Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-23
ROOT AND KNOX TO TESTIFY
Secretary and Senator to Appear
Before Grand Jury in Libel Case.
NEW YORK INQUIRY CONTINUES
Six Witnesses Examined, Four Being
Employees of WOrId-BOnaparte's
Statement Comes Next
Week.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-Secretary Roo,
Senator Knox and Assistant Attorney Gen.
eral Charles w. Russell Of the Department
of Justice, were served today with sub
poenaes to appear tomorrow before the
federal grand jury now investigating in this
city the publication OF alleged libelous ar
ticles in the New York World and the In
dianapolis News, connecting the names of
Charles p. Taft. Douglas Robinson and
William Nelson Cromwell with the Panama
canal purchase.
Secretary Root will appear before the
jury at noon, which neCessitates his leav-
ing the regular semi-weekly cabinet meet
ing before It is concluded.
When asked tonight whether he had
been summoned to appear. Senator Knox
said:
II found on my desk this afternoon a
subpoena ordering me to he or hand to-
morrow at 12:l5 o'clock, ! suppose, there
fore, that If 1 am not there at that time
! will be locked up or have some Other
terrible thing happen to me-"
Knox Hns Information
The senator said lie had not been asked
to bring any particular book qS papers
with him and that he had no IDEA what
information the grand jury would demand
of him. AS he represented this country
in the purchase Of the canal. he ac-
knowledged that he would be able to give
the jury some information which might b,
Of service to il in its Investigations.
Mr.. Russell will be questioned by The
jury about 1880 o'clock, Immediately afteI
Senator Knox has finished his stimon
These three witnesses, SO far as can be
learned, are all who will appear tomorrow
Assistant United States Attorney McNs.
mara will read tomorrow to the Jury the
full text of articles containing the alleged
libelous statements. This probably will
take up the greater part OF the morning
session. Attorney General Bonaparte con
ferred today with President Roosevelt ia
regard to the statement which Mr. Bona
parte has announced he will issue regarding
the case, This statement, it is now stated.
VIII not be made until next week.
Assistant District Attorney Baker was
busy today in criminal court. There was
no session OF the grand jury.
World Employees Testify.
NEW YORK, Jan. 22-After examining a
number OF witnesses in the case of the
United States against the press publishing
company, the federal grand jury, which has
been tnquiring into the charges OF criminal
libel brought against the New York World
for publication of articles rejecting upon
the government in its purchase Of the
Panama canal property, adjourned today
until Monday.
The wttnesses included Edward +. Cragin.
one-time ardent advocate OF the Nicaragua
canal project: A. C, Ryan. a Washington
newspaper correspondent; William J.
Dempsey, foreman OF the mailing room OF
the World and three employees of the World
mailing room. William Gulland. Daniel and
Thomas Cochran. Charles r. Taft, who
was expected 10 testify before the federal
and county grand juries. did not appear.
owing to the secrecy enjoined upon all
the witnesses II could not be learned what
connection. II any, existed between the tes-
timony given by the World emploves
smlned and that OF Messrs. Cragin ana
Ryan. who are not known to have hsd .
relations OF any sort with that paper