Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-04-20
Freely Admits He Wrote Words
Barnes Charges Libeled
Him.
TELLS OF HIS CAREER
IN WAR AND POLITICS
Complainant in $4,000 Suit
Rests Case After Calling
One Witness.

witness stand to defend his suit for
alleged libel brought against him by
William Barnes.
When the coloneI,s name was called
he arose from his seat at the table
occupied by his counsel and smilingly
walked around to the witness chair.
In reply to question, he said he
was the man who made the state
ment complained of. He added:
II am fifty-eight years old and
have wife and six children"
In reply to questions by Mr.. Bow
ers ne told in a firm, clear voice the
story of his early life. Then he
sketched his political career. He told
or his appointment on the Civil Serv-
ice Commission, to the office of police
commissioner of New York, and as
sistant secretary of the navy. He then
told of organizing, with General
Wood, the Rough Rider Regiment
to participate In the war with Spain.
Mr. Barnes changed his seat, SO he
could watch his opponent while he
was telling of the work of the Rough
Riders in Cuba.
Mr.. WINS, Mr.. Barnes's attorney.
objected to this line Of testimony. ana
Mr. Bowers said he was trying to
show just who the witness was and
withdrew the question.
The witness then described his first
engagement with the Spanish and Mr..
Wins again objected. The court aid
net rule and Colonel Roosevelt con-
tinued:
I'VE then moved forward toward
Santiago"
wins Objects to Questions.
Il object to that" said Mr.. WINS;
what difference does it make where
he moved to? I want to shorten this
trial as much as possible"
Justice Andrews said the witness
had better confine himself to the
issue.
Mr.. Bowers, however, continued tc
question the colonel about Spanish
War matters. Later the colonel said
II was @lecte; gda of New
York in 1885, Then | became vice
president. Of the United States. / be-
came president when Presidnt Nc
Kinley died from a gunshot wound
shot ] was in Vermont. I went to
Buffalo and stayed there for some
time. Later left and 1 was with
my family when President Mckinley
died"
Coming down to the time he left
for Africa, Colonel Roosevelt sketched
his movements for the benefit of the
jury. Since his return, he said, he
had haan h1,a1y writing an5 fhot
times II was busy with politics. 81
have been," he went on, "a citizen OF
New York all my life. have always
lived in New York city or Oyster Bay
where I first voted.
"I do not remember just when ]
first met Mr.. Barnes, but I think ii
was during my campaign for gov
ernor. / was introduced to him by
the chairman of some committee In
New York.
Counsel for Barnes rested their case
after they had offered evidence cal
culated to prove publication of the
alleged libelous statements uttered
against the former chairman of the
Republican State Committee by the
former President of the limited
States.
Mr.. Barnes's counsel placed only
one witness upon the stand. He was
John McGrath. Colonel Roosevelt's
private secretary. He testified that
he gave out the statement complain
ed of to newspapers at Oyster Bay
A partial list of sixty-eight news
papers in which the statement ap-
peared was then read, and counsel
| for the defendant conceded that the
| statement had appeared in them
They also conceded that detailed
statement of the circulation of each
of the newspapers mentioned was
correct.
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 M. WINS. for Mr.. Barnes
pictured the former president as hav-
| ing been the nations greatest arbitel
of morals, and said that he was now
| in court with an opportunity to
prove the alleged libelous things he
had said about Mr.. Barnes on various
| occasions.
William HI. Van Benschoten, fol
the defense, described the colonel as
the champion of good and honest
government, and said that he had
been prompted to make the state
ment by the belief that there was
| corruption and rottenness in the ad-
ministration of the government OF
/ the State of New York. He reiter'
ated the statement made yesterday
| that Colonel Roosevelt meant moth
| ing personal to Mr.. Barnes or tc
| Charles f. Murphy, of Tammany
Hall, who was also mentioned in the
| statement, and that those names
were simply "algebraic terms"
It was planned to call the first wit
ness for the defense at the Afternoon
session of the court
AS was the case yesterday, large
crowd gathered at the court house
early in hope Of being permitted te
enter the room where the trial is II
progress before Supreme Court JUS
tice William S. Andrews.
Members of the jury, which wa.
completed yesterday. were permitted
to spend the night at their homes. Il
was rumored today that there was a
plan afoot to keep the jury In GUS
tody after the taking of testimony
| had begun. II was authoritatively
stated. however, that this rumor was
without foundation.
Crowd Cheers Roosevelt.
Colonel Roosevelt arrived at the
courthouse some time before his OPP
ponent. The crowd cheered him as
| he alighted from an automobile and
| the colonel waved a reply with his
hat.
Mr.. Wins began his address by ex-
tcontinusd IN Pass = coiumn ~