The Green Forest tribune., 1913-06-06
ROOSEVELT WINS
 HIS LIBEL SUIT
MICHIGAN EDITOR RETRACTs STATEMENT AND EX-PREsI-
 DENT ACCEPTS MINIMUM.
SIX CENTS WAS THE AWARD
Court, Jury and Defendant Convinced of Sobriety and Absteniousness
 of Plaintiff.

" eSIeFn Newspaper Union News Service.
 Marquette, Mich. - Col. Theodore Roosevelt won his libel suit against George A. Newett, who charged the colonel with drunkeness, and having waived damages after the defendant had uttered a retraction, the jury awarded the nominal damages of six cents provided in such cases by the laws of Michigan. Each party to the suit will have to pay his own expenses.
 Judge Flannigan instructed the jury to bring in verdict for the plaintiff, which they did without leaving their goats.
 When the last session began the air was electrical with expectancy. Ru. lrors were flying that the suit would be terminated. Attorney Van Ben skoten, for the plaintiff, however, re sumed the reading of depositions It vas noted, however, that he ignored the testimony of some witnesses. The next move was sudden.
 The plaintiff rests, remarked the attorney, James H. Pound, in matter of fact manner. William P. Be1en Of Ishpeming, who, with Horace Andrews of Cleveland, was Mr. Newett's at torney, said:
 The defendant will call MT. New. ett.'' A ruddy checked man whose color did not disguise the fact that he is suffering from a serious illness, took the chair In his hand he carried a manuscript.
 Tt is fair to the plaintiff to state that have been unable to find in any section of the country any individual witness who is willing to state that he has personally seen MT. Roosevelt drink to excess.
 At this the plaintiff smiled, and re- faxed. The colonel broke into a grin again when Mir. Newett said, with ref erenee to to the mass of testimony ad- duced by the plaintiff. T am forced to the conclusion that was mistaken
 The statement admitted that search of the country had been made to investigate stories of persons al, leging to have known that MT. Roose- welt drank to excess, but in every case the stories flattened out to mere opinions or hearsay.
 The libel was published in good faith, and proper information. That it was true Newett said, in the belief that it was true the defendant said he believed until the trial opened
 No demand for a retraction ever had been made, he stated, and when the bill was filed against him there was nothing left for him to do but make preparations to contest the suit.
 When Mr Newett left the stand At torney Pound said:
 With the courts permission, the plaintiff would like to make a brief announcement"
 The jude nodded and MT. Roosevelt arose. Rowing to the court, the colo nel said he would. waive the matter of damages save for the nominal amount provided by law. The colonel said further that he brought the suit for the purpose of forever stopping sian. ders.
 Judge Flannigan read his charge to the jury immediately. Speaking of Col Roosevelt, as the plaintiff, Judge Flannigan said:
 Certainly he has convinced the court not only that he never was drunk, but that he is now and always has been a temperate and abstemious man."
 At the same time the court held that MT Newett in publishing the edi. torial, Twas not actuated by actual i'll will toward the plaintiff and that he acted in good faith"
 But, the court held, the jury to the plaintiff, had he not waived his right to damages, would have sustained a verdict in any sum up to the amount claimed in the plaintiffs declaration, $10,000.