The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-28
ROOSEVELT NEVER
I DRUNK in HIS LIFE, !
HE SAYS ON STAND.
Former President Adj
mits He Is mot a
Total Abstainer." /
HAS NO TASTE FOR
WHISKEY OR BEER
Testimony Shows He Drinks
Liquor or Wine When Com
PEELED To for Indisposition or
When Conventionalities of
Public Occasions Require.
Other Witnesses.

Marquette, Mich. May 27.-Theodore
Roosevelt, picture of ruddy vigor
and perfect health. turned n square
Jaw in the direction of twelve farmers,
teamsters. miners and woodsmen in
court to-day, and gave his character
Tor sobriety as not n total abstainer"
but never intoxicated in his life. His
testimony. and that of others, corrobo-
rated such description of abstemious-
ness If the sturdy looking man who
spent seven years In performing the
duties of President OF the United
States saw anything curious In his po-
sition of explaining to the twelve toll
ers that he was not really drunkard,
as charged in an alleged libelous edi-
torial by the defendant, George a.
Newett. his countenance did not be-
tray 1t, nor did his manner.
When Mr.. Pound, his counsel after
a brief outline OF the plaintifrs case
to the Jury, called Colonel Roosevelt
to the stand, the latter who had been
inconspicuous among number of
prospective witnesses and visitors.
stepped briskly forward.
Now. tell the jury" instructed the
lawyer. and the client proceeded to
tell them directed.
AT public dinners I sometimes drink
glass of champagne, perhaps two:
on an average. l may say one glass
OF champagne month"
The witness snapped his words out
in his peculiar, distinct choppy enun-
citation. and added, after momentary
pause. with emphasis. land 1 do that
in public"
At this Judge Richard C. Flanagan.
presiding over the court. rebuked an
outburst of laughter.
There was 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:
II may have drunk half dozen mint
juleps in n year"
light supply of wine and liquor
was taken on the African expedition,
md OF this bottle of brandy was taken
along for Colonel Roosevelt.
The physician of the outfit measured
1t out to him from time to time for
chills or other reasons.
II touched nothing else in the eleven
months" continued the witness, "and
the doctor, apparently out of n whim.
at the end of the trip measured what
was left. and found that 1 had con-
sumed just seven ounces"
Attorney Horace Andrews. of the de-
fense. devoted little time to explana-
ton, and made no great effort to
change the testimony, but interposed
several objections Of minor natures
but the witness. deeply interested and
stirred, as he seemed to be- always
stopped short and waited for the ruling
of the court.
The witness explained detestation
for whiskey and beer. OF the latter.
he could remember having taken only
one mouthful in his life. That was at
the Deutscher Club, In Milwaukee,.
where he was urged to pay the tribute
of n swallow of the amber brew. AS
for whiskcy he got it mostly under
protest upon insistence OF his doctors.
who put a teaspoonful OF it in milk.
which they sometimes pressed upon
| him on occasions of extreme fatigue.
Light Wine with Meals.
In epitome the former Presidents
Continued on Second Pagel