The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-05-26
Roosevelt Seeks Balm and Vindica-
tiOn from Alleged SIanderOus
Statements Made During
Recent Campaign
BOOZE" CHARGE IS
BASIS OF The SUIT
Substance Of Some Of the Affidavits
is Learned Hadley to Be a
Witness Criminal Case
Also Pending
Telegram by United Press

Telegram by United Press
Marquette, Mich, May 26.-The suit
Of a former president Of the United
States to recover $4,000 damages Tor
alleged libel by newspaper editor
began here before Judge Richard c.
Flanagan of the Marquette circuit
court today when the case 1f Theo.
dore Roosevelt VS.. George A. Newett
Of lshpeming, Mich, went to trial.
The substance Of the affidayits on
which the Newett case win rest be-
came known today. although the con
tents themselves are under seal.
The affidayits charge that on his
Ohio trip in Athens, Bellefontaine,
Jackson, Urbana and Martins Ferry,
Roosevelt was assisted to the plat
form BY an attendant at each elbow
and third behind; that he exhibited
symptoms Of excitement and conduct.
ed himself generally in such manner
as 70 lead the Witnesses to believe
that he was under the influence Of
liquor.
Affidaylts taken by Roosevelt's at
torneys in Ohio say the former presi-
dent, like Taft, was assisted to the
platform hy attendants, seeking to
show nat it Is custory to support dig
nitatries to the rostrum.
Former Gov Hadley of Missouri
will be called to deny the charge that
the Colonel was drunk at st. Louis.
Attorneys for Roosevelt will attempt
to introduce their character witnesses
at the beginning Of the trial, so they
can return to their business.
Newett, during the last presidential
campaign, printed a scathing editorial
arraignment Of Roosevelt and his or
ganization Of the Progressive party, in
the Iron Ore, a Republican weekly
newspaper published at Ishpeming.
Besides flatly branding Roosevelt as
falsifier, editor Newett wrote,
Roosevelt lies and curses in a most
disgusting way; he gets drunk, too.
and that not infrequently, and all his
intimates know about it.
1t was on this paragraph in the edi.
torial that Col. Roosevelt based the
libel suit which went to trial today
The editorial in question was printed
in the issue Of October 12, 1913. In
addition to todays civil action, Grim
inal action based on the same editor
ial, is pending against Newett in the
justice court here.
Two days after the publication Of
the editorial while Roosevelt was in
Chicago preparing to go to Milwaukee
a copy of the Iron Ore was put ii
Roosevelts hands He immediatel,
gave instructions to his lawyers t
begin a civil suit for libel Henry NJ
Wallace, the Detroit Progressive, wai
placed in charge Of the action Of tn,
eX-president against the Michigan ed
itor James H. Pound represente,
n Col. Roosevelt in court today
The evening Of the day on whicl
Roosevelt was shown the editorial Ii
went to Milwaukee, where he was sho
by the unatic, John Schrank. Tn
former presidents subsequent Hines
delayed the Immediate filing of tn
suit which was not instituted unit
October "a.
{ The entire editorial is quoted i
the formal complaint made to III
court, net tbs. petition declared Roos,
welt would waive all claim to damage
for any of the alleged libel containe
in the publication except in that pari
e graph which charged the Former pre-
b ident with intemperance.
g Editor Newt and his lawyer, Wi
liam p. Beldng of Ishpeming, agai
b today declared tMeir intention Of figh
g ing the suit to the last. m Newett
I answer to the suit he pleaded iustil
|. cation He declared his charges wei
a made in good faith and without malil
y and under circumstances creating Il
If qualified privilege, to-wit, that at Il
(contInued on Page Three.l