Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-12-14

paper that sealed the light verdict of
Midshipman Minor Meriwether, Jr.,
! giving him one years confinement in
the Naval Academy grounds for in.
| fringement OF Academy rules, which
caused the death of Midshipman
Branch. and at the same time freeing
him of the charge of manslaughter,
when another episode crops mp to
again bringing the Naval Academy into
the limelight
This time it is case of hazing or
running spelled differently, but about
the same thing. That a case Of haziug
Of au extremely brutal nature has been
| discovered at the Naval Academy,
Notwithstanding the sworn testimony
of midshipman witnesses before the
Merlwether court-martial recently
that the practice did not exist at the
Academy, has excited Indignation
everywhere.
The affair took place Tuesday night,
and the victim, Midshipman Jerdone
p. Marlborough. was found in his room
in an unconscious condition, which
had been induced by being compelled
| by upper -classmen to repeatedly stand
| on his head. The affair was discover
| ed by the officer in charge of the
building and Immediately reported to
the authorities.
Result of Investigation.
Yesterday morning Admiral Sands,
superintendent of the Academy, order
| ed the affair to be investigated by a
board of officers. Their report was
made to him, and it was found that
| Midshipman Trenmor Coffin, Jr., of
the third class, had been connected
| with the hazing, and Midshipmal
Warren A. Vanderyeer, of the second
| class, had been on duty and had al
| lowed the hazing to proceed.
The two midshipmen were suspend
ed at once, and within an hour the
| recommendation of the Superiuten-
dent as to their final punishment was
on its way to the Navy Department
at Washington Admiral Sands de-
| clined to state what this rceommenda-
tion was previous to its receipt by
| the department, but dismissal is the
penalty for hazing, and it is praoti-
cally certain that this was the recon
| mendation in these cases.
Hazing With Vigcr
In connection with the hazing of
young Marlborough, who is fromkGer-
| mantown, Tenn, it is stated freely
by midshipmen here that hazing has
been going on this year with redoubled
vigor. While under the pledge to
| abtsain from hazing. which they gave
| to Admiral Brownson, the previous
superintendent, the only form was
running, which the midshipmen
| differentiated from hazing. Now,
however, the midshipmen bave gone
back to ha2ing in its most viTulent
| form.
The particular method used is the
compulsiUn of long continued exer-
cises, producing extreme fatigue and
most dangerous in their tendencies
and frequent results. 1t has been
| learned that young Marlborough was
compelled to stand on his head, get
down and straighten up again contin-
uously for ten minutes. and this pro-
| duced his unconsoiousnes SIS. This and
like forms of hazing have been fire.
quent at the Academy OF late
An effort was made 10 get further
knowledge from marlborough, but he
has refused to divulge the names of
his other prosecutors. Coffin, who is
| from Carson City, New. was practical
| ly caught III the act, however, and
/ Vanderveer, who is from Mount Holly,
| n. j., was on duty in such a position
that he must have been aware of the
| proceedings
Cooper Is Paralyzed.
In connection with the condition of
Kimbough, there is much speculation
as TO the origin of a paralysis which
attacked Midshipmau Henry @.
Cooper, of Oxford, N. c., shortly after
, O'Clock yesterday afternoon. While
Cooper was in a classroom he was
seized with an almost complete psraly-
sis of the right side, extending from
head to foot and also partially affect
ing his vocal organs.
| He was removed to the hospital al
once. and as soon as his condition war.
ranted it he was closely examined as
TO anything he knew which might
have caused his condition. He stoutly
denied that he had been hazed recent.
ly, aud was not able to give any other
explanation which would account fol
the attack.
1t was found that his digestion was
in bad order, but this was not likely
to induce paralysis. While the au
thorities are inclined to accept his
statement, it is extremely hard to as
sign any likely cause for such condi
tion in youth OF IL years, except
some external injGry or strain.
Refuses To Talk.
It is we'll known that midshipmer
viii 90 TO any length, except perjury,
TO protect other midshipmen. and re
fusal 60 give any information in cas-,
there has been bazing is just what al
midshipmen would have expected oi
Cooper or any other in his situation
He is much better today, and his com
plete recovery is confidently expected
| The affair has also brought to light
that just after the Meriw wether court
martial Admiral Sands appointed al
investigating board to look into every
Academy custom which was contrary
TO the regulations or laws of the Uni
ted States. IL was composed of Lieu
L tnr,aslf- Comm aradnr q n DonLn. u