Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-05-31

tBy Leased Wire lo Evening Eieraid.l
Marquette, Mich. May ai.--GeorEe
H. Newett went on the witness stand
this afternoon and retracted the all
legged libel charglng Roosevelt with
drunkenness. He said he had been
impressed that an Injustice had been
done the colonel In the publication OF
the article and deeply regretted II.
The plaintiff. then, In person. asked
the Judge To- instruct the jury 20 bring
merely nominal damages
Mr. Ncwetts statement follows:
II VS. born ON farm near James
vile. wis. IN 1896 and lived there un-
til was about Ia years old.
II secured my education in a dis.
trict school Ia that vicinity WORKING
on the farm summers and going ~
school winters. I came to Marquette
county In 1873 and have lived here
ever since. In 1874 / began WORKING
for the Iron Home. the first paper
published IN lshpemlng, and have
ever since been engaged In newspaper
work IN this county.
"In 1878, left the Iron Home and
started the publication of a paper OF
my own and have continued the pubn.
cation from then until the present
time. This paper In known az Iron
Ore
The Iron ore is weekly paper,
which contains the usual local news
published In such papers IN commun.
tiles Ike lsheming. and IN addition
specializes In mining news. covering
not only the mining districts of Mich.
isan. but elsewhere. In october. 1919,
II had a circulation of from . 500 10
5000. fOur-ffths of which was con
hned Ia the county of Marquette ana
the greater part of the remainder 70
other towns Ia the uPp.r poninsula.
II do not use wines or liauors my.
self in any form and am an absolute
lee-totaller having strong convictions
on this subject Neither do ! use to-
hacco In any form.
Prior 40 isi@, had been for mnaS
years. strong supporter oi Thco-
dore Roosevelt, recognizing him as
tht great Republican leader aud had
frequently published edit rails and
other articles ~ l.on Gre cO..,nand!ng
him and approving hls ,ienp.es and !
hnd heretofore assisted 80 his cavn-
paigna not only by persona, effort,
hut also by lalnciAi contributions
Even In the primary caripaign OF
1872, ! supported him az second
choice for the Republican nominee
II mention these facts as lndicat. .
ing the impOshibllity of my harborine
any feeling 81 personal malice against
the PLAINTIFF
Some time before 1912, l hegan 10
hear statements from various sources
that Mr., Roosevelt was drinking wines
ana liquors 10 excess. During this
period. ] took trip throughout the
western country. passing through
the states of Montana. Nevada and
Arizona az wolf as the intervening
cities. The statements Of MIR. Roose.
velt's excessive drinking were repeat
edly made In my hearing In various
sections by many persons who I be-
iieved 20 be reputable, but notwiih-
standing this was loathe TO credit
them. felt that there was a pos
slhiliiy that these persons were mis-.
taken and therefore thought the
statements probably unwarranted
Later. during the winter Of 1919,
took a trip to Florida, passing
through Chicago and other cities en
route and spent several weeks az
Belle Air ana other Florida points.
TN. October. 1919, Mr.. Roosevelt
made a campaign trip through north.
ern Michigan and among other places
spoke at Marquette on the ninth,
was present on that occasion and
heard him speak. In the course OF
his address he made what ! consld.
cred q mast unjust attack on our can.
didate for congress. who was one OF
my lifelong friends
'This incldent. together with th'
statements which had previonsi,
come to my knowledge confirmed m'