The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-23
While the Authorities
Shut Their Eyes.
THE LIGH! TURNED ON
Under the Beams Shed on Matters at
the Naval Academy by the Meri-
Wether Court Martial an I'm.
written Code is Revealed
to the World.
CBN the Associated Pres. }

10y TIE @ASSOCIdlcb L ICcSs
Annapolis. Md. Nov. Midship-
man Minor Meriwether, Jr.. of La
Fayette, Louisiana, member of the
third class of the naval academy. was
put on trial mere TO-DAY before a naval
court martial on charges that include
that of manslaughter in having caused
the death of Midsnipman James r.
Branch, Jr., of New York. d member
of the class above him. as a result
of a pre-arranged fist fight Which took
place on the evening OF Sunday, No
vcmber ), last. An operation was per-
formed on Midshipman Branch the
next night, but he died on the follow
ing Tuesday mornins.
Ihe sad incident of the death of
young Bracnh under such circum-
stances has been widely noticed and
has called attention to the existence at
the naval acedmy OF iii unwrItIe2 code
governing the student body but quite
outside the authorities regulations and
generally in VOCATION OF them. Under
the code" every .ctail of these fights
is fixed the midshi i;9nen on duty alb
staining from reporting them and ex-
cusing from formation those connect
ed with them. These facts were very
clearly brought out both by the Judge
AdVocate and in the cross-exam ination
by Lieutenant Commander Robinson
FOR the defense.
The witnesses today included
Branch's room mate. the referee ana
time-keeper of the contest and al
the four seconds We're examined in Il
grca' ~ less degree about all the
circtu of the fight the con-
meet .e code and their ideas
of f1 ~ under the regulations,
MID 514a \. w Fitch, who re-
fer e5. right which was followed
by Rr : death. stated that he had
OF in nineteen such contests
a Iipman McKittrick testified
TIA I'D taken part in nine.
| accounts we're given of the
;.rranz~- tents by which widshipmen
duty acQuisced in absences with
s-t and other derelictions in or
the fights might go on. and
imony also showed that al
frequently severe injuries re-
from these fights and the re-
often had to be taken To the
.aap |, nothing further was ever
t. of them This the defense
H4 II out on cross mination, it
l evidently intended to show that
authorities also Winked at the
and the pre-arrangement of
Shts under it.
notable incident which occurred
at the beginning of the trial Was
objection made by counsel for the
fet use TO Commander Sidney \.
a nton as 4 member OF the court
- he ground that he mad expressed
opinion that Merriwether should
dismissed from the academy aaG
sustaining of the objection on the
OF the court.
surprise developed in the fact
mt United states District ATTORNEY
.Gsap c.. Rose. of Baltimore. would
sist Captain Mark, Judge Advocate.
the prosecution. Mr.. Rose was as
med To the work by the Department
I'd Justice 1T the request of the Navy
apartmenF and was present at the
ginning of the session today.
The accused is defended by Lieut..
pmman1er James X. Robson. L. ;.
*. and James NJ. Munroe. of the An
lpolis bar.
The first two witnesses called were
g idshipman James p. Van De Carr
Id Earl w PritcharG class mates of
ranch and their evidence bore direct
on the charge. that of quarrelins
tn person in the naval service with
indirect relation to the main charge
matslaughter
The Complaint and the Quarre.
Van De Carr said that Merriwether
Iad told him that Branch had done.
ne could to make his (Meriweth-
> life miserable while he had been
the Academy. that he hated Branch
I'D was going to make him fight if
re was any fight in him. The nex>
t.T Van De Carr testified MerivetheT
-. SAID that Il was all fixed that ne
Brancn mad arranged to fight
OF pGeID pue s9slSnIl 9ul "a pasod
1idshipman Earl W. Pritchari the
I witness. was the room mate Of
nch. and i also from Louisiana.
riwether had. he sid. come TO the
m occupied by himself and Branch
)mpanied by. Midshinman Yeager.
SD iwether accused Branch of acting
airly towards him by using his
ton as midshipman in charge of
iioof. 10 report him about the mai
Of = dress cult case containing
ian clothes and charged Branch
having grudge rainst him
he latter Branch admitted. Mer-
her then said that Branch was a
alned low down sneaking coward >
ch then told Meriwether that his
could compel him to leave the
envy. and To this Meriwether am
I'd that he did not care if they
that he was not going TO be used
by onyone The affair closed
Meriwether calling Branch "a
ing cow;ird'' damn coward
mo gentleman After Meri-
II and Yeager had left, Branch
the witness what he should do
vas told that u fight was neces-
Afterwards Branch had told