The Yale expositor., 1913-06-05
NOMINAL DAMAGES
IN LIBEL CASE
COLONEL AGREES TO VERDICT
AGAINST EDITOR FOR SIX
CENTS.
PUBLISHER ADMITS HE CANNOT
PROVE CHARGES.
Famous Law Suit Which Brings Many
Notables 10 Michigan Comes to
An End When Defense
Accepts Defeat.

The famous libel suit OF Ex-presi-
dent Theodore Roosevelt against
George A. Newett, editor of the lsh-
peming Iron Ore, which has attracted
the attention of the entire nation and
has brought to Marquette probably the
largest galaxy of noted men ever as
sembled in one place in Michigan Is
al an end. When the defendant TOOK
the witness stand in his own behalf he
made a statement TO the effect that he
had printed the article on which the
action was based on good faith ana
had believed it to be true.
The Ishpeming editor, worn and
little haggard from the grueling he had .
received during the week, spoke in a
loud voice and with great feeling. Al
times his voice rose to an oratorlcal |
pitch and once or twice the apparent |
stress of mind under which he labored |
caused his voice TO breakIn particular
! Mr.. Newett's tones faltered when he
/ related how friends of his in lshpem-
! ing. men in whom he had the greatest
confidence and who knew of conditions
! in Washington, had told him that
Roosevelt frequently got drunk.
The statement of Mr. Newett was
simple, direct, and completely TO the
point. He told of his support OF Col.
Roosevelt previous TO the campaign OF
1912. He said that the colonel was his
second choice for the presidential nom
nation at the republican convention.
When Mr. Roosevelt bolted into the
progressive party, however, Mr.. New
EFT strongly opposed him. He told
how the colonel made what he New
ETH considered an unwarranted attack
on his friend, Congressman Young, in
his speech in Marquette in October.
Mr.. Newett said he had heard the
reports about Roosevelts drinking for
years, and that they had come to him
from so many sources that he finally
believed them and that he printed the
article in the Iron ore in good faith.
He told OF the starting OF the suit
against him He said he did what
seemed to him the only thing to do,
started in 10 prove the statements he
had made, if possible. He told OF seek
ing out witnesses in various sections
of the country, men who stated they
had seen Col Roosevelt when they
thought he was intoxicated. Mr. New
} EFT admitted he had failed to find wit
ness who could testify 10 having seen
Col. Roosevelt drink liquor excessively.
Mr. Newett said he had been pro-
foundly impressed by the evidence Of
i Tered by Col Roosevelt. He declared
8 that il was sufficient for him TO prove
: the untruth Of the statement he had
made in the alleged libelous article,
and that he therefore, would content
himself in the suit with the position
= that he had printed the article abso
= lutely without malice.
q Attorneys for the plaintiff then an
n nounced that their distinguished client
,. wished to make a statement to the
court. Col. Roosevelt then addressed
the court stating that his fight in this
IT case was not for money but for vindi
d cation and that he would be conten
It with judgement for nominal damagei
(Six cents)
1T wished once for all during m!
r. lifetime thoroughly and completely t.
&c deal with these ISLANDERS, so that neve
Al again can any man in good faith re
peat them" the colonel said with dec
feeling in the course of his address 4
the court.
y Col. Roosevelt, in his hour of tri
y umph, was magnaimous. Beaten
- hopeless, crushed down under a weigh
20 of powerful testimony, his every gu
or spiked, the defendant was completed
at his mercy. The testimony woul
have warranted an assessment of dan
of ages in the full amount asked, $4,000
ed Judge Flanagan told the jurors in IL
a structing them to bring a verdict 70
ic nominal damages, but the colonel CAV
If up the opportunity for at least parts
nd financial recompeuse for the heavy e.
M pense which the case n. lst have invo
we'd and at his request to the coul
nominal damages of six cents wer
assessed against Mr.. Newett Co
Roosevelt would not even take the o.
IN portunity to assess the casts of the su
M. against his beaten opponent. He wi
u. bear all the expense of Lis side of III
~ court action Mr.. Newett will hay
., OILY to pay what the unsuccessf
effort to make case against CO
Roosevelt cost him.
en- -
,a Chesaning is TO have new $4,000
,as school building as the result of fave
O.. ahla action taken on a bonding pro