The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-11-24
WILMINGTON n c.. NOVEMBER a. 1908

uduI COmmdn0eT James K. Robinson,
U. S. N, and James NJ Munroe. of the
Annapolis bar.
The first two witnesses called We're
MidshiDmen James P Van DeCarr ari
Earl w. Pritchard, classmates of
Branch and their evidence bore di-
rectly on the second charge, thai OF
quarreiing with person in the naval
aervice with an indirect relation to
the main charge of manslaughtar.
Van DeCarr said Meriwether had
told him that BIanch had done all he
could to make his (Meriwethers) life
miserable while he had been at The
academy, that he hated Branch and
was going to make him fight if there
was any fight IL him. The next day,
Van DeCarr testified Meriwether hal
said that it was all fixed = that he aad
Branch mad arranged to fight
Midshipman Earl w. Pritchard, the
next witness, was the room mate OF
Branch and is also from Louisiana
Meriwether had, he said, come to
the room occupied by himself and
Branch, accompanied by Midshipnan
Yeager. Meriwether accused Branch
Of acting unfairly towards hiru by
using his official position as midshio-
man in charge of the floor to report
him about the matter of a dress suit
case containing civilian clothes and
charged Branch with having a gruige
against him.
The latter Branch admitted. Me!i-
Wether then said that Branch was :,
damned low down sneaking coward
Branch then tGiG Meriwether thar his
class could compel him to leave the
academy and this Meriwether ans
Wered that he did not care if they did
that he was not going to be used bad
ly by any one. The affair closed with
Meriwether calling Branch "a sneak
ing coward "a damned coward aDd
mo gentleman"
left Branch asked the witness what
he should do end was told that d
light was necessary. Afterwards
Branch had told him that he had not
reported Meriwether. An upper class
man, NoyeG. had spoken to him about
1t, and he had come to the con,ll-
sion that it would be dirty trick to
do SO.
Ralph Yeager, d classmate of Meci-
wether, and who went to the room
with him On the night Of the quarrel
testified that Branch had called Meri-
wether "a damned fool when ne
came to the room and said that he
was damned ratty.' By the latter
Yeager explained that it was meant
that he did things that the code
did not allow for members of his
class. 1t was explained that a fourth
classman, for instance, has to keep
away from certain walks of the acad-
emy, turn squarely at corners, never
look at an upper classman never talk
to girls, observe certain regulations
when eating anG speak most respect
fully when spoken to by an upDer]
classman. This, it appeared was Still!
the unwritten law of the institution
when hazing has been abolished
DR.. Robert B. Hoyt, head OF the
department of physical culture at the
academy, furnished some interesting
data on the comparative size and
strength of Meriwether and Branch.
taken from the actual measurements
Of the academy. While it is a fact
that Meriwether was slightly older
heavier and taller. Branch was larger
of chest and arm and his total per-
centage of strength was about fifth
greater than Meriwether's
commander COlVecOreSSeS was
closely questioned by the judge advo-
cate and the court in regard to the
attitude of the academy authorities
towards fighting. He said most en-
phatically that there was no winking
at it. but that every such offense
would be punished severely if known
70 ocf Wi hn
ing session was Midshipman Haro;t
v McKittrick, who acted as a second
during the fight. The fight, he tesIi-
fed, lSated over twenty-five rounds
Of two minutes each, with one minute
intermission. Early in the fight one
of Branch's eyes was closed, but he
was holding his own.
At the end of the goth round Mer1-
wether fOuled by hitting in cllnch
and offered to forfeit the fight. rlis
is regarded as strong point for Mer
iwether. showing that he wished The
fight to stop.
On c-Css examination an effort was
made 10 show that fights generally
had the effect Of abrogating the i'll
feeling between the fighters The
witness said that it was always GUS
tom to have a general handshakins at
the close of lie fight, and this was
done in this case.
MeriWether, he said, begged the par
don Of Branch for the insulting Ian
Suase he had used. ami the apology
had been accepted. Other midshiD-
men connected with the fight were
examined. but not at such length. Mid
shipman A. " Fitch, who referred
the fight, admitted serving in like
capacity at nineteen similar affairs
The evidence Of Churchill Humphreys
and c. w. Magruder, seconds %
Branch and Meriwether respectively,
and Leigh Moyee the time-keeper, al
so corroberated the incidents told by
McKittry. Earl w. Prichard. the
roommate Of Branch, recalled to tell
all the circumstances connected with
Branch's treatment after the fight,
said that BraE;h had been given q
hot shower bath and treated with tow
els soaked with hot water, and ap-
~, - r 10. p~,