New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-21
Admits His Statement
Was Meant to
Hit Boss"
.
EAGER TO TELL
OF "THE SYSTEM"
Grows Restless and An
noyed When Restrained
by the Court.
TELLS OF OLD DEALS
Drags Out Party Skeletons to
Prove His Charges OF
Corruption.
TELLS OF OLD DEALS
frron . star Correspondent 1 rns rrbune.)


day. Though somewhat hampered BY
lawyers, he had a bully good day, and
got in a few whacks at the bosses.
Whatever his attorneys may imply In
their necessarily circuitous course, tho
Colonel Is frank TO say that this state
ment Of last summer on which William
Barnes Is basins his $4,000 libel suit
was meant for William Barnes. In fact,
Colonel Roosevelt was called to prove
just that point.
At the opening Of the afternoon ses-
sion John N. Bowers, counsel for
Colonel Roosevelt, renewed hi. motion
to dismiss the complaint. This time he
based it on the failure Of his oppo-
nents to show that the article COM
planned Of was levelled at the plaintiff.
William NJ. Wins protested that he
had thought that point covered by
stipulations. However" he declared,
"I can easily prove It by calling Mr'
Roosevelt"
T should prefer to have you prove 10
BY calling the plaintiff" suggested Mr.
Bowers.
"Will you permit me to select my
own witnessesw demanded Mr.. WINS.
"Mr. Roosevelt, take the stand, please.
The Colonel did so with alacrity.
Solid and chunky, he seemed as firmly
planted as If welded to the chair.
Nevertheless, from the very first 1t
was evident that he was exercising
great self-restraint. One instinctively
listened for kissing steam and felt
that had any Rooseveltian gauge been
invented It would have registered
about as much as such delicate in
strument could record.
Meant to Hit Barnes.
"Did you write the article as direct
ed toward and concerning Mr.. Barnes,
the plaintiff in this sction?" asked Mr.
WINS.
The Colonels head had been poised
as If watching for blow. 1t came for
ward with a jerk. His lips snarled
back TO give tongue and teeth full play
in enunciating his answer, 81 did"
That ended the testimony given by
"Mr. Roosevelt Of the United States"
as Mr.. Wins called him in his opening
address, in behalf of his foeman, "Mr.
Barnes of Albany"
Mr.. Bowers took his client in hand
and, despite the constant suave objec-
tions raised by Mr.. WINS, led him from
Santiago TO Albany.
Mr.. Ivins's persistency began TO wear
on the Colonel. Swinging around abb
ruptly until he faced Justice Andrews,
Colonel Roosevelt demanded bluntly,
Am | not permitted to show that there
was this DO system?"
Justice Andrews replied that, accord
ing to his notion, the complaint was
based on the charge that there existed
a corrupt conspiracy between William
Barnes and Charles F. Murphy. How
the existence Of 4 party organization
could affect the issue he failed TO see.
Mr.. Bowers undertook TO help his
client by arguing for the admission OF
the testimony in mitigation of dam
ages. May p began Colonel
Roosevelt.
"Do you want 10 help your lawyer
out?" inquired Mr.. Bowers sharply.
The ex-President subsided, but only
for an instant. His face Frightened as
he propounded what he evidently re-
garded as a poser: "But | haven't
answered the last question yet"
That" interposed Mr.. WINS, gently,
"is just what We are trying to prevent
you from doing"
Snubbed, Annoyed and Determined.
SnubSed on all sides, the friend OF
emperors shook his head despondently
and glanced at the jury. IL was easy
TO see that il he had that jury in a
ten-acre lot with plenty of head room
there was a whole lot he could tell
them about bosses. He leaned forward
and beckoned to his counsel.
1--WE must get that permission" he
announced in an earnest stage whisper.
"Tve got to answer that question"
SO counsel for the Colonel and .coun-
sci for Mr. Barnes went AT IT, Six for
, the defendant and four for the plain
/ tlU, lNey llUtu up III liOhb VI oAohtSS
Andrewss desk and talked severally
and singly. IL looked like real in
teresting dispute, and Colonel Roose..
Welt, inventor of the Ananias Club, had
to keep out of it, though seated within
three feet Of the nearest contestants.
1t annoyed him. At times he fairly
writhed, while his fingers clutched the
arms Of his chair. When he could catch
the eve of one of his array OF counsel
the Coloneps stumpy forehnger would
summon imperiously and his body
would culver as he whispered the idea
which racked him.
AT the end of nearly half an hours
discussion Justice Andrews announced
that he would reserve decision until
tomorrow. Counsel for Mr.. Barnes
contend that the Colonel can't touch
on ground that he did not cover in
his answer TO the suit.
When It was all over Colonel ROose-
velt got in an answer that tended 10
restore his ser. nifty, although 1t was
Continued on page ., .slumn I