Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-04-20
Counsel for Barnes Rest
Case at Close of Morning
Session of Court.
ACTION OUTGROWTH
OF ANCIENT FUED
Barnes Counsel Points to Prominence
and Great Influence Of Defendant 70
Provo Harm Of Published Statements
Alleged to Have Been LibsIous-
Photographic Copies Of Newspapers
Offered in Evidence. M

Syracuse, N. Y, April 2o.-Counse
for William Barnes in his $4,000 suit
/ for libel against Theodore Roosevelt to.
day presented the first evidence in be.
half of their client on conclusion of the
opening address Of William N. WINS
chief of Mr.. Barnes legal staff. Mr.
WINS outlined the complete case Of the
plaintiff.
The first witnesses were newspaper
reporters to whom Colonel Roosevelt
gave the story on which the case is
! based.
| Mr.. Barnes counsel prepared nearly
100 photographs Of newspapers con-
tanning the statement and others which,
it is claimed. Colonel Roosevelt issued
! The attorneys said they expected to
show that Colonel Roosevelt has for
many years showed malice toward Mr..
Barnes in written and oral statements.
AS on yesterday, a large crowd
gathered at the court house early in the
hope Of being permitted to enter the
room where the trial is conducted.
| OU1y OU0 VvISuo9S TOT oaTUOos
| Mr.. Barnes counsel placed only one
witness on thes tand. He was John
| McGrath, Colonel Roosevelt's secretary.
He testified that he gave out the state
ment complained Of to newspaper re-
porters at Oyster Bay. A partial list
| Of sixty eight newspapers in which the
statement appeared, was read. Coun-
sci for the defendant conceded that 1t
lon to- thA
The case OF the plaintiff was rested
after counsel for both sides had de-
livered their opening addresses to the
jury and one witness heard. -
William. NJ. WINS, Cor Mr.. Barnes,
pictured the former president as hav-
| ing been the nation's greater arbitor
! Of morals and said that he was now
| in court with an opportunity to prove
the alleged NbelouS statements he
made
William H. Van Benschoten. for the
defense, described the colonel as the
champion of good and honest govern
ment, and said that he had been
prompted to make the statement by
the belief that there was corruptness
and rottenness in the administration
of the government Of the state Of New
| York.
He reiterated the statement made
yesterday that the colonel meant moth
ing personal to Mr.. Barnes nor to
Mr. Murphy, and said those names
were albebraic terms.
Barnes Counsel Rests Case.
Counsel for Barnes rested their case
after offering testimony calculated to
prove that their client had been libeled
by the former president.
Colonel Roosevelt arrived at the
court house before his opponent. The
crowd cheered him and. the colonel
waved his hat.
Mr.. WINS began his address by ex-
planning to the Jury the subject Of
libel. He continued: .as-,
I'VE must consider the occasion out
Of which the alleged libelous matter
arose. The case was antecedent to the
primary eelction in this state last fall.
Who were the principals? The de-
fendant, while member of the assem-
bly, Of the early sos established a
reputation as an author. He at that
time had begun to make himself a
factor in public affairs. He had more
influence than any single newspaper"
DweIIs on DEFENDANTS Prominence.
Mr. WINS then outlined Colonel
Rooseyelt's political career. and added:
During this time he was fluent with
his pen and gradually became the
greatest factor in American politics"
Mr.. WINS discussed at length the
manner in which Roosevelt and Barnes
entered public life.
when did the interests Of the prin-
cipals in this action begin to diverge? r.
Mr.. WINS went on. "rll tell you. It