Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-05-29
Asserts That He Uses Only Wines
and Champagne.
Milk AND BRANDY FAyoRiTEs
In q Forty Minute Statement Tells
of His Life and the Kinds Of
Liquors He Likes and
Dislikes.

nore Roosevelt gave In court To-
day, almost in detail, list OF the
alcoholic drinks he had swallowed
in the course of his life.
Before a Jury drawn from this
hard-drinking country, he jerked
out a crisp, detailed denial that he
is a drunkard Ior ever has been un1
der the influence Of drink.
The colonel's seat in the witness
chair was on a level with the faces
of the Jurors and as he talked he
leaned toward them, punching the
air with his fist and biting off the
ends of his words, somewhat to the
establishment of the slow talking
woodsmen, who speak seldom and
gesticulate never.
George A. Newett, of Ishpeming,
the editor whom Roosevelt is suing
for $4,000 damages for publica-
tion of charges against the Colon
els sobriety, sat grimly listening as
the witness told his story.
When Mr.. Pound, his counsel,
after a brief outline of the plaintiffs
case to the jury, called the Colonel
to the witness stand, the latter, who
had been inconspicuous among
number of prospective witnesses
and visitors, stepped briskly for
ward.
"Now tell the Jury" instructed the
lawyer, and THE client who had
been president twisted his chair to
face the Jurors in their box, and
proceeded to tell them" as directed.
aAt public dinners ] some times
drink a glass of champagne. per-
haps two; on an average ] may say
one glass of champagne month. F"
The witness snapped his words out
IN his peculiar distinct, choppy
,enunciation, and added, after a
momentary pause with emphasis,
sand do that in public" At this
Judge Richard g. Flanagan, pre-
siding over the court, rebuked an
ouiburst OF laughter.
'S'There was a fine bed of mint at
the white house, continued the
witness, who was left pretty much
to tell his own story. Then his
eyes sparkled and he said;
81 may have drunk a half dozen
mint juleps in . year."
A light supply Of wine and liquor
was taken on the African expedi-
ton, and of this . bottle Of brandy
was taken along for the Colonel.
The physician of the expedition
measured it out to him from time
TO time for chills or other reasons.
''I touched nothing else in the
eleven months" continued the Wit
ness, "and The doctor, apparently
out Of a within at the end OF the
trip measured what was left and
found that had consumed just sew
en ounces
Horace Andrews of the defense
devoted little time to cross examina-
ton. Mr.. Andrews manner Is sua-
witty itself. He treads and speaks
softly. Only when witness tries
TO enter into further explanations
than his questions require does his
voice rise. At such times his tones
seem to have claws.
Colonel Roosevelt, however, was
a tractable witness and Mr, AM
drews made no great attempt to
change his testimony. He interpos-
ed several objections of a minor
mature, but the witness, deeply In
4erested and stirred as he seemed to
be at refuting what his suit alleges
was libel. always stopped short
and waited for the ruling Of the
court.
The witness expressed detesta-
ton for whisky and beer. or the
latter he could remember having
taken only one mouthful in his life.
That was at the Deutchers' club in
Milwaukee, where he was urged to
pay the tribute of q swallow OF the
amber brew which forms one Of the
eity's leading industries. AS for
whisky, he got It mostly under pro-
test upon insistence of his. doctors
who put teaspoonful Of 1t in COB
let's Of milk which they sometimes
pressed upon him on occasions OF
extreme fatigue in the midst Of poll
Eical campaigns.
Henry Rauthier, city assessor OF
Happening, was the next witnesa
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