# Claim 966

The Indianapolis News had published stories questioning the finances of the Panama Canal purchase, and Roosevelt considered the stories libelous and sought to prosecute the paper.

Published 2026-09-26. Last reviewed 2026-09-26. 1 source.

- Statement: The Indianapolis News had published stories questioning the finances of the Panama Canal purchase, and Roosevelt considered the stories libelous and sought to prosecute the paper.
- Field: journalist_affected
- Value: Case brought against the Indianapolis News over Panama Canal stories
- About: [incident 1909-us-panama-canal-libel-prosecutions](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/1909-us-panama-canal-libel-prosecutions)
- Source: United States v. Smith (Ind.) (1909). https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/united-states-v-smith/
- Publisher: The First Amendment Encyclopedia, Middle Tennessee State University
- Method: outlet report
- Checked: 2026-09-26
- Confidence: medium
- Status: current
- Source date: 2009-01-01

## Quotation from the source

> The News had published stories questioning the financial aspects of acquisition of the Panama Canal. President Theodore Roosevelt considered these stories libelous and sought a libel prosecution in Washington, D.C.

Source page: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/966. The War On News, CC BY 4.0.