The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1916-02-09
MAY INDICT WATSON
OUTSIDE OF GEORGIA
CONSIDERS RADI-
CAL ACTION BECAUSE OF MAT
TER PRINTED ABOUT FRANK.
CONGRESSMAN ENTER PROTEST
Entire Delegation Called at the De-
partment of Justice and Entered
Vigorous Appeal on Ground That
1t Would Reflect on Georgia.

| WASHINGTON.-T +. Wat
son may shortly be indicted by fed
eral grand jury outside Of Georgia
at the request of the department of
justice for publishing alleged libel
Gus and obscene matter in the JEFF
fersonian in connection with the re-
cent murder trial of Leo NJ. Frank.
The entire Georgia congressional
delegation, except Senators Smith
and Hardwick, called today on Sec
rotary of the Treasury McAdoo and
Attorney General Gregory to urge
that the proposed action be dropped
by the government.
Mr.. McAdoo was appealed to as a
former Georgian on the ground that
the action would be reflection upon
the federal courts and federal grand
juries of Georgia, and notice to the
world that a man could not get
fair trial in the state.
Attorney General Gregory yester-
day stated that the suggested action
had never crossd his mind. Today
he discussed it more seriously how
ever, and admitted that the indict-
ment was under Amusement. Every
Georgia representative oined in the
appeal not to put this blot upon the
state.
Georgia Congressman Protest.
Their visit today followed a con-
ference held yesterday in the office of
Representative w. C. Adamson to
discuss the rural route situation, at
which the Watson matter was
brought up.
Those who called were Representa-
tives Charles G. Edwards, Frank
Park, Charles R. Crisp, Mr.. Adam
son, William Schley Howard, w. ].
Wise, Gordon Lee, Samuel ]. Trib
Bile, Thomas NJ. Bell, Carl Vinson,
John Randall Walker and Dudley NJ.
Hughes.
They argued that the contemplated
action was without precedent, so far
as they knew; that if Mr.. Watson
was guilty of an offense against the
laws of the United States he should
be punished, but only after a fair
trial in the jurisdiction where his
office of publication is located. They
said that was the theory of the law,
and to take him to another state
would be equivalent to the govern
ment saying that it was impossible
to get justice in Georgia, that mob
rule prevailed in the state.
Watson May Be Indicted Anywhere.
Mr.. Gregory interrupted to remark
that there was no thought of asking
an indictment at the hands of a
grand jury in some place outside of
Georgia, where sentiment was dis
tinctly hostile to Mr.. Watson. ut is
not a question" he said, of trying
this man outside of the state for
some offense committed within the
state. Under the laws man who ut
tiers and publishes a libel or circu-
lates obscene or lascivious matter is
guilty of an offense in every place
under the jurisdiction Of the United
States, where the Objectionable mat
ter is circulated by him"
Under the law, therefore, Mr.. Wat
son could be indicted in Richmond,
or baltimore, or Birmingham, for
sending to those cities from Thorn
son. Ga, copies of the Teffersonian
which contained libelOus or obscene
matter. The department of justice
has not considered SO far the ques-
ton of where to brin5 the indiCt-
ment. but only whether it shall be
brought in Georgia or outside of
Georgia.
Representative Charles r. Crisp,
who was appealed to by Gordon
Jones, mayor of Cordele, 4 cOnstit-
uent of his and of counsel for Mr..
Watson in the case recently tried at
Augusta. insisted that t would be a
reflection upon the state if this action
were taken.
1T would be an insult to our citi-
zens," he asserted. 4 would make
this same plea if it were the lowest
citizen of the state, the commonest
negro
SANDER on Georgia, Says Edwards.
Representative Edwards issued
this formal statement:
THE visit Of the Georgia delega-
ton to the department of justice TO
protest against prosecuting a Georgia
citizen in some other Jurisdiction
when the prosecution could as well
proceed in Georgia was in defense Of
the integrity of our state and its jul
ries. The idea or statement that
Georgia juries will be biased in any
case to such an extent that fair trials
cannot be had is a Islander upon the
fair name OF our state. which should
and will be resented by every loyal
Georgian. regardless of who the de-
| PENDANT is
There has already been too much
attempt at outside interference con-
corning Georgias administration of
its own affairs. and this has zen
| Justly resented"
\ HOke Smith Silent.