New-York tribune., 1905-12-29
HAZING TRIAL BEGINS
Testimony That Coffin Stood Kim
brough ON HIS Head.

Annapolis, Md. Dec. 2S.-Court-maruaI pro-
ceedings against Midshipmar Trenmor Colin,
jr-. member of the third class, the charge
of hazing Midshipman Jerdone P Kimbrough.
Of the fourth class, began at the Naval Academy
to-day. The charge is supported by the speci1-
cation that Coffin caused Kimbrough TO stand
on his head for about ten minutes and until he
became unconscious. This II is charged, took
place on the evening of December II. The court
is composed of Captain Corwin P. Rees, presi-
dent; Commander Valentine S. Nelson, Pro-
fessor Philip R. Alger, Lieutenant Louis McC
Mutton and Lieutenant John w Timmonsr Lieu
tenant Commander William K Harrison is judge
advocate. and E. s. Theall, of Washington, is
counsel for Coffin.
Midshipman George W. Hewlett. of the third
class. was the first witness. After he was sworn
the counsel for Coffin asked the court to in
struct the witness as to his right to withhold
testimony which would incrininate him, stress
being laid the provision of the act of Con-
gress Of 1874 that any taking part in. aiding
or countenancing hazing is subject to dismissal.
Hewlett testified that he looked in the door
of Room No SO, in Bancroft Hall, on the evening
of December IL, and saw Kimbrough standing
on his head and Coffin and Kimbrough's room
mate with him. This information elected
after he had sought to evade the question the
ground of incrinination, the witness saying he
understood that looking at hazing was an Of
fence under the law The court however com
PEELED him to answer. The witness said that he
left the and remained away about five
minutes. When he returned Kimbrough was
still on his head and Coffin was the only other
person in the
He was asked to illustrate what standing
the head" meant. He put his head on the floor
and raised his feet few inches from the
ground in a series of Jumps The exercise
apparently put much strain on the legs and
and was hard on the head. Kimbrough also
hibited this performance to the court little
later.
Ndidshipman Kinnbrough was the next witness,
but he unable to identify Coffin as the
who had hazed him. The rule. 1t appears, is
that no lower class man must look at upper
class man under such circumstances. and this
was so rigfdly observed that Kimbrough could
not swear Coffin had hazed him. He told how
ever, how he had been compelled to stand on
his head. He had been hazed, he said, until
he gave out Then the midshipman who
doing the hazing threw water over him and
compelled him to go on again. He brought the
narrative to the point where he lost conscious
ness. He regained consciousness, he said, in
the academy hospital His arms. legs and head
were very sore
Lieutenant Commander Charles B.. McVey, jr..
the next witness He is attached to the
a member of the board investigating hazing. He
said he had learned a great deal about hazing
in the last few weeks. He duty in Ban
croft Hall on the evening of December IL and
found Kimbrough in bed, which contrary to
regulations. He addressed him, found that he
apparently unconscious and summoned the
academy surgeon, by whom Kinbrough was re-
moved to the hospital
He then made an investigation with the OBJ
ject of finding out who had hazed Kimbrough
the fact that he had been hazed having been
elected from his roommate. He discovered that
Midshipman Hewlett had looked into the room
and seen the hazing. He informed Hewlett
that unless he gave the name of the midship-
man he would be reported for disobeying orders
or called before the board of investigation In
the morning and compelled to testify Time
to make up his mind granted to Hewlett.
and in the mean time Coffin sought inter
view with the witness.
AT this point the counsel for Coffin objected
TO the Introduction of alleged confession
and asked the court to be allowed to interro-
gate the witness. This the court permitted
but took recess.
On reassembling the court admitted the tes-
umony of Lieutenant Commander McVey as
to Coffins confession. Coffin, the witness said
admitted that he had stood Kimbrough on his
head for about ten minutes.
surgeon j. C. Byrnes, the ranking medical
officer of the academy, said he was called to see
kinbrough on the night mentioned. and found
him in an alarming condition, being in a state
OF physical collapse. On cross examination Dr.
Byrnes said positively that Kimbrough's uncon-
seriousness was real, and that he might have died
had he not received prompt attention DIR.
Byrnes was the last witness for the prosecution,
which here closed it's case.
The defence offered only midshipmen as wit
nesses. but will continue the presentation of its
case tomorrow.
The witnesses all testified that they did not
consider Kimbrough's reputation for truth tell
ing the best, but admitted that they had only
heard reflections on his word since the
incident which forms the basis of the trial. and |
they also admitted that the midshipmen had |
considerable feeling against him. The two prin- |
cipal witnesses who made this statement were |
Raleigh z. Hughes, first class man. who is |
captain of the company to which Kimbrough |
belongs, and Roy l. Slower, a second class man |
and petty officer in the same class. The only |
incident on which they based their opinions was
one in connection with whether or not kim
brough had crushed his blouse he had stated |
1t is believed that the case of Midshipman |
Coffin will be ended Tomorrow Although |
no orders have been issued to that effect it is
that the court will try the
cases of MidShipmen Warren A Vandeveer who
is charged with neglect of duty in failing to
report Kimbrough's condition. and Stephen De-
catur, jr, of the first class. charged with haZing
Gaylord Church, of Meadville
Penn, and Isaac N McCrary, of Calvert Tex
both members Of the fourth class. The charge
against Decatur OF having hazed McCrary is
PEELED him to stand his head a bout one hun
dred and fifty times in succession, and compelled
him to perform two other exercises to the point
of exhaustion 1t is specified under another
charge that Decatur compelled Church to un-
dergo extreme forms of exercise.
"