The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-29
HAVING OF
 KIMBROUGH .Midshipman Coffin Now
 on Trial. CONFESSION IS ADMITTED Alleged Breach of Rules Occurred Dec. 12. Accused Youth Acknowledged Having Made the Tennessee Boy stand on His Head Until He Lost
 Consciousness.

nor Coffin, a member of the third class, for hazing Midshipman Kim brough. of the fourth class, began at the naval academy today. The charge is supported by the specification that the accused caused Kimbrough to stand on his head continuously for space of ten minutes or thereabouts and un- til he became unconscious. This. it is specified, took place on the evening of December F. last.
 The court is composed of Captain Frees, president, Commander Valentine S. Nelson. Professor Philip R. Alger. Lieutenant Louis McC Mutton and Lieutenant John w. Timmons.
 Lieutenant Commander William K. Harrison is Judge Advocate and E. S. Theall, of the Washington bar, Is coun- sel for the accused
 Midshipman George w Hewlett. of the third class, was tho first witness. Just after he was sworn the counsel for the accused asked the court to in- struct the witness as to his rights to withhold testimony which would in- criminate him, stress being laid on the provision of,the act of congress on 1874, which holds that any one participating in aid or countenancing hazing is sub ject to dismissal.
 Saw the HaxinE.
 The witness testified that he had lOOkeQ lT1G uOOT OI IOOTl III 6dfI~ croft Hail on the evening of December 12, and that he seen Kimbrough stand ing on his head and Coffin and Kim brough's room mate in the room with him. This information was elicited after he had sought to evade the ques- tion on the grounds of discrimination. the witness stating that he understood that looking at hazing was an offense under the law. The court, however hfna fo answer
 The witness said he left the vicinity of room B and remained away about Ave minutes When he returned Kim brouRh was stiII on his head and Cof- fin was the only other person Tn the room. a4.s.. i-sTiie witness was asked to Illustrate what "standing on the head" meant. He put his head on the floor and. rais- ed his feet a few inches from the ground in series of jumps. Tho ex- ercise apparently placed much strain on the legs and arms and was hard on the head. Kimbrough also exhibited this performance to the court little later.
 Midshipman Kimbrough was the mex. witness and it developed he was una ble to identify Coffin as the man who had hazed him.
 Did Not See COfin.
 The rule. 1t appears. is that no low CT class man must look at an upper class mate under such circumstances and this was so rigidly observed in the present case that Kimbrough could not say that Coffin had hazed him. He told, however how he had been l1azed by being compelled to stand on his head He had been haZed, he said, until he gave out entirely. The mid shipman who was doing the Iazing threw water over him and compelled him to go on again. He brought the relation up to the point where he lost consciousness. He had regained con- sciousness. he said. in the naval acad- emy hospital. His arms. legs and head were very sore.
 Lieutenant Commonder Charles B. McVey Jr.. was the last witness dur ing the morning session. He is att tached to the Department of Discipline e at the academy, and is a member of the Board of Investigation now going into the subject of hazing at the academy The witness said that he had learned a great deal about hazlng during the fast few weeks.
 He said that he was on duty in Ban- croft Hall on the evening of Decem- Der 12. He had found Kimbrough in bed. which was contrary to regulations at that time. He had questioned him and found that he was apparently un- conscious and had summoned the acad- en1y surgeon by whom Kimbrough was removed to the hospital
 Started An Investigation.
 The witness then investigated the matter with the object of finding out who had hazed Kimbrough, the fact that he had been hazed having been elicIted from his room mate.
 He discovered that Midshipman How lett had looked into the room and seen the hazing. He then informed Hewlett that unless he told the name of the Mid shipman he would be reported for dis- obeying orders. or called before the Board of Investigation in the morning and compelled to testify. Hewlett was allowed to make up his mind and In the meanwhile Coffin sought an interview with the witness. At this point counsel for the accused, objected to the testi- mony as to an alleged confession and asked the court to be allowed to in- terrogate the witness. This the court permitted, but took recess at this point.
 ted the testimony of Lieutenant Com mander McVey as to Coffin's confess sion. Coffin. the witness said, admit ted that he had stood KImbrough on his head for about ten minutes.
 Confession Admitted.
 The court ruled that the evidence of the confession which Coffin made to Lieutenant Commander Charles B. Mc- Vey, Jr.. was admissible inasmuch as the confession was entirely voluntary The officer said that Coffin also asked to be allowed to resign. On cross ex- animation the witness said that he was confident that Kimbrough was not feigning inconsistencies.
 Surgeon J. C. Byrnes, the ranking medical officer of the academy, stated that he was called to see Kimbrough on the night mentioned and found him in an alarming condition, he being in a state of physical collapse. On cross question, Dr. Byrnes stated positively that Kimbrough's inconsistencies was real and that he might have died had he not had prompt attention. Dr. Byrnes was the last witness for the which here closed its case.
 The defense offered only Midshipmen as witnesses. but will continue the presentation of its case tomorrow. The witnesses for the defense all testified that they did not consider Kimbrougil's reputation for telling the truth the hest but admitted that they had only