The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-05-27
Col. Roosevelt on Witness
Stand Denies He Is Booze
Fighter and That He Was
Ever Intoxicated.
WHEN 7. r. DRINKS
DOES SO PUBLICLY
Never Tasted Highball or
Cocktail, But Drank Few
Julips While President
Isn't Fond of Beer.
(National News Association


MARQUETTE, Mich, May 27.-Col.
Theodore Roosevelt today took the
stand in his suit against George New
EFT, editor of the Ishpeming Iron
Ore" for $4,000 damages for libel.
Col Rooseelt denied emphatically
that he ever drank intoxicating liquors
to excess as charged in the editorials
which resulted in the libel suit. He
said he did not drink beer or whiskey
except under the direction of a doc
tor, but asserted he sometimes drank
light wines.
He related briefly his career up to
the time the editorial appearing in
the Iron Ore" was brought him as he
lay in hospital in Chicago after hav-
ing been wounded by would-be
assassin in Milwaukee.
81 was very indignant" said the
Colonel, when the editorial was
shown me-"
The former president mounted the
stand after stormy few minutes, dur
ing which Attorney Pound, represent
ing the plaintiff, was interrupted fire.
quently by Attorney Belden while
making his opening statement. At
torney Belden of Newett's counsel de-
clined to make his statement until aft
er the testimony was taken.
Says He Was Never Drunk.
After the Colonel had sketched in
brief his career he was asked, have
you ever been drunk?"
~ have never in my life been drunk,
or in the slightest degree under the
Influence of liquor" he sharply an
swered.
"What use do you make of liquors?"
81 do not use either whiskey or
brandy save as l shall hereafter state,
or under the direction of a doctor. I
don't drink beer. l do not like it. I
do some times drink light wines.
have never drunk a highball or a
cocktail in my life, but some times I
have drunk mint julip. There was
bed of mint in the white house yard.
Perhaps / drank half a dozen of them
a year." was the reply.
"All at one timer he was asked.
There was laughter and Judge Flan-
agan interrupted sternly, saying, eff
there is any further demonstration
the sheriff will clear the court room.
] will not have any disorder. Under
stand that"
After the judge had concluded Mr..
Roosevelt answered, never but one
julip at time. l doubt very much if
] drank over half a dozen a year the
seven years I was in the white house.
In the four years since that time
have had two mint julips-one at the
Cincinnati country club and one in
Arkansas from loving cup. At din
ners or at banquets l occasionally
drink one or two glasses of light
wines or champagne. I drink publicly
and openly"
Colonel Gets Angry.
Attorney Andrews for the defense
conducted the examination. He asked
Colonel Roosevelt If he was paying
the expenses of the prosecution of the
libel suit against Editor Newett, or if
the Progressive party was bearing the
expense.
Colonel Roosevelt shouted his de-
nial that any one except himself was
paying the expense. The sight of the
colonel displaying his feelings caused
a commotion among those in the court
room, and the judge ordered the bail
iff to rap for order. The examination
then continued. To question the
colonel replied: 81 am neither tee
totaler nor prohibitionist never
drink beer nor any malt liquors. / do
not like them"