New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-25
LOOKS FOR BRIEF TRIAL
Newett's Counsel Doubts if
Case Takes Two Weeks.

Marquette. Mich. MAY A-Wiliam p.
Belden, chief of counsel for George A.
Newett. defendant in the Roosevelt libel
suit. returned TO-DAY from Chicago. where
he has been engaged in assisting in the
taking Of dispositions.
II doubi if the case will require two
weeks" said Mr.. Belden. The deposit
tons are much alike. and tine testimony
should be brief. Unless | am mistaken,
the case Will proceed much more rapidly
than has been expected"
Under the supervision OF Judge Richard
&C.. Flanagan. the courtroom where the
suit will be heard was fitted with extra
tables ara chairs u accommodate the
newspaper men. Accordr 9 TO the pres
ent programme, Judge Flanagan will be
occupied Monday forenoon in hearing mo-
tiors on the regular calendar. in the
course Of which Roosevelt agt. Newett
will come up. These motions out OF the
way. court probably will be adjourned
until afternoon, when the work OF OBJ
tanning a jury IN the libel suit will begin.
After the selection OF a jury and the
opening statement OF counsel for the
plaintiff, Judge Flanagan will probabl
be called upon TO rule just how much
proof will fall on the plaintiff and on
the defendant
The points upon which local lawyers
are cOgitating is whether Colonel Roose-
welt must prove In detail that the drunk
enness charge was libellous or whether
his claim for damages can be sufficiently
set forth in simple denial of the edi
torial charge. leaving to the defence the
burden of proving the truth Of the ale
cations In the editorial printed in The
Iron Ore during the campaign last year
What constitutes drunkenness is an
other point calculated. it is said, to afford
much argument for counsel. much quoting
Of authorities and considerable thought on
the part of the Jurors. II is said that
drunkenness mas been defined in many
ways by many courts. is Judged by many
tests including the conduct of the legs.
| ability to distinguish colors. remember
ones home address. thickness Of speech
and hundred other signs.
The significance of these evidences varies
with the individual. according to court de-
cisions. for while some men have proved
complete control Of their faculties after
many drinks others guilty Of only one or
two have behaved with great eccentricity
and hilarty.
Word was received heer to-day to re-
serve accommodations for the following
members Of Coolnel Roosevelts party:
Frank Harper. Jacob Riis. Clifford Pin
chot Frank r. Tyree. Robert Bacon,
William Loeb ir.. Edmund Heller, Walter
Brown. j. c. O'Laughlin o. X. Davis
j. Sloan. Judge A. 4. Blair, W. Emler
| Roosevelt Philip Roosevelt Or. AleXan-
| der Lambert James r. Garfield. Truman
| II. Newberry and eight others. whose
names were not given. Most Of them are
| witnesses
| After the trial Newett will return e
Chicago for an operation for stomaci
trouble. He has been under treatmen
there. but the operation. which his phys
clans said was inevitable. was deferred
pending disposition of the libel suit
Kansas City. Mo, May 24-Herbert S
Hadley. former Governor Of Missouri. an
nounced to-day that he would be wit
ness for Theodore Roosevelt I'm the lat
ter's suit against George A. Newett.
II received telegram from Colone
Roosevelt saving that would be put OF
the stand next Wednesday" Nr. Hadlel