The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-05-28
Further Testimony TO Show
the COlOnePs Abstem-
iOus Habits
DRANK CHAMPAGNE
BUT NOT IN EXCESS


o'Laughlin, Washington Newspa-
perman, Who was Associated with
the ex-President 20 Years.
MARQUETTE. Mich. May 2S w. The
introduction Of further evidence 70
show the abstemious habits of Col
Theodore Roosevelt was resumed today
in his libel suit against George a.
Newett, publisher Of Iron Ore of Ish-
peming, Mich, who charged the colonel
with drunkenness.
John G. O'Laughlin. Washington
newspaper correspondent, was the first
witness
Although Col. Roosevelt. on return
ing from his African hunt, was ohlig-
ed to attend banquets ami receptions
rendered him by monarehs. he never
INDUCED in champagne TO an immoder
ate degree, was the testimony of
o 'Laughlin, who said he had been as
sociated with Roosevelt 20 years, aud (
during that time had never seen him 4
I In the slightest degree under the in- 4
1 fiuence Of liquor.
The witness described the various i
! dinners, official and otherwise. which !
/ he had attended at Washington. and
said he had never seen Roosevelt take
anything but champagne. and never
that to excess.
Much Of the testimony following
that given by Col. Roosevelt yesterday
/ afternoon was introduced to indicate
that the plaintiffs s physical vigor, his
/ functional perfection, his violence of
exercise and his immense capacity for
work could not exist in the person IF
one who cot drunk. and that not in
frequently, as the alleged libeloue
editorial in The Iron Ore charged
Important Witnesses ON this phase Of
the examination were Dr. Alexander
Lambert, Roosevelt ! family physician,
and intimate friend for 30 years, ana
Or. =. NJ. Rixey, surgeon general of the
1 United States navy. retired. whose OF
fetal duties during the Mckinley and
Roosevelt terms of Office included little
J else than to guard the presidential
physical well-being. Other witnesses
i were Jacob Riis and ellison Gardner.
the former s0ciolOgist and writer and
! the latter a newspaperman whose duty
} for many wears compelled him 70 take
close note Of everything pertaining to
Z Co. Roosevelt.
DR.. Lambert. aside from his init
J. mate social and professional relations
b with the plaintiff. testified that he has
, made a special study of the heart aud
lungs. and of the effect OF alcohol. to-
$ bacco. opiates and drugs on the human
+ system.
d When Mr. Andrews. on eross-exam-
B., ination, suggested that witnesses
4 knowledge of what the Colonel drank
] at mealtime did not extend TO break
z fasts, the doctor, who talked very
/ rapidly, sparkled back;
u ..Oh, YES, indeed, many breakfasts.
e | have frequently stayed at the Roose.
l. welt home all night and might drou
l. in at breakfast any day, as ! frequent.
Is did.
II Dr. Lambert said he had given
5 special attention to the study Of alec
[ holism more than TO any other line
had written book on the subject
which was standard in the profession
and probably during his career had
treated 10000 cases of alcoholism ana
alcohol disorders.
:, :" He is extremely temperate, testi
= fled the doctor, referring to Col. Roose
Welt :. His heart and liver, which, il
~ he was an alcoholic. would be affect
/. ed he said. were prodigiousl5
4 healthy. He never was called upoI
II to treat his friend professionally unit
! he was called to Mercy hospital. Chiea
- 90, after Col. Roosevelt's 5 life ha,
- been attempted at Milwaukee. II,
"A described the course of the bulle
If through the ribs, the ghastl,
.e wound it caused and the big bruist
]. which covered a considerable part O
rs the patient S side.
: None but very vigorous an,
- healthy man could have stood tn
shock and loss of blood as did Col
Roosevelt he said. = No alcoholic
could have rallied as ne did. lie wa
}. not nervous, as an alcoholic woul
have been, and despite the pain, fel
av asleep and rested as quietly as a baby
Had he been 4 drinking man, his ner
vous system would have shown IL; h
es might even have had delirium tremen.
.s+ 1t is a fact that so per cent of alec
rt holics who are wounded or shocked, a
in Mr.. Roosevelt was, would have gon
II into delirium.'
N Witness spoke of hunting trips i
Oh Colorado, Montana, the Dakotas and i
no Louisiana. in which he was the plair
III tiff s companion. There was usuall
W liquor in camp. but Roosevelt did nc
tn carry it. On these trips he remen
~ bered but once when his friend took
10 drink, and that was a glass of chan
N. pagne, taken at dinner given TO III
No. members of hunting party on boar
,p. train as the outfit was about to SCI
no arate and 20 their various ways.
was a purely social function, the wi
ness declared.
DIR. Rixey, as White House phys
a clan, viewed his responsibilities wit
on great gravity. and, according To n
testimony, fairly haunted the plail