Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-11-25
SOUGHT FIGHT
WITH BRANCH
Meriwether Went to d ad Mans Room
to Demand Satisfaction.
SECOND TELLS OF BATTLE

Annapolis. Md, Nov. 23.-Midship-
man Minor Meriwether. Jr. OF l.afay-
ettc, La, a member OF the third class
of the naval ayademy. was put ON trial
here before a naval court martial on
charges that include that of man
slaughter in having caused the death
Oi Midshipman James X. Branch. Jr..
of New York. member of the class
above him. as result OF pre-
arranged fist fight. which took place
on the evening of Sunday. November
g. last An operation was performed
on Midshipman Branch the next night.
but he died ON the following Tuesday
morning.
Interesting side light to hazing. or
running" as II is called at the naval
academy. developed from the testi-
mony OF one OF the midshipmen. Meri-
wether had been generally disliked.
he said gecause he was too ''ratty."
that is. II was explained. that he did
not abide by the rules laid down for
the government of the lower class
men. Some of these were that he
utfti tuAti tofttS ess
academy walk: that he should turn
all corners at right angles. should not
look at an upper classman and should
answer most respectfully when ad.
dressed by one Of them. that he must
never touch the table nor ask for any
thing during n meal. and under no cir
cumstances fuss" that Is to be In the
society Of young women. These rules
and many others are contained In that
part OF the code" relating to the gov.
ernmcnt of under classmen. Branch
had been one of the midshipmen who.
according TO the testimony. deter.
mined to make life mot worth living"
for Meriwether because he would not
abide by these rules. and from that
the cnmity arose.
Ralph Ycagcr. n classmate OF Meri.
wether's. and one of his seconds In the
fight. said that Meriwether had spoken
to him several times about the way
Branch was treating him.
''ie told me that Branch had II In
for him ever since he came to the
academy and that he was going to
settle II with him IL he had any nerve
at all. Mr.. Meriwether said he thought
Branch had reported him for french.
ing and that he had sneaked around
his room when he was not there to
find something else TO report him for.
we talked about the suit case incl
dent. and then Mr.. Meriwether said
he was going To go To Branch and de.
mand satisfaction. We went up that
night. Mr.. Branch was lying on his
bed When he saw Mr.. Meriwether
he said. We'll. what do you want. you
- fool? Don't YOU know that you
are too rattv coming up here?
Mr.. Mcr,wether said: I want salts.
fatction. French. and If you have any
spunk You'll give II to me- You've been
packing me lcng enough. and am
about tired of It,
"'v'ell. what are Won going to do
aboat H.? Mr.. Eraneh asked.
"Ill f~ht YOU right now. II you get
on your feet Mr.. Meriwether replied.
and Pranch said that his class could.
and would. bilge Meriwether. II he
was no; careful. We left the room
few minutes later. and the next day
the Hcht WIS arranged"
Branch's roommate. Earl Pritchard,
testified as TO what had taken place
in the room when Meriwether called
with his def and said that Meri.
wether. using an oath. had called
rranch "sneak" and coward" He
had advised Branch to fight. and they
had discussed the probability OF Meri.
wether having the best of the battle.
II told him that there was no way
out of IT," was Pritchard's candid
statement. END asked him II he had
reported Mr.. Meriwether for having
the suit case in his laundry bag. He
said that he had not though he want
cd to- but that Lieutenant Noyes said
he wanted to see fair play. and unless
the inspection was made regularly. ad
viga1 npaiprt the rqnOrf "