Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-01-21
MYSTERY SOLVED
rAK GOVERNMENT APPEARs 40
COMPLAINANT in PANAMA
CANAL LIBEL SUIT.
TWO GRAND JURIES At WORK
one Witness Examined at New York
And Several at Washington
May Be Two lndIet-
yt1ents.

New York, Jan. 2O.-The veil Of
mystery which for the past two days
has enyeloped the secret examination
before the federal grand jury here OF
newspapermen and others believed to
have knowledge regarding the pub
lication Of alleged llbelous matter con.
corning the purchase by the United
States Of the Panama Canal company
would seem to have been lifted Tues
day night by the issuance OF a sub
poena In which for the first time the
name Of both the complainant and de-
Gendant are made public.
This document made out against
~John Doe" was served upon William
j. Dempsey, head Of the mailing de-
partment Of the New York World and
commands his appearance before the
federal grand jury to testify in the
matter Of the United States against
the Press Publishing company which
company published the Word.
Another development which definite
" establishes the proceedings as an
action for libel against the World was
the calling into consultation by United
States District Attorney Henry L.
gtimson Of District Attorney Jerome.
Mr.. Jerome would not reveal the ma
ture Of the conference, but admitted
II had had direct hearing on q ques'
ton Of libel alleged to have been com
mitted here.
Although the only witness examined
Tuesday was q. M. Engelman, an en-
ploye Of a news association, who Is
said to have furnished the data upon
which the alleged libelous articles sub
Dequently published by the World were
based, the presence outside the grand
Jury room Of two secret service men
from washington with mass Of docu'
ments and number Of account books
gave rise to all sorts of rumors.
Mr.. Engelman was closely queS
toned by Mr. Stimson and a special
deputy attorney general from Wash
lngton, but what disclosures were
made by him was not revealed.
washington, Jan. 20.-The question
Of whether or not the federal govern.
ment or individuals or both, instt
luted the proceedings for libel In con-
nection with the Panama canal pur.
chase remains a mystery insofar as
the general public Is concerned.
So completely have the tracks In
the complaint been covered that not
the slightst intimatlon has been given
which would clear up this much dis
cussed point.
The federal grand jury Tuesday CON
tinued its investigation into the mat
ter and number Of witnesses We're
examined. Among these were Douglas
Robinson, brother-inlaw Of President
Roosevelt and Charles P. Taft, broth
er Of the presldent-elect, both Of whom
maintained the utmost silence regard
Ing their testimony. All the Washing.
ton correspondents who were cited to
appear gave information establishing
their connection with either the New
York World or the Indianapolis News
while several news dealers and a
newsboy testified to having sold thu
paper to the general public.
Interest in the case continues uny
abated and 1t is now limited that thu
president expects an Indictment will
be brought in the District Of Colun. bla
regardless Il any action taken In New
York or Indianapolis. In that event
the prosecuting officers Of the govern
ment entertain no fear Of their ability
to bring the defendants here.