Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-02-22
GREGORY SENDS
ANSWER To &C.
NJ 'CRORY ON CASE

WASHINGTON, D. G., Feb. 22.-At-
torney General Gregory has made pub
Tic letter to Charles C. McCrory. Of
Eliaville, Ca, stating the position oe
The department of justice in regard t,
prosecution of Thomas E. Watson. Of
that state, for alleged sending through
the mails of obscene and indecent mat
ter The letter answers protests Of
Georgia members of congress against
reported plans of the department 70
prosecute Watson outside the state oe
Georgia on the ground that fair
trial could not be had in that state.
Mr.. Gregory makes it plain that he
will not hesitate to institute criminal
proceedings against Watson in some
other Jurisdiction If he is convince4
that federal statutes have been vio-
lated outside of Georgia, or that a
fair trial cannot be had there. He
says that the department of justice has
data to show that Watson has violated
the section of the criminal code pro-
hibiting the mails to obscene matter.
and that neither threats nor slander
will affect his duty as a public official
in the case
The letter follows:
Hon. Charles r. McCrory, EllayilIe.
Ga. Dear Sir:
II acknowledge receipt of yours oE
the 18th.
Among number of letters and
other communications received by me
from Georgia during the last few
weeks in regard to the matter to which
you refer, yours is unique in being al
most the only one which is not insult
ing in its charges or Instructions. For
this reason, l gladly reply.
In ORDER that there may be not the
slightest misapprehension as to my po-
sition, | will first repeat the request
ir your letter, which is as follows.
1t is reported in the press that you
stated publicly that you know that
Tom Watson was guilty of sending OBJ
scene matter through the mails, but
you were satisfied that you could not
get jury in Georgia to convict him.
write to ask If you made either or
both of the statements. hope you win
not consider me presumptuous, as the
statement seems to be an official one,
and I would like to also knew if the
statement has or had the Endorsement
of President wilson
Il have never made either of these
statements.
Not having made either of them, I
can say that neither of them had or
has the endorsement of President VIII
son, but in order to make my answer
still more comprehensive, l will state
further that have never had con-
ference with President Wilson in re-
gard to Editor Watson at any time,
and have not the slightest idea of his
views in regard to that party in case
he entertains any.
Il have expressed the opinion, anu
express it now, to the effect that Edi-
tor Watson has been guilty of violat-
i2g section 211 of the criminal code If
the United States prohibiting the send
ing of obscene, filthy and indecent mat
ter through the mails, and this opinioa
is based upon data in the possession Of
my department which l have reason to
believe is accurate.
Il have been giving some considera-
tion to the problem of whether Editor
Watson has violated the statutes of the
United States outside of the state OF
Georgia, and whether a trial, fair to
him and to the government could he
had within the limits of that state
THE first question is not without
difficulty, as proposition OF law, and
have not up to this time reached a def
mite conclusion as to the correct an
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