The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-18
FAIRBANKS MAY Be
IMPLICATED IN
LIBEL SUIT
ucE-PREsIDENT IS BELIEVED TO
BE LARGE sTockHoLDER IN
INDIANAPOLIS PAPER THAT
PUBLISHED CANAL STORY.

WASHINGTON, Jan. tS.-Investiga-
ton was begun~by the grand Jury OF
the District of Columbia this morning
in the libel suit instituted against the
Press Publishing company New York
World) and other newspaper publish
ers> in connection with the negotia-
lions which resulted In the purchase
by the United States government of
the Panama canal. Jeremiah Mat
thews. Il member OF the New York
Suns Washington staff, was the first
witness.
Mr.. Matthews is former private
secretary to Vice President Fairbanks
He Is not known to have had any con
nection with the publication of the
Worlds series of Panama articles,
which were republished In the Indian
apolis News
Charles w. Thompson, former chief
OF the Washington bureau OF the
World, will be put on the grill by the
grand Jury during the afternoon.
District Attorney Baker and his as
sociates maintain an air OF frigid re-
serve when approached about the OBJ
Ject of the grand jury Investigations
and declined even TO admit that the
tdhui ihalltl 10 uuutI pIOOt
Sporting Editor Mclaughlin and
Secretary Shaw, OF the Press Publish
ing company. who were summoned 10
appear this morning before the dis
trict grand jury, failed TO appear, re-
maintng III New York TO await the de-
cision OF Justice Ward this afternoon.
Ii Is believed that the summoning
Of members OF the Indianapolis News
nn nd "A TO-.
respondent Is for the purpose of show
ing that Vice President Fairbanks Is a
large stakeholder In the News corpor-
alton and II so. he, under the presi-
dents recent limitations in his spe-
cial Panama message TO congress,
might become involved In the sensa.
tional case
Charles p Taft. brother Of the pres
identelect, reached Washington on a
summons TO appear before the grand
jury tomorrow morning.
MI Taft came on telegraphic re-
quest from the district attorney. sent
to Augusta, Ga. Mr.. Taft expressed
ignorance as to what information or
value he could impart to the grand
jury In connection with the suit for
libel to be instituted against the pa
pcio tue dTllCNtS WHICH 50
aroused the president
q Douglas Robinson, brother.in-law OF
President Roosevelt, arrived on a sim
liar summons, and. together with Mr..
Taft. went into conference with the
president.
K. l.. Farnham, law partner OF Will
lam Nelson Cromwell. the latter fiscal
engineer of the Panama transfer deal.
is also in Washington on an unknown
mission.
Attorney General Bonaparte return
ed this afternoon from Baltimore and
declined TO discuss the matter in ad-
vance of the formal statement, which
he has promised within a day or two.
IL has been evident that members of
congress may inject question Of con
stitutionality into the entire matter.
Senators Rayner and Bailey, two of
the constitutional authorities of the
senate. have declared that there Is no
law under which the government mAy
properly bring a suit for libel.
This view Is also held by Rep.
Rainey and Shirley, the former prom
Using that within few days he would
address the house on this phase OF
the question.
In this event the unprecedented &C
ton OF the president may devolve into
a three-cornered controversy between
the executive. the press and the leg
islative branch OF the government