The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-29
Emphatic in Assertions
That Roosevelt Is Not
Drunkard.
REALLY MODEL, IN
ABSTEMIOUSNESS
Intimates of Many Years Tell of
Ex-President's Correct Per
sonal Habits-Admit He
Takes Drink, but Usually
Out of Courtesy to
$SaE Host.

Marquette. Mich. May 2s-Men who
nave been associated with Theodore
roosevelt in public and private life
VINO met him on the Mile when he re-.
turned from his African hunting trim
ana newspaper men who accompanied
MIN on his various political campaiena
testified to-day In Colonel RooseveIt,s
hoei suit against George A. Newett.
newspaper owner OF Ishpemlng. Mich.
that the former President not only was
not drunkard. but that he was nota-
oly and extremely temperate in tho use
OF intoxicants. 1t would have been i'm
possible, the witnesses said. for Col
onei ROOSEVELT ever to have been under
.he influence of liquor without the fact
becoming known to his associates. 1t
would nave been equally impossible.
they testified. for him to have drunk
liquor with any regularity without tho
smell or 1t on his breath being appa-
rent.
throughout the hearing of the case.
IN which the former President is suing
Tor $4,000 damages because of the pub
ncation last October of an editorial
charging him with getting drunk. Col
onei Roosevelt listened with evident
satisfaction to the testimony of for
mer members of his Cabinet and of
newspaper men. Frequently he smiled
as some incident of his campaigns or
hunting trips was related from the wit
ness stand.
He ChucI<Ics AudibIy.
Once Colonel Roosevelt gave vent IN
an audible chuckle. This was when
robert Bacon. former Secretary of
state In telling of his acouaintanca
win members of the Roosevelt family.
SAID the Colonel was the father Of five
children. although he has six. Colonel
hooseVeits sense of humor vas awak-
ened mt once by this lapse OF Mr.
Sacohs memory. and the hearty
chuckle which he vainly tried to
smother In his hand caused a rippJe or
laughter about the courtroom
For almost six hours of testimonv-
taking by attorneys. Colonel Roosevelt
Kept his chair just back of his counsel.
Ihe days proceedings were marked
py an important ruling by Judge Rich
ard c. Flanagan, which, in the intro
duction Of evidence by the defense.
Will have the effect OF excluding Ger.
tain kinds of hearsay testimony This
ruling came after a prolonged argu-
ment, during which the Jurors were
excluded from the room. and after at
torneys for Colonel Roosevelt had
urged the exclusion of a certain kind
OF testimony. which they said might be
introduced by the defense through
dispositions.
The effect of the ruling was that Col
ohel Roosevelt's general reputation Is
an issue on the case, and testimony
bearing upon his reputation may be
introduced, but that rumors about his
reputation coming from persons not
ttted by experience to Judge shall not
be admitted. In the future progress
OIL the nearing, it vas explained in
court. person who has Travelled ex-
tensivcly with the former President
or who has been associated with him
with any degree OF constancy, may tes-
Try as 10 his reputation. But a man
VINO heard the Colonel deliver a politi-
IL. q
moments In crowd. may not testify
as to his general reputation, although
he may tell how the Colonel acted or
appeared at that particular time.
Pienses His Attorneys.
James ii. Pound ana William H. Van
Bensch oten. Colonel Roosevelts attor-
neys. said the ruling was agreeable to
them Horace Andrews. one of Mr..
Newetts counsel. described the present
civil action as a "semicriminal case"
and pleaded for an unrestricted ruling
on the admission of evidence by the
defense.
Almost every phase of Colonel
Roosevelts public life was touched
upon by to-day's witnesses. All OF
them spoke with emphasis when they
expressed personal knowledge in de-
nying, as the editorial charges that
the Colonel gets drunk and that not
infrequently and "all his intimate
IL.
1t was asserted that whenever Col
onel Roosevelt drank champagne or
wine or mint julep. it was out OF
courtesy TO his host at some public
junction, that ne only took a mouthful
from Wine glass, and that on one
occasion he ordered railroad company
not to place in his special car the
supply OF liquors usually placed in
such cars.
The witnesses were Mr.. Bacon. Tru-
man H. Newbcrry, former Secretary OF
the Nevy: John Callan OLoughln, q
Washington newspaper man; Lucius +.
Curtis, New York newspaper man,
and ellison Gardner. a newspaper man,
who testified the day before. was re-
called
Repeatedly and IN various phrases
the same question was put to each wit
ness.
"Have you ever known Mr.. Roose-
welt to be under the influence OF
liquor?" OF Have you ever smelt
liquor on NV. Rooseveits breathe" and
the answer invariably was negative.
lust as often question We're put as
to whether the Colonel was in the habit
of drinking intox!cants regularly in 4;
any quantities and the answer again
was negative.
Mr.. O'LouGhlin. who said he had f
known CoIone, Roosevelt for many
years. PUT degree of positiveness. to %
hts answers by saying:
II not only never knew OF the Col
oners being under the influence, of
liquor. but any suggestion that nc
ever was. appeared to nc. on account
OF my intimate acquaintance with him.
to be absolutely silly"
1t was n question put to Mr..
OI.oughlin that brought about the ary
gument of attorneys over the admisstysS sS