New-York tribune., 1912-03-15
ROOSEVELT GETS LET off
Colonel Finds 1t Is No Use After
Tenth Trip as TaIesman.
REFUSES TO PUT IN A BILL
Had No Mileage, Game by Auto
mobile" He Tells Court Officer
-S37 80 Due Him as Juror.
[By Tel graph to The Tribune. ]

OYSTER Bay, March 14.-Theodore Roose-
velt gave up to-day trying to be juror In
the Nassau County Court, at Mineola. he
was turned down Tuesday by John j. Gra-
ham. counsel for young boy seeking S4O,-
600 damages from the New York Central
Railroad, and learned to-day on making his
tenth trip to the county seat as tales
man that his willingness to serve the pub
lie as a juror was up against so-called
counsel trust" Some one told him that
Mr.. Graham, who peremptorily challenged
him before, was counsel for the Long ISL
and Railroad, and appeared on one side or
the other of nearly every case on the call
endar.
On his arrival at the courthouse to-day
the colonel had talk with Justice Har-
rington Putnam i'm chambers. After open
ing court Justice Putnam found that the
case on which the colonePs services were
not wanted would consume the remainder
of the day. He turned to the discarded
talesman and said: Colonel Roosevelt, j
understand that there is little Likelihood OF
YOUR services being required mere, ana on
account Of your engagements | will gladly
hear any request that you desire to make
"your honor" replied the former Presi-
don't "as I have been here for two weeks, |
,,,isb IN request that be excused, IL that is
a proper request
Justice Putnam observed that '-oionei
Roosevelt had been more faithful in re-
spect Of court attendance than the average
talesman. and he said he was therefore
moved 10 grant the request cheerfui'y
The colonel earned S37 so as juror. II
took him two weeks to do 1t, and ne PROB
ably never will receive the money. AS ne
was about 70 leave the courtroom court
officer told him that If he wonld go 10 the
clerk of the court and put in claim Tor
mileage he would receive pay at the rate
of 3 cents a mile for the distance between
OYSTER Bay and the county seat. by raii-
road the distance is fifteen miles, so that
Colonel Roosevelt is entitled to 81 % Tor
each of the nine days Of his service as
juror. =, 90,
"I haven't any mileage" he said. Il
came by automobile
He left the courthouse without putting IN
the claim or producing the subpoena whicn
is presented by jurors to qualify them to
receive the 81 day which the county pays
for their services, so that the s2' IN ices
and SO 50 in mileage allowance which 'ne
colonel has earned probably VIII remain
in the county treasury.
"What about La Follette's open letter 10
the North Dakotans intimating that tne
trusts enormously increased their "atereu
stock by criminal conspiracy during your
admjnistrations?" some one asked MIN on
his way out to his automobile.
Not word" he said.
He was asked what he thought OF tne
nrospect Of the Republican state Conniit-
toe using his Columbus speech as an anu
dote 10 the spread OF Rooseveltism.
DO I look frightened?'' he inquired be-
hind one of his broadest smiles.
The report. that the former Governor
BENJAMIN b. Odell. jr., was coming out lor
Roosevelt was put up TO the colonel
.r don't know a thing about II. I've
hoard he was and I've heard he wasn't
he replied
"One newspaper even says that Odeli mas
rrohahIy visited your New York headquar-
ters." some one ventured.
what a bold statement" he exclaimed
mischevousy.
lie laughed reartily again when ne WAS
told that there was some talk IN congress
about investigating the campaign contriou-
,lons Of 1901 and 1903, but he woulont say
whether he would he glad to TESTIFY at the
inquiry. ,,..
The visitors at Sycamore Hill tonight
included W. D. Lewis, dean of the La"
school Of the University Of Pennsylvania
and George Rublee, lawyer. OF New YORK
civ. They took dinner with the colonel
and discussed some Of the topical heads or
his speech on The Right of the People 20
>puIs ." which will be delivered on Wednes-
dav night before the civic Forum in car
negie Hall as the opening blast of the pre-
convention campaign. Tomorrow the colo
rel will be at his desk in The Outlook
office. in New York.