The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-01-27
JEROME WANTS A
HAND IN WORLD
LIBEL SUITS
District Attorney Says Job
Belongs to Him
TAKES CAUSE OF ROBINSON
Asserts Presidents Rrother-ln-Law
Has Been Injured in Community
In Which Hs Lives

New York, Jan. 27.-The possibility
OF the federal authorities having TO
stand aside. to permit the state and
county OF New York to proceed
against the publishers of the New
York World for the alleged libel in
connection with the Panama purchase
was made apparent yesterday In q
letter written by District Attorney
Jerome to United States District At
torney Henry L. Stimson.
Provided Douglas Robinson, the
presidents brother-ln-law, is willing
to appear as a complainant witness,
Mr.. Jerome is ready, the letter states,
to begin action at once In the state
courts. 1t would be useless for him
to do so. however, he explains. II his
inquiry is not given precedence over
that begun before the federal grand
jury, as acquittal or conviction in one
court would act as sufficient defense
in the other
i have given the matter published
in the New York World OF October 81,
1908, careful consideration" the letter
says and am OF the opinion that it is
plainly libel upon Charles p. Taft,
and Douglas Robinson, assuming, of
course, that it is untrue as to the syn
dictate mentioned therein and their al
legged connection herewith. Under
the law OF this state its publication is
crime, and as It was published In
he county OF New York 1t is my duty
under certain circumstances to pros
ecute those for the publication.
The publication has a much wider
general Importance than Is found in
most libels. IL In substance charges
that by corrupt and dishonorable. II
not criminal means. the treasury OF
The United States was depleted to the
extent OF $36.500,000 through the con.
niyance, to give it no harsher descrip-
ton, of some Of the chief officers OF
the state, and that this great sum. was
divided among government favoriter
in the world of politics and finance y
Mr.. Jerome then voices his convic,
ton that so serious charge should
not pass unchallenged, and that ade
luate justification should be shown OF
those making it properly punished.
From this point OF view" the let
ter continues. the federal authorities
ii seems to me. have a distinct duty
TO perform, and from what you tell me
it would seem that the jurisdiction oil
the federal courts is adequate. There
Is another point OF view, however
While the whole people Of the United
States have been injured by the pub
LEGATION of such false and libellous
matter. the people OF this state have
received a distinct and separate In
jury in that one OF It's citizens, Doug
las Robinson. has had false news pub
lished about him in the community In
which he lives and is respected, the
direct purpose and tendency OF which
is to brand him as a dishonorable and
dishonest man, and one who was will
ing to trade upon the honor of his
brother-in-law. the president Of the
United States.
This offence am loath to allow Il
pass unpublished, or at least, with
out an effort to properly punish It
Therefore, should Mr. Robinson ex
press to me his wish to have an actor
for criminal libel instituted I shall
institute such action, provided MAY
do so without an unwise interference
with matter over which the fedora
courts have jurisdiction and in which
action has already been taken by tbs
federal authorities"
Mr.. Jerome then goes on to quot,
section $40 OF the penal code which
provides that acquittal or conviction
on an offence committed in another
state or county acts as sufficient de
tense in the case Of an attempted re
indictment for the same offence.
This, he deems, would make 1t use
less for him to obtain indictments |
the federal authorities were also t
bring indictments and to try them be