Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-24
PHYSICIAN ON The STAND
Doctor Who Attended kidshipman Branch
Closely CROSSE Questioned by Defense.
PATIENT WAS SUFFERING FROM BLOWS
when First called Upon the witness
Realized that Condition of
Victim Of the Fight
Was serious.

ANNAPOLIS Nd. Nov. 25-The prosecu-
ton used its heavy artillery I'm the line
Of medical testimony during todays session
Of the court martial which is trying Mid
shpmsn Meriwethcr for granddaughter in
connection with the death OF Midshipman
Branch, important witnesses being DR.. J.
NJ. 7. Finney, chief surgeon OF the Johns
Hopkins university Of Baltimore; DR.. Henry
NJ. Thomas. neurologist OF the same in
stitutlon, and Surgeon J. c. Byrnes chief
medical officer attached to the naval acad-
eny.
The operation on Midshipman Branch,
consisting OF the lifting and folding over
a portion Of the skull In order to remove
such blood clots as might be formed, was
performed by Dr. Finney and Or. Thomas.
the specialist in that line, who came to
Annapolis a. Dr. Finney's request in order
TO locate from the symptoms the proper
place for the operation. Dr. Byrnes was
called in consultation with Mr.. Stone
shortly after Branch had been brought to
the hospital.
Much evidence Of a deeply interesting,
though some of the time of a technical
character, was given by the medical men.
All OF the medical officers gave It as
their very positive conviction that Branch
died from the effect Of the blows he had
received in his fight with Meriwether.
They belittled any possible effect of the
treatment Branch received after the fight
and gave 1t as their opinion that no treat
ment could have saved his life. The alb
sence Of an autopsy was explained by
Surgeon Byrnes, who's stated that Branchs
father refused his permission.
The principal witness called was Sur
Beon z. p. Stone OF the Naval academy
Hafa Of
Branch's symptoms. his treatment and the
changes in his condition leading up to his
death. The death. he said, was primarily
due to oedema of the vessels OF the brain.
this was not disclosed by the operation and
no autopsy was performed, Branch's
parents would not consent.
The cross examination Of DR.. Stone by
Lieutenant Commander Robson, counsel
for the defense. was very searching and
several members of the court also asked
questions on different phases of DR.. Stones
testimony. The defense evidently wished to
raise doubt as to the positveness of the
proof that Branch's death was necessarily
caused by the blows OF Meriwether and
asked many questions OF the medical officer
as to the possibility of some unhealthful
condition Of Branchs bringing about the
death. He was also examined as to the
ability under the circumstances to testify
positively as to the cause of death.
A large part of the time Of the session
this morning was taken up in reading over
and verifying the record of yesterdays
proceedings. This is required by regulations
Ind as many witnesses were examined yes
terdsy. much of the mornings session was
20 occupied.
Correcting the Testimony.
Several witnesses noted minor discrep-
Rncies in the recording of their testimony
Or corrected themselves on statements they
had made. According to the practice Of
naval courts-martial further questions are
allowed to be made OF witnesses who are re-
rallied. and one or two important points
developed in this manner. Mdshpman
A. NJ Fitch the referee of the Meriwether-
Branch fight, who admits TO acting as ref
cree in nineteen similar encounters. was
questioned as to the use of the gloves which
were used Inv the fight at the academy.
These gloves are used to protect the hands
when punching the bag. but Fitch said
that there was no regulation, as far as he
know. against their In the friendly
boxing matches at the gymnasium. He
also said that he had never seen them 50