The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-31
Marouette Publisher Made
Apology in Court.
Convinced He Did the Colonel
Great Injustice.
ASKED COURT To BE LENIENT
Deeply Regretted Publication
of LibeIOuS Article.
Made His Statements From the
Witness Stand.
GLAD TO PAY NOMINAL DAMAGE
Roosevelt. Makes Statement,
Be Satisfied Small Damages.
Jury Awards Colonel Six Cents
Damages.

Marouette, Nav 31.-George n.
Newett went on the witness stand this
afternoon and retracted the alleged
libel charging Roosevelt with drunk
enness. He said he had been impressed
that an injustice had been done the
colonel in the publication of the arti-
Gle and deeply regretted it. The plain
tiff, then in person, asked the judge
to instruct the jury to bring in merely
nominal damages.
Marquette. May 31.-Colonel Roose-
yeIt's statement to the court was as
. follows:
..Your honor. in view of the state
ment of the defendant 1 ask the court
instruct the jury that L desire
only nominal damages. / did not go
into this case for money. 1 did not go
into it for any vindictive purposes L
went into it and as the court said, /
made my reputation an issue because
wished once for all during my
life time, thoroughly and cOmprehen-
sively to deal with these slanders so
that never again will it be possible for
any man in good faith to repeat them.
i have achieved my purposes, and L
am content
n
under the laws of Michigan and no
costs.
Colonel Roosevelt will leave here to-
night.
Marquette, May 31.-As instructed,
the jury returned verdict awarding
the plaintiff six cents damages.
Marquette, May 31.-The examina-
Of in .Of
Theodore Roosevelt against George a.
Newett proceeded with speed today, and
it was expected by night the direct
evidence for the plaintiff including
dispositions, would be before the jury.
The character of the evidence intro
duced during the forenoon was un-
varying in character-CoI. Roosevelt
has always been abstemious.
The witnesses who testified personally
were Joseph E. Bayless, of Sault Ste
Marie. who testified to having read the
alleged Iibelous article; Emlen Roose-
welt, a first cousin of the plaintiff;
Frank Tyree and James Sloan, secret
service men; William Loeb and Will
liam P. Shauffele "a railroad man who
handled one of the Roosevelt itineraries
in Ohio Dispositions of Albert Shaw,
editor of the Review of Reviews; George
Cortelyou, former secretary to Mr..
Roosevelt and later in his cabinet; Law
renee H Graham, newspaper man
is a cousin of the plaintiff, were read
by Attorney Van Benschoten.
Marquette. May S1.-Almost all of
Col Roosevelt's witnesses in his suit
for libel against George A Newett, the
Ishpeming newspaper owner who pub
lished an editorial accusing the former
president of getting drunk and that
not infrequently," were expected TO
complete their testimony today.
1t was announced by James H.
Pound, chief counsel for Col. Roosevelt
that after the testimony of the plain
tiff witnesses numerous dispositions on
behalf of the colonel will be offered $
tending to show Roosevelt used intoXi- |
cants only moderately. 1t may be two
or three days into next week before |
the case is turned over to the defense. |
1t was stated in court that the defense
also will offer several score of deposl- |
tions from many people living H. |
noon until Monday morning. Among |
those remaining with Col. Roosevelt |
were Emlen Roosevelt. his cousin; Win. |
Loeb. jr., and two men who were in the |
secret service during the coloners ad- |
and who accompanied him |
on speech making tours.
Mr. Roosevelt was preceded on the |
stand by Joseph E. Bayless of Sault |
Ste Marie, Michigan, who identified |
the alleged Iibelous article in the |
Ishpeming Iron Ore, as one he had |
read. This affirmation was practically \
what was required of him, as it was
to show that the allegation |
of drunkenness against Colonel Roose- |
welt had general circulation.
Emlen Roosevelt said he was Sc |
years old, and that his father and the
father of the plaintiff, who were
brothers, had been closely associated
in business.
Emlen Roosevelt's Testimony.
Emlen Roosevelt, first cousin of |
Theodore Roosevelt, who is probably
more familiar with the life of the for-
mer president than others of the wit
nesses in the Roosevelt-Newett libel
suit being tried here, testified today
to the abstemiousness of the plaintiff.
To the surprise of everybody the
examination was brief. 1t was an
nounced that an afternoon session of
court would he held.
What has been your association
With cousin ?" asked Attorney Pound
for the plaintiff.
Very intimate. Have been with
aim for two weeks at a time. When