The Holt County sentinel., 1913-06-06
Roosevelt Wins.

day last won lis litel suit against
George i. Se~ett. who charged The
colonel with drunkenness. having
waived damages after The defendant
Lad uttered retraction. TIE jury
awarded the nonina damages d six
cents provided in such cases by The
law u Michigan Each party - The
suit will have u pay his own erpens-
e..
Judge ; lanbIgan Instructed the Iury
to bring 10 a verdict for the plaintiff,
which they did without leaving their
seats. The colonel left for Chicago
and the east al $40 o'clock saturday
evening, less than two hours after the
conclusion Of the case.
The climax " the case came Ike
the conclusion u pDaerful drama
When The Afternoon session bssan the
air ~as electrical with expectancy.
Rumors we're Tying that the suit
would be terminated. Counsel, how.
ever. remained uncomm NEGATIVE. and
Attorney Van Benchoten, for the
plaintiff, resumed the reading u dep
ositions. II Vas noted. however. that
he skipped portions oithese. and even
ignored the testimony u some VT
nesses "no had made depositions.
The next move "as sudden.
The defense Nil call Mr. Senett.
announced Attorney Belden, and rud.
dy.cbeesed man ~hDse color did not
disguise the fac, that he j. suffering
from serious Illness, toyk the chair.
In his hand he carried q manuscript.
There Sas shu''e u sound a. the
spectators adjusted themselves. The
better - hear and - observe. Col
Roosevelt sa' with folded arms. a,
first. but when the defendant began
reading his statement he moved % 'he
utmost edge ~ his chair and betrayed
an excitement Which Ms night Jaws
could not hide. NeHst' Has acil
along Ia his reading before he colo.
mel, whose position seemed Ike hat
u a man about % leap forward los,
The tense look On hi, face
Fl, IL fair ~ the plaintiff u state
that ! have been unable ~ ind In any
section u the country any individual
witness Who is willing ~ state that
lac has personally seen Mr.. Roosevelt
drink ~ excess. ~ this the plain.
IN smiled and then broke into a
grin when Newe,t speaking with
emphasis, said with reference 20 the
mass u testimony yiduced by the
plaintiff: II am forced ~ The con.
clusion that ! Vas mistaken"
The statement admitted tia, a
search " the country had been made
70 investigate stories Il persons Who
we're alleged 10 have know edge that
Roosevelt drank 70 excess, but Ia sy.
cry case the stories nattened out 20
mere opinion or hearsay.
The libei Mas published In gODd
faith, Newett said, IN The belief tha,
IL Vas true and proper information
for a public which "as b.iDg asked 10
yote for Roosevelt for president
That II Vas true, the defendant said
lie never questioned until the libel
suit was begun, and lac believed the
assertion until the trial opened.
No demand for a retractiDn ever
has been made, hc stated, and when
the bill Was fled against him, there
~ IA ii Al, Ia "A k.i,,
seek evidence and make other prepar.
ations 10 contest the suit. Forty
depOsitions were taken In various
parts Of the country, but 10 use them
or attempt 10 use them, would be Ia
continue an injustice which had al.
ready become apparent 10 him and
TO his attorney.
Leaving the stand and returning u
his seat, Newett looked In the direc.
tion VI Col Roosevelt, but the latter
was absorbed In whispering To Attor.
ney Van Benschoten. The latter
turned TO Judge Flanagan and said
with the courts permission the
plaintifi would like to make a brief
announcement.
The Judge nodded and Roosevelt,
arose. bowling TO the court the colo
ael said that he would valve the mat.
ter Of damages, save, for the nominal
amount provided by law. Speaking
Of his purpose Of instituting the sui,
he said:
~ wish once for all during my lie
time to deal with those ISLANDERS sc
that never again viii It be possible
for any man In good faith TO repeat
them"
Examina tiOn NOtica