The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-05

Annapolis, Md, November 29.-Mid-
sllpman Minor Meriwether took the
stand in the court martial today.
Meriwether told Of Branch's animos-
ity toward him, saying Branch was
particularly disagreeable and fire.
auently said he was going to bilge
witness Branch ran him and re-
ported him several times.
While on the Hartford at Newport
News some fruit was being brought
on ship. Witness, Branch and many
others were helping themselves to
fruit. Branch told him to turn in.
Witness said, Go to hell" Branch
made a report of INSTRUMENTATION, dis
respect and not turning i'll promptly
Il told these facts to the executive
officer said Meriwether, and he took
off all but the last charge. | heard
that Branch wanted to fight. but | paid
no attention to it."
Branch made an extra inspection of
his room and had tried to get a report
against him. Meriwether continues:
That night after consulting my
friends | vent to Branch's room with
Jaeger. l asked Pritchard if I could
see Branch and was told that | could.
L Wei III ID OICh - 1co1u I'll liz 1lShb
was turned on. | said that I had
come to see him about what occurred.
Branch said, You arc a damn fool to
come to see me-: you know that my
class hates you | said, That is not
so; you are the only n who does
Branch then asked: What if l do?'
l said, Then you are Il damn sneak
ing coward and | will fight you,
though 1 am not in fighting condition.
| added. If you will get up | will lick
you He said, You mean you will
try That's what | WILL | said, 'and
if you will get up | will show you
He did not get up, and after a little
further conversation Jaeger and | left
the room.
Il called Branch what | did be-
cause | was told the custom was that
IL fight would end feeling and Branch
had told me he was going to 'bilge'
me-that is, make me fail, and L
wanted to fight and end the matter.
I did not intend to fight when | went
to the room, but he again told me
that he intended to 'bilge' me-
Meriwether's counsel then asked him
about his refraining from hitting
Branch during the fight. although al
IOWcl 10 10 So, uIuSI UAS IuieS. LIZ
witness told of w instances of this,
explaining that he did not believe any
blows should be struck in a stand-off
fight unless the men were on their
feet. He also told how he fouled and
offered to give up the fight, but the
seconds would not allow it.
After the quarrel with Branch
said he, "Midshipman McKittrick came
to my room and told me that he had
been appointed Branch's second to ar
range a fight. l wanted Jaeger as
mines. The details were then arrang-
ed. During the fight WE first fell
under the blinds. About the twelfth
round l rushed Branch and both fell
sideways through the door. The next
round Branch hit a terrific uppercut.
1t stunned me for some rounds. /
returned to his jaw. He threw his
head back and / returned but swung
my arm around his neck. We fell in
that position, his head striking the
floor. We were lifted up. My arm
could not be used for the next two
rounds. My left arm was crushed i'm
a football game about three years ago.
[ had a severe operation but failed
physically. However, / passed the
next year. The arm is still weaker
than the other.n
Meriwether then showed a deep