bIackmailers stated that even if they could
not s,1bstantiate the stories. and even II there
was no basis for the use Of the names OF Mr.
charles p Taft and Mr.. Douglas Robinson. the
publication of the stories with the inclusion Of
the names of those gentlemen. was bound TO
iniure the cause OF the Republican party and
particularly would defeat, they believed. the
election OF Mr.. Taft ana they argued that De
cause Of nv we'll known support OF Mr.. Tafts
campaign l should be willing TO pay them
S25 600 rather than permit the publication OF
suppress them the stories would be sprung
late in the campaign. when I could not have
time to send to Paris for records and proofs OF
otherwise overtake and Offset the stories before
| 7 decided that the time had come to place the
matter before the District Attorney Of New
| york and | did So ] have absolute proof that
the parties behind these stories were at the
/ time in frequent conference with managers OF
/ The World at their Office and residence upon
/ the subject Of these stories
on the very Of the publication OF the
/ story The New York " Orld'' not only had my
/ exDIiCit denial and denuncatiOn OF the stories.
l hut received direct personal notice from me- IN
/ its editorial rooms that the stories were false
/ in every respect
/ There never existed the slightest foundation
| upon which base any OF the alega tions con-
/ tanned in the stories published in The World
| I am sure that the newspapers OF the country
/ will indorse the straightforward and manly ac-
/ tion Of President Roosevelt denouncing in his
| MESA ze TO Congress the action OF these great
| est undertaking of all ages and Unjustly assaii-
| ing those who have devoted their best efforts 70
ONLY COMPLETE FLORIDA TRAIN