The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-04-22
ROOSEVELT LIBEL
SUIT JURY FOUND
Colonel Loses Attempt to Have
Barnes Charge Dismissed.
G. O. P. MEN ARE ON PANEL
Democrats and ProgressiVes Also Ac-
cepted--First Line Of Defense
in $4,000 Libel Suit
Overruled.

Syracuse, n. Y, April 20.--With the
examination of twenty-five men out Of
a panel of eighty, the Barnes-Roose-
welt $4,000 libel suit jury was com
pleted.
Six and half hours were occupied
in selecting the jury
AS his first line of defense Roose-
welt set up the contention that his
scathing statement about the latters
boss methods made no personal
charge and carried no innuendo. This
was in the form of motion made by
his attorney, John NJ. Bowers, to dis
miss the complaint. 1t was promptly
overruled by Justice Andrews and the
case will go to trial on its merits.
Courtroom Filled.
The courtroom holds 300 people,
and it filled up early, and Justice An
drews gave strict orders to bailiffs to
admit no more people than could find
seats.
Colonel Roosevelt accompanied by
Horace Wilkinson, Progressive state
chairman, and John D. Bowers, his
chief counsel, arrived at the court
house half an hour before time for
court to open.
Mr. Barnes came in five minutes
later with his chief counsel William
NJ. Ivens. He gave no recognition to
Mr.. Roosevelt.
The Roosevelt witnesses, most of
them, have been announced The
Barnes forces have announced only
two OF their Witnesses.
Attorney Ivans said that Mr.. Barnes
was trying to conceal nothing and that
his direct testimony to prove the ut
terance and publication of the alleged
libel, wherein Colonel Roosevelt had
called him corruptionist, would re-
quire few witnesses.
Colonel Roosevelt is prepared to
delve into the family secrets of the
New York G. O. =. for twenty years
back, If the court will sanction 1t,
Barnes plans and witnesses will be
made known, said Wins, after it be-
comes apparent how far the colonel
can go.
Two Democrats on Jury.
The twelve good men and true who
were finally selected after hard days
work number in their anks seven Re
publicans, three Progressives and two
stray Democrats.
When the jury was completed JUS
tiCe Andrews warned 1t against read
ing even headlines in newspapers dur
ing the trial and against discussing
the case with friends,
Testimony Begins Today.
Actual taking of testimony will be-
gin today upon the conclusion of the
opening address by William NJ. WINS.
chief of Mr. Barnes legal staff The
first witnesses will be Newspaper men,
to whom Colonel Roosevelt issued the
Offending statement.
Other newspaper reporters who have
interviewed Colonel Roosevelt during
the last five years also will be called,
and photographs of nearly 100 news
papers from various sections of the
United States in which alleged libel
Gus statements claimed to have been
made by Colonel Roosevelt appeared
will be presented In evidence,
This testimony will be offered in an
effort to prove publication of state
ments issued verbally and in writing
by Colonel Roosevelt.
Barnes Side Is Told.
Counsel for Mr. Barnes said that
they would make an effort to show
that Colonel Roosevelt began to make
statements which they consider libel
Gus during the Syracuse convention of
1910. when he defeated James S.
sherman, former vice-president of the
United States, as candidate for chair
man.
About four hundred students of
Syracuse university sercnaded Colo
mel Roosevelt at night lie talked to
them about athletics and told them
that. while he did not feel at liberty
to discuss his case, he wished the jury
had been picked from their number.
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