The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-05-30

John Callan OLoughlin, a news
paper correspondent, was the only
witness on the stand today. The
balance of the time was, taken up
with arguments as to the admissability
of certain testimony. OIoughlin testi-
fed as to Roosevelt's abstemious
habits.
Marquette, Mich, May 28.-Theo-
dore Roosevelt, a picture of ruddy
vigor and perfect health, turned a
square head and square jaw in the
direction of twelve farmers, team
sters, miners and woodsmen in court
and gave his character for sobriety
as mot a total abstainer," but never
intoxicated in his life.
His testimony and that of others
who followed corroborated such de-
scription of abstemiousness.
In epitome the former presidents
testimony showed that he drank liq-
uor or wine only when compelled to
for indisposition or when the conven-
tionalities of public occasions re-
quired, except that he takes glass
of light wine, rarely two glasses, with
his meals.
Much of the succeeding testimony
was introduced to indicate that the
plaintiffs physical vigor, his func-
tional perfection, his violence of ex-
ercise and his immense capacity for
work could not exist in the person of
a drunkard, as the alleged libelous
editorial in the Iron Ore charged.
Several Noted Witnesses.
Important witnesses on this phase
OF the examination were DR.. Alexan
der Lambert, Roosevelt's family ply
stefan and intimate friend of thirty
years, and DR.. T. N. Rixey, surgeon
general, u. s. N, retired, whose off
cial duties during the Mckinley anC
Roosevelt terms of Office included lit
tie else than to guard the presidents
physical wellbeing. Other witnesses
were JdCOU Illlo anu 0ol dACi
He is extremely temperate" test
fed DIR. Lambert His heart and liver
which, if alcoholic. would be affected
he said, were prodigiously healthy an,
competent.
He never was called upon to trea
his friend professionally until he wa
called to Mercy hospital, Chicago
after Colonel Rooseyelt's life ha'
been attempted at Milwaukee.
None but a very vigorous an
healthy man could have stood tn
shock and loss of blood as did Colone
Roosevelt" he said. No alcohol
could have rallied as he did,
Rixey Watched Roosevelt.
DIR. Rixey, as White House phys
clan, viewed his responsibilities wit
great gravity and, according to his tel
timony, fairly haunted the plainti
during his seven years at Washington
He lowered over the president lik
an anxious mother over her infant; n
visited him every morning and creI
upon him in the dark and at all kind
of unexpected hours to see that tn
chief executive of the nation was NJ
taking chances with his health. II
watched what the president ate an
what he drank and generally supe
vised his diet.
One statement which he made
tones not loud enough for the plainti
to hear caused the latter to smile a.
preciably and to glance sharply at tn
jury to observe If they heard it, Ths
was when the witness said: I'm tn
seven and half years was at tn
White house with Colonel Rooseye
he could not have got drunk withol
my knowing it,"
ellison Gardner said that he had a
tended many public functions at whic
Colonel Roosevelt had been the pri
cipal guest and had never seen hi
under the influence of liquor.