South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-19
Little Demonstration Marks
Opening of $4,000 Action
Against EX-PreSident by
Former State Chairman.
EIGHTY TALESMEN ARE
SUMMONED FOR JURY
Counsel for Barnes States His
Client COnCeaIS Nothing and
Will Require Few Witnesses
to Prove His Case.

COURT HOUSE, SYRACUSE, y y.
April I9.-With the small court room
crowded to capacity and the corridors
crowded with people, mostly women,
anxious for admission. the $4,000 libel
suit OF William Barnes former New
York state republican chairman,
against former Prest Theodore RoUs-
evelt, came 10 trial at 1910 O'Clock to-
day before Justice William :. Andrews
in part OF the supreme court OF
OnOndago county, New York.
Mr. Roosevelt accompanied 10y
Horace Wilkinson, progressive chair
man, and John ID. Bowers, his chief
counsel, arrived at the court house
half an hour before time for court TO
open. He got an ovation and an en-
thuSiast remarked that Teddy never
played 10 such a small and undemon-
strative house before" Mr.. Barnes
came in i've minutes later with his
chief counsel. William NJ. lVanS He
gave no recognition TO Alr. RooseN cit.
Justice Andrews mounted the bench
and Clerk Charles j. Clarke said:
Barnes vs.. Roosevelt, libel
Eighty TaleSmCn Called.
Both sides announced ready and the
so taiesmen summoned for the jury
were called.
Thus without eclat or preamble the
most sensational political battle Of
generation was on.
James /. Gregg was the first tales
man examined. lie was questioned by
William Barnum of local counsel for
Barnes.
Are you acquainted with the merits
Of this law suit?" was Barnum's first
shot.
4 know Barnes is suing ROosev elt.
or Roosevelt is suing Barnes, was
the answer, but I'm not sure which
is which"
This is an action for published
libel" said the attorney. Have you
any OpiniOn?"
Gregg had none, nor did he know
any of the principals or their counsel.
He could obey the instructions of the
court
would the fact" asked Barnum,
that the defendant in this case mas
been governor Of this state and pres
ident of the United States affect your
Judgment in this case
1T would not
Challenges None.
Barnum then passed on TO Irving j.
Mills. wood worker of syracuse,
planning TO examine all the > men in
the box before challenging any.
Mills interrogations and replies
were about the same as those OF
Gregg.
butcher of Syracuse, was the third
talesman. He knew neither principal
and knew nothing about the case until
the newspapers told him about the
trial in the last few days.
do YOU know of any reason why
YOU should not serve as a juror on this
case?"
answered.
Because of business" was asked.
Butcher business" said Wagner
George T. Spencer and Philip Muth
we're the fourth ana NTH men. Ihey
had no opinions and would Try Col
Roosevelt for published libel just as
if he never had been governor ana
president.
The Roosevelt witnesses, most OF
them, have been announced. The
Barnes forces have announced only
two OF their witnesses.
IVans il Confident.
William h IVans, chief counsel Tor
the ex-chairman Of the republican ma
tiOnal committee, early today sald AIr.
Barnes was trying 10 conceal nolhlhS,
that the utterance anC publication OF
the alleged libel, wherein Col. koose-
velt had called him a corrupuonlst,
would require few Witnesses.
The bulk of the Barnes witnesses,
said Ivans viii De called in rebuttal
and these would depend largely on the
amount of Col ROOseVeltS testimony
that Justice William Andrews Will let
in.
Roosevelt is prepared to delve into
the family secrets OF the New York
q. O. p. for 20 years back. if the
court Will sanction IL. Barnes plans
and witnesses Will be made known,
said Ivans. after it becomes apparent
how far the colonel can go.
The selection Of the jury, may con-
sumo the first day. l. Is admitted 10y
both sides that the first so tales
men drawn may fail TO supply the =
men unless the lawyers happen TO
hit on 2 democrats early IN the pro-
ceedings.
Women Crowd Corridors.
a tremendous throng. mostly women
crowded the corridors Of the Ononda-
ga county court house hours before
Justice Andrews convened part OF the
supreme court and the clerk. Charles
j. Clarke called Barnes versus Roose-
Velt, libel"
Justice Andrews and Colonel Roose-
Welt were Harvard classmates and Mr.
Barnes is a Harvard man
This is not a political law suit a
all" Ivans said today. Mr.. Barnes
is not trying 10 make political CAPT
tai out OF il. and I DO not think Mr..
Roosevelt viii be allowed 10. Usually
when one man assaults another. he IS
arrested. In a case where he cannot
be arrested. the next best thing is 10
sue him That is the case in a NUT
shell. Mr.. Roosevelt verbal --osult-
cd Mr.. BarneS-