The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-21

Criticism of Panama Canal Purchase by the Government is the sub- ject of investigation by l New York, Jan. 20 Speculation as to what action the District Attorney of the county of New York has de- i>cided to take in connection with the l lbel proceedings instituted by the
 Federal authorities against The New
 York World was in no way lessened l today by the admission of that official that he had decided to present the matter to a special grand jury. He was in conference today with Supreme Justice Bowling. at whose
 orders the special grand jury was em- panneled. but neither would throw I any light upon the nature of the ac- l ton contemplated.
 The most persistent rumor was to
 the effect that the presence before the
 special grand jury of Charles P. Taft,
 brother of the President-elect. was de-
 sired by Mir. Jerome, and that as soon
 as his testimony had been heard by
 that body developments of a startling | nature might be expected.
 Among lawyers who have given par | ticuiar attention to United States law 1 there IS a growing belief that the pros- ecution of the individuals responsible for the publication of the alleged H. belous matter complained of by the | Federal authorities is to be based up- on an ancient section of the Federal
 statutes, which empowers the Federal authorities to proceed in criminal pros cautions under State laws. where the alleged overt act has been committed on land ceded by the State to the United States for use as a Federal
 reservation.
 l Tn this instance 1t is understood the act charged will be the mailing of Icopies of The World containing the al- Heged libel to a government reServa- tion such as Governors Island or West Point.
 The sumoning of two of The World's mailing room clerks before the Federal lgrand jury would seem to lend color 1 to this view of the situation. The sec ltion- vhiclf it E believed will be in- lyolxed Is section 639I of the United states revised statutes enacted March I3, 1925.
 | The bringing of the county authori- ties Into the case does not cause any Interruption in the examination of wit nesses before the Federal grapd jury
 William J. Dempsey, foreman of the mailing room of The World was the first of The World men subpoenaed to be examined by United States District Attorney Henry L. Stimson. Inn lDempseys examination and the scope Iof which was not revealed William Corcoran and William Gull two other World mailing room employees were taken before the jury. Pending the decision of Judge Ward on the validity of the subpoenas served upon J. Angus Shaw, secretary of The Press Publishing Company, which com pany publishes The World. and Wn- Iliam P. Mclaughlin. sporting editor of the paper, the examination or Doth of these witnesses will be deferred.
 Two employees of The World. the publishers of which, the Press Pub fishing Co.,, have been named as de- fendants in the proceedings, were to- day served with subpoenaes in which they are summoned to appear and tes- tify.Ain the case of the United States against the Press Publishing Company and others" Who the other defend- ants are was not specified.
 The two men so served are Thomas
 Corcoran and William Gull. Gull's name appears for the first time in the list of those served with subpoenaes, but Corcoran is one of The Worlds employes served in the first instance under the indefinite form to which at- torneys for The World registered ob- lection and contested in the courts The validity of his original subpoena, with that of the four other World employees, subpoenaed at the same time Is still awaiting a decision by United States Judge Ward. of the United States Circuit Court
 Under his new subpoena, Corcoran appeared today In readiness to testi- fy but with Gull, the other witness summoned, was excused until tonor- row.
 call came from the jury room for MT. John Doe, under which William ]. Dempsey head of The Worlds mall ing department, was subpoenaed and also for Lieutenant Lynch but there
 was no response and the jury took
 up other matters
 Washington Grand Jury.
 Washington, Jan. 20.-Probtng still further into the alleged libelous ar TSt,a Nom Xork World and