New Britain herald., 1915-04-20

MT. Barnes and MT. Murphy in the al- legation. and that those names were what might he termed algebralc terms. I want you gentlemen to pay particular attention to the evidence offered by the defendant and deter mine for yourselves whether anything personal was meant
 Admits Wide Circulation.
 "In the answer the defendant ad- mits he secured wide circulation for the statement complained of. As just defense he sets forth matter Of Justification, and then in general terms re-alleges the general state ments in the original complaint
 At that point Justice Andrews in- terrupted to say that it w2.s possible that some of the matter of defense might not be admitted, and that for that reason it would be unWise to dis cuss in detail the matter in the an swer to the complaint. MT. Twins re- piled that he was prepared to object to any of the defeneses set down in the answer being admitted to evil dence. He then ceased to discuss the document.
 Benefit of Mankind.
 MT. Wins then concluded as fol- lows:
 We come into court under the great principle of liberty, the quality upon which this action rests. ., We come in not only for ourselves but for the benefit of all mankind"
 Contrary to the plans, William H. Van Benschoten of Colonel Roose- velts legal staff opened the defen- dant's case. He said in part:
 ''Shot Heard Around tho World.''
 MT. Wins referred to the fact that yesterday was the anniversary of the Shot that was heard around the World,' and that shot was fired in the cause of liberty. It was fired as a protest against corrupt government in England.
 "Colonel Roosevelt, having been a citizen of this state nearly all his life, certainly had right to stand up and demand good honest govern ment. Counsel for the plaintiff said he would object to admitting the stat ed defense That's the case in nut shell. Colonel Roosevelt intends to prove the existence of bossism and corrupt government.
 Dangerous for Plaintiff.
 "This case is dangerous one for this plaintiff and his counsel know it. Consequently his counsel want to keep him away from the heart of this case. Counsel want to keep away from talk of corruption and make you think of other things
 Coming down to 1914, counsel read a series of sentences dealing with al legged corruption in the government of New York, such as in the prisons, the padding of pay rolls, differences of graft stealing of public moneys and so on. The sentences he read, coun- sel said, were copied from the plain tiff's own newspaper, The Albany Journal.
 Counsel then read editorials from the same paper in which Colonel Roosevelt was lauded for his efforts to secure clean politics and clean gov ernment.
 Platt's Name Mentioned.
 The name of Thomas c. Platt was first brought to the attention of the jury when MT. Van Benschoten men toned it in sxetching the actions of Colonel Roosevelt at Albany. It was there counsel said, that the colonel and. Mr.. Barnes first came to know each. other well. MT. Platt who coun- sel described as the Easy Boss" was then political partner of MT. Barnes.
 MT. Van Benschoten discussed the opposition of MT. Barnes to Governor Hughes and the activities of MT. Barnes while Colonel Roosevelt was governor. He mentioned the Fran chise tax bill, the race track bill and other measures opposed by MT. Barnes. He also discussed the New York state | insurance investigation and a state ment he accredited to MT. Barnes, l that he wanted men "who would be mine" in government offices. Wins Objection Upheld. MT. Wins objected at that point to 1 the line taken by counsel for Colonel l Roosevelt, saying that it was a sum | ming up instead of an opening. The | objection was upheld
 In concluding, counsel said: "A grave and great responsibility is 1 resting upon the jury in this case. 1 The eyes of the state and nation are l upon you to see how citizens of old l Anondaga look upon an effort to es- l tablish clean and efficient govern | ment. How they look upon the per- 1 formance of a duty by citizen in l trying to maintain to the people a 1 government by and for the people. l Single individuals sink into insignif- l canoe. A money verdict on one side or the other is inconsequential as compared with the vital proposition which comes home to every man, wo- man and child in this state as to | whether good poyerup1ent shall eyict l "On the facts we will present we l will ask you to render a verdict which | will say to all citizens who believe in