The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1909-01-21
Only Two Witnesses Were
Examined To-Day in the
Roosevelt Prosecution.
STIMSON is SECRETIVE,
District Refuses to
Say Whether Re is Proceed.
/ ing Under an Ancient Law.

The Federal Grand Jury, which on
Monday began a mysterious probe into
the Panama Canal matter, to-day took
an adjournment until Monday morning
next at 1890 O'Clock
United States District-Attorney Slim
con remained In conference with three
of the grand Jurors for twenty minutes
after the others had departed from the
Post Office building.
There has been an adjournment UNI
I'll Monday" said Mr. Stmson when
Dc emerged from Room No. ll3, where
the Grand Jury is meeting.
"ls II true. as reported In the morn
Ing newspapers, that you are proceed
ling against the Press Publishing Com
pany under Federal statute enacted
March 3. 1925, which in turn was based
on New York State law, enacted
April s, 1862" was asked.
II do not care to answer that ques-
ton" replied Senator Roots former law
partner. The custom OF the office
hold is to announce what statute am
proceeding under only when an indict-
nsnt is found"
Cragn on the Stand.
Edward +. Cragin, dealer in securi-
ties, Of No. 100 Broadway, was the first
witness called to-day by the Grand Jury.
Mr.. Cragin was In the Grand Jury room
/ less than ten minutes. He was followed
| by call by the Grand Jurors for John
! Hammond who was absent Then a
| man subpoened as Samuel A. Rousey"
was called, MIR. Rousey' for three
days has been protesting that his name
was Ryan. and that somebody had blum
dered in reaching to Boston after him
He was less than five minutes in the
Grand Jury room.
The witness, after being dismissed by
the Grand Jury, was followed out into
the corridor by Assistant United States
District Attorney Henry S, Wise, who
there ventured to ask Rowsey to answer
the strange query, Where did l get
that lead from"
From those who told you abotu me"
replied the discharged witness as he
walked away disgusted.
Supposed Plan Of Prosecutor.
The plan worked out by the Depart.
ment OF Justice for a prosecution of The
World was said. unofiicIally, to show
that copies OF The World containing
the alleged lIbelous articles went
through the mails to some Government
reservation like West Point the land
OF which was coded by New York to the
United States. Several employees OF
the mailing department OF The World
are under subpoena, and the head OF
that department, ". j. Dempsey, was
examined by the Federal Grand Jury
yesterday, presumably to give evidence
as to the number OF copies of The
World which daily went TO West Point
or some other G." rnment reservation,
Ike Governors island, Iona Island
Fort Hamilton &c.
That West Point is the reservation
selected was indicated to-day. While
the Grdnd jury was IN session
the Deputy Marshal in charge came
into the outer corridor twice and called
for Sergt. Lynch The sergeant did MOI
answer, but 1t was said that lie receives
the mail at West Point and could ties.
tify TO the daily receipt OF copies Of
The World at that post, He is expec-
ted to appear before the Grand Jury to.
day.
The Century Old State Law.
In law book whose pages we've vel.
low With age was found the libel law
enacted more than century back by
the state Legislature. The type was Of
ancient style, small u" being used
for an e" This law, Chapter 20. is
headed An act concerning l!bels
Passed April 6, rs
Judge Ward got briefs yesterday
from John NJ. Bowers and Delaney
Nicoll for The World and from bis.
trict-Attorney Stimson In the matte-
OF the disputed suhpoenas. In view Of
the fact that MIR StimsOu changed the
form OF the subpoena while the matter
was still pending before judge Ward
II is thought by some that the latter
will not feel called upon to render any
decision.