Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-10-13
Libel Cases of Government
We're Dismissed by Judge
Anderson Who Renders
Pointed Decision.
WOULD LIKE
TO KNOW TRUTH
Government Has Not Pow
er to Drag Citizens from
4 Other States.

Indianapolis, IndA October 13.-
Judge A. b. Anderson. OF the United
States Court OF this district ye-ter-
day dsmis hd the proceedings
against Delevan Smith and Charles
Williams. proprietors Of the Indi-
annapolis News, who were resisting
removal to thc District of Columbia
for trial under grand jury indict-
ment charging them with having
committed criminal libel against ex-
President Roosevelt, President Taft,
Charles p. Taft, William Nelson
Cromwell. i. Pierront Morgan and
others in publishing articles alleging
that there was corrupt profit OF
$2S, 100000 in the sale of the Pana-
ma canal to :h9 United States.
Discharges Defendants.
That man has read the history
of our institutions to little purpose. ."
said Judge Anderson, I'm conclading
his decision, who does not view
with apprehension the success of
such a proceeding as this to the end
that citizens could be dragged from
their homes to the District of Colum-
bia, the seat OF government, for
trial under the circumstances of this
case. The defendants are disscharg-
ed"
At the close yesterday of argu-
ment In the hearing, Judge Ander-
son said that he was to busy to
write a long opinion i'm the case, but
he would sum up at once his view
of the evidence and the argument.
Now there are many peculiar cir
a Ycmstances about the whole Pana-
ma canal business. I do not wish
to be understood as rejecting upon
anybody in or out of office, except
such person or persons as may
name.
THE revolution in Panama. the
circumstances concerning it, we're IN
usual and peculiar. The people
were interested in the construction
Of the canal 1t was a matter Of
great public concern; large por-
tion OF the people favored the Mica
ragItn route; another portion those
WIN were interested In It. OFFICIALLY
and er-onally just interested-pr
ferred the Panama route. A com
mittee was appointed to investigate
tn relative merits OF the two routes
Thty investigated and reported H.
favor Of the Nicaraguan. Shortly af-
.erw3rds they changed to Panama.
Now, there were a number. Of
pcople who thought there was some
thing wrong something not Just ex-
actly right about that tran action
and say for myself that now I feel
q natural curiosity to know what the
real truth was
MI. CromweITs Actions.
"Thereupor the committee OF the
United states Senate was appointed
TO irves tigltc these matter about
the only way could be inves igated.
The COMMITTEES net as stated I'm
these articles. these men who knew
all about it." I think that is n prop
or way to- speak Of william Nelson
Cromwell. Wsll. these men were call
ed before the committee. and so far
as the record has been read. Mr.
Cromwell. stood upon his privilege
whenever questions we're asked. the
answer TO which would or might
reflect upon him or his associates
but whenever a question was asked
him which gave him an opportunity
TO say something in their behalf he
osteutatiou IS thanked the examiner
and proceeded TO answer To my
mind that was just grounds for sus-
picion. am suspicious about it
Continued on Page Three)