The Washington times., 1909-01-23
CROMWELL APPEARS
BEFORE LIBEL JURY
Attorney Calm as He Enters
With Great Bundle of
Documents.

william Nelson cromwell was the sole
witness today at the most important
session that the grand jury has Heid
since it began 20 investigate the charges
OF libel against the New York World
and the Indianapolis News
AR Cromwell went into the grand
il.ry room literally loaded down with
books and papers that, 10 Is expected,
VIII ay bare % the grand jurors the
whole Panama transaction.
AS counsel for the New Panama Com
pauy of France, that sold the Isfhmian
property 10 the United States tor S46-
0U16l1, Dee is vitality concerned in the
outcome Of the Investigation new under
way TO determine the liability Of the
two newspapers that hinted at corrup-
ton by or ON behalf Of tho Government.
and implicated him. Charles T.. Taft.
and Douglas Robinson i'm The deaL
Is the "Star Witness"
40 man knows more than Mr.. Crom-
wcU about tho facts OF the negotiations
that led up 10 and ended I'm the transfer
of the Panama canal property 20 this
country lie IS uuquestionabIy the "star
witness in the important inquisition
now i'm progress. and best equipped OF
anyone to furnish the Information to
the grand jury that viii enable that
body to determine the truth or faIsity
OF the iuuUaudoes embodied ia The pub
llsHed article complained Of
Briefly these hinted that, in the Pan
anna canal purchase:
There might have been corruptiou by
or ON behalf or the United States Gov
CTument.
There might have been improper deal
EaH l.e
outside persons representing a svnd1-
cate which had secured control of the
Panama property
Among the persons named in The
rev spapeTs were Charles p Taft
brother Of Ire President-elect. and
Douglas Robinson. br0ther-in-Iaw of
President Roosevelt The articles also
muLsq mat the Government had con-
The destruction of certain documents.
Cromwell Is Cali
With this responsibility ahead of him.
Mr.. Cromwell did no. appear, outward
iy, at least, TO 1e worried over the
ordeal awaiting him when he sauntered
into the City Hau He reached the
building at 1910 o'clock and was alone.
Ia his arms he carried d letter press.
COPY book, packages OF letters. and
bundles of legal documents.
Mr.. Cromwell was cioseted for a few
minutes with District Attorney Baker
and Assistant District Attorney Nc
Namara. before he went before the
grand jury at l0.15 He greeted the
men cordially bat refused to
make any statement bearing upon the
object Of his call. whether it was vol
uutary or whether he had been sub
poeuaed.
It has been reported that President
Roosevelt may appear before the grand
jury before the investigation ends. and
if necessary. present I'm person the
data contained in his message 20 Con-
gress bearing upon the investigation.
Mr.. Cromwell was on the stand two
hours and q quarter. A great portion
of the time was taken up by questions
asked by the jurors. Mr. Cromwell
would say nothing OF his testimony
when Le came out. He said he would
return TO New York this af-erOou and
did not think anything further was
wanted of Him now During the
course of his testimony S. Is. Jacobs,
q clerk IR the auditors Office OF the
Treasury Department. was called TO
identify some of the documents intro
duCed by Mr. Cromwell Jacobs was
iu tho auditors office when the Paua-
ma canal was purchased and made out
the paper5 lu question.