Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-05-28
MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES
Defense TRIES TO FIND AN EASY
WAY OUT THE PRosEcU-
TIoN CLAIMS
THE COLONIES REPUTATION
A NEWSPAPER MAN, WHO MUST
BE TRUTHFUL, SAYS TEDDY
DOESN'T GET DRUNK

Marquette, Mich, May 28.-Intro-
duction of further testimony to show
the abstemious habits Of the plain
tiff was resumed today in the libel
suit of Theodore Roosevelt against
George A. Newett publisher of the
Iron Ore at Ishpeming, Mich, VINO
charged him with drunkenness.
John Calvin O'Laughlin, a Washing
ton correspondent, was the first wit
ness. Although Colonel Roosevelt, on
returning to Europe from his African
hunt, was Obliged to attend banquets
and receptions rendered him by mon
archs, he never INDUCED in cham
pagne to an immoderate degree, was
the testimony of O'Laughlin, who said
he had been associated with Colonel
Roosevelt for 20 years. The witness
said he met the former president on
the Nile after the African hunt and
accompanied him as far as Paris, act
ing as secretary to Colonel Roosevelt.
O'Laughlin also accompanied the col
onel on various campaign trips in this
country.
During your 20 years experience
with Colonel Roosevelt have you ever
seen him in the slightest degree un-
der the influence Of liquor?"
q not only never saw him unoer
the influence of liquor, but it seems
absolutely silly to me to have anyone
suggest that he ever was" replied
o'Laughlin emphatically.
"At banquets nave you ever seen
him drink any liquor?"
"At banquets he sometimes took
glass of white wine. l never saw hfm
drink more than one glass Of cham
payne"
0'Laughlin sald Colonel Roosevelt
had appointed him as assistant secre-
tary of the treasury, and he had gone
on mission to Japan for the Roose-
velt administration.
He said he went to Japan the same
year that Colonel Roosevelt ordered
the Atlantic fleet to the Pacific.
Now, you mention that Colonel
Roosevelt sent the fleet to the Pacif-
lc; was that a measure taken because
Of the relation between this country
and Japan; was it to prevent wor?
We'll, yes it was perfectly evident
that Japan would not go to war with
this country if it was apparent that
this country was more powerful. It
was one Of the measures taken by
Colonel Roosevelt to prevent war. 1t
was a measure Of peace"
One reference was brought out In
O'Laughlin's testimony to the Incl
dent Of Colonel Roosevelt's visit to
Rome with regard to the pope
O'Laughlin explained he had been
acting as the coloners sescretary af-
ter the colonel left Egypt for the tour
of the continental capital and he
communicated with Ambassador
Leishman at Rome to arrange for the
reception of Colonel Roosevelt by the
king Of Italy and the pope.
eYou wrote to Ambassador Leish-
man to arrange for Mr.. Roosevelts
reception by the king and pope; was
that your purposeT
Yes, it was to arrange for these
receptions"
Here objection was entered by Col
onel Roosevelt's attorney on the
ground. that this line of questioning
was immaterial
4 regret that this subject came
up, said the court. 4 suggest that
it stop right where it is"
Questioning along this line, accord
ingly, was dropped.
T will ask YOU If in 1912 and for
some time prior If there was not
general report among newspaper men