Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-06-04
COL. ROOSEVELT
GIVEN SIX CENTS
Editor Admits Inability to Prove
He was Drunk.
CASE COMES TO SUDDEN END
Plaintiff Asks Merely for Vindication,
Not Damages, and Requests That
Mere Nominal Sum Be AS
sessed.


which he tituted against Editor
George A. vett of the Ishpeming
Iron Ore, who in an editorial had ac-
cused the former president of drunk
ness.
Judge Flanagan instructed the
jurors to bring in a verdict for the
plaintiff, which they did without leav-
the east less than two hours after the
conclusion of the case.
Newett Retreats Charge.
AS a climax of the case which has
been on trial here a week, Mr. Newett
himself took the witness stand and
retracted the charge he had made.
He said he had been impressed that
an injustice had been done the colonel
in the publication of the article and
deeply regretted it.
1T is fair to the plaintiff" he said,
ito state that 1 have been unable to
find in any section Of the country any
individual witness who is willing to
state that he has personally seen Mr..
Roosevelt drink to excess. I am forced
to tie conclusion that l was mis-
taken"
Search for Proof Vain.
The statement admitted that a
search Of the country had been made
to investigate stories Of persons who
were alleged to have knowledge that
M. Roosevelt drank to excess, but in
every case the stories 1attened out to
mere opinion or hearsay.
The libel was published in good
faith, Mr.. Newett said, in the belief
that it was true and proper informa-
ton for a public which was being
asked to vote for Mr.. Roosevelt for
president. That is was true, the de-
fen' mt said, he never questioned un-
til the libel trial opened. Until the
coloneIs evidence began to be pre-
scented he held full belief that the
charge he had made was true.
No demand for a retraction ever
had been made upon him, Mr. Newett
said and when the bill was filed
against him there was nothing left for
him to do but seek evidence and make
other preparations to contest the suit.
Forty persons were taken by Mr.
Newett's counsel in various parts of
the country, but to use them, or at
tempt to use them, he said, would be
to continue an injustice which had al
ready become apparent to him and to
his attorneys.
Statement Made BY Colonel.
Leaving the stand and returning to
his seat, Mr.. Newett looked in the
direction of Colonel Roosevelt, but
the latter was absorbed in whispering
to Attorney Van Renschotea The
latter whispered in turn to Attorney
Pound and he turned to Judge Flanni-
gan and asid
With the courts permission the
plaintiff would like to make a brief
announcement"
The judge nodded and Mr.. Roosevelt
rose. Bowling to the court, the colonel
said he would waive the matter to
damages save for the nominal amount
provided by law. Speaking of his pur-
pose in instituting suit, he said:
Your honor, in view of the state
ment of the defendant, ask the court
to instruct the jury that desire only
nominal damages.
Il did not go into this case for
money did not go into it for any
vindictive purpose.
Il went into it, and, as the court
said, I made my reputation an issue
because I wished once for all during
my lifetime thoroughly and compre-
hensively to deal with these ISLANDERS
SO that never again will it be possible
for any man in good faith to repeat
them.
Il have achieved my purpose and
am content"
Nominal damages means six cents
under the laws Of Michigan and no
costs. Each party to the suit will pay
the expenses Of his side of the case.
Charge Read by Judge.
Judge Flanagan then read his
charge to the jury.
Speaking of Colonel Roosevelt, as
the plaintiff, Judge Flanagan said:
Certainly he has convinced the
court. not only that he never drank,
but that he is now and always has
been a temperate and abstemious
man."
At the same time the court held that
Mr.. Newett, in publishing the editorial,
was not actuated by actual i'll will to-
ward the plaintiff, and that he acted in
good faith
But, the court held, the injury to the
plaintiff had the colonel not waived
his right to damages, would have sus-
tanned a verdict in any sum up to the
amount claimed in the plaintiffs de-
claration, which is $4,000.
Colonel Shakes Jurors Hands.
AS soon as William H. Matthews. a
miner, thirty-one years old, foreman
of the jury, reported the verdict as di-