The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-11-24
DEATH WAS
CAUSED BY
THE FIGHT

Annapolis, Md, Nov. 4-The presecu-
ton used It's heavy artillery in the line
OF medical testimony during yesterdays
session OF the court-martie which is try
ing Midshipman Meriwether for man
slaughter In connection with the death OF
Midshipman Branch, important witnesses
being DR.. ]. M. T. Finney. chief surgeon
OF the Johns Hopkins University OF Balti-
more, Dr. Henry NJ. Thomas. neurologist
OF the same institution, and j. c. Byrnes,
the chief medical officer attached 10 the
Naval Academy.
All the medical officers gave II as their
very positive conviction that Branch died
from the effects OF the blows he had re-
ceived In his fight with Meriwether.
The cross-examination was for the pur-
pose OF proving that the death might
nave been due 10 organic weakness In
Branch or to the unskilled treatment no
received from his friends after the fight
and the delay In giving him into the care
OF the physicians. Stress was laid on the
fact that no autopsy was held n the
admission vas elected that a more certain
opinion as TO the immediate cause OF the
death could be given IL the autopsy had
been held.
Tho principal witness called was Sur
geon Z. =. Stone OF the Naval Academy
staff. who was the first medical officer 20
see Branch after he had received his In
juries. and who had much connection
with the case from that point to his
death.
DR.. Stone gave n detailed account of
Branch's symptoms. his treatment and
his death. The death. he said. was prima-
rily due 20 oedema OF the vessels Of the
brain. though this was not disclosed by
the operation and no autopsy was per-
fnFn9n1 "a PR Tnhfd ~ paula MT
consent. The cross-examination OF DIR.
Stone by Lieutenant Commander Robin
son. counsel for the defence. was search
ing, and several members of the court
also asked questions on DR.. Stones tes-
timony.
The witness said that he realized that
Branch's condition was very serious and
called DR.. Byrnes, chief surgeon OF the
academy. into consultation. Drs. Finney
and Thompson OF Baltimore arrived dur
ing the day and with the consent Of
Brnnch's father an exploratory operation
was determined upon.
From the symptoms and what was dis
closed during the operation. DR.. Stone
was confident that the condition had been
brought out by external injuries to the
head. such as might have been caused by
blows or the fist These blows could have
been inflicted on either side OF the head.
DR.. Ffnney testified that he arrived In
Annapolis at 3 O'CLOCK on the afternoon
OF Monday. Nov. 6. and after consulta-
ton with the other medical men decided
upon an operation. The case presented
many difficult features. he said. and the
prope course was by no means clear. but
IL was hoped that the active cause OF the
unfavorable symptoms might be found
under the portion OF the skull which was
opened.
Or. Thomas told OF his manner OF To-
eating the trouble from the symptoms IN
the case. and what was hoped for by tho
operation. He also expressed his positive
conviction that no treatment would have
saved Branch's life and tina the death
was caused bv the blows received In the
fight. Practically the same hypothetical
questions and interroRatories on cross
examination were but 10 DR.. Thomas as
10 Or. Finney, end substantially the same
answers were given.
The members OF the court. articuIar Iv
Admiral Mccormick and Cant Rarrv
seemed anxious 20 elicit Information ne 70
whether or not II was reasonably certain
that Meriwether's blows had caused the
death OF Branch, and whether anv other
cause could assigned without stretch
Ing facts bevond the bounds az reason.
Admiral Mccormick was esnecialIv ner-
sistent in attempting 10 get from the ex-
perts direct answers to his questions on
this point.