Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-20
SEEKING THE OWNER
Grand Jury Probing Affairs Of
indianapolis News.
SIX WITNESSES TESTIFY
Consideration of the Panama Canal
Libel Case.
COUNTY OFFICERS HEARD
Four News Employees Examined.
Two World Men Summoned to
Testify in New York.
COUNTY OFFICERS HEA

and the connection of that paper with Inc
circulation of the alleged libel concerning
| the purchase of the Panama canal were
the principal subjects of inquiry at the
| two-hour session Of the local grand jury
| today. All the six witnesses examined
had been brought from Indianapolis. four
being employees of the News and two
county officers. The subpoenas summon
ing these men were entitled '1n the case
Of the United States agt. Indianapolis
News
From Albert Sahm, county auditor and
NJ I. Berry, county assessor, the govern
ment sought, it is supposed, to learn the
names of the owners of the Indianapolis
News.
1t is rumored that at one time Vice
President Fairbanks owned an interest in
the paper of which his cousin, Delavan
Smith, is editor. From these witnesses, 1t
is expected, the grand jury learned today
whether Mr.. Fairbanks had an interest,
or, if he had, whether he has disposed of
it.
The four employees of the News who tes-
titled are Hilton L. Brown, the general
manager of the paper; Bart Parker. CASH
Ter; Edward Harding, foreman of the COM
posing room, and Charles Clark. book
keeper. The testimony elected from MT.
Parker and Mr.. Clark is supposed to nave
reference to the number of papers sent to
Washington during the time the aiiesed
Iibels were running in the publication and
whether or not the copies were furnished
to regular paying subscribers.
MI. Sauter's Indiana Trip.
Irving C. Sauter, special agent of the
Department of Justice. was closeted FOR
some time this morning with United
States Attorney Baker and Assistant
United States Attorney Mcnamara. Mr..
Sauter was recently reported as being IN
indianapolis incidentally" but it is under
stood that he was quietly investigating
the ownership of the Indianapolis News,
and that he Informed the prosecutors to-
day of the result of his inquiry. 1t Is sup
posed that he also primed them as 10
the method of securing this 1nforInatlon
from the two county officers from Indian
apois -.
Mr.. Sauter declined to discuss his visit
to indianapolis, or to affirm or deny
whether he had obtained information con-
Meeting Vice President Fairbanks with
the ownership of the Indianapolis News
at any time.
Cromwell's Testimony Postponed.
William Nelson Cromwell of New York.
the attorney who conducted the negotia-
lions in the purchase of the Panama
canal, has not testified before the grand
jury. 1t was expected that he would be
called yesterday, but the United States
attorney postponed the taking of his testi-
mony Whether or not Mr.. Cromwell
will be asked to exhibit to the grand jury
the books of the Panama Canal Company
showing the transactions in reference to
the purchase Mr.. Baker declined TO say.
Mr.. Baker also declined to say when Mr..
Cromwell will be called.
testimony
from Indiana the grand jury at 1 o'clock
took recess until tomorrow morning.
Assessment Record Desired.
The subpoena summoning Albert Sahn1,
auditor of Marion county, Indiana, re-
quired him to bring certified transcript
of record of his Office showing the as
sessment on certain property in Indian
apolis in the name of Delavan Smith,
showing value of the land and improve
ments at $129,670. He was also requested
to bring the name OF the person paying
the taxes for 1907 and 1903 on the
property. Mr.. Sahm was also asked to
bring the records of his office showing
in whose name the indianapolis News is
assessed and by whom the taxes were
paid.
Newspapers Books Wanted.
The subpoena to Manager Brown of
the News required him to bring the books
used by the paper during the months of
September, October. November and De-
cember, showing names Of the officers
and employees of the News during that
time He was also directed to bring the
mailing list or list of subscribers and
in this District receiving
copies of the News during those four
Edward Harding. foreman of the COM
posing room. was directed by the
subpoena to bring all original copy and
the matrix of the editorial page of the
News of the issue of Deem
Der 8, 1908.
Books Not Shown to Grand Jury.
Attorney John w. Yerkes, former COM
missioner of internal revenue, and a !
member of the law firm of Hamilton, Col
bert. Yerkes & Hamilton, has been re-
tanned by the Indianapolis News to look
after the interests of the company here. |
Mr.. Yerkes was near the grand jury room
throughout the session this morning, pre- |
pared it is understood, to advise the gen. |
sral manager and other employees of the |
Indiana paper of their rights, and whether
Or not to answer certain questions If pro-
pounded. But Mn Yerkes had no occasion |
'or intervention, and the day passed with |
put any refusal to answer on the part of |
any witness.
MIR. Yerkes, is not owned by corpora |
ton, but is a private partnership, and he |
IS authority for the statement that the |
books and papers asked of the employees |
Of the company were not exhibited to the |
grand jury. He declined to say whether |
the owners of the paper would refuse to
WORT.D EMPLOYEES sJ1MMoNEn |