Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-11-07
MIDSHIPNAN BRANCH DEAD.
OUTCOME OF AN ENCOUNTER
AT NAVAL ACADEMY.
Death Came After Delicate 0per
alton Which Was Perform
ed Last Night.
NO INVESTIGATION UNTIL THE
FUNERAL IS OVER.

Az hNe minutes past ten Ci1Cb
this morning, Midshipman James r.
Branch, of the second class at the
Naval Academy. died as the result of
the fight between himself aaa Mid
shipmau Minor MerIi wether, Jr OF
the next lower class Ool and Mrs
J. Il Branch, OF New York, the un-
fortul att young mans parents, were
| both at the Naval Academy hospital at
the time of hls death.
The affair coming so suddenly has
cast a gloom not only over the Acad.
emy. but throughout Annapolis and
among the large number OF parents OF
other Midhipmen, who are here Tor
the ceremonies attendant upon the en-
tertainment of Prince Louis Young
Merriwether is also in the hospital az
the result of the affray, which result
eel fatally for his antagonist. He Is
suffering from sprained shoulder and
number of bruises, and is reported
as in bad condition from the shock
of the news of Branoh's death.
The affairs inception and cause is
being kept closely guarded at the
cademy and today none of the higher
officials could be reached on account
of the entertainment OF Prince Louis
and the British Ambassador It is
said, however, that the fight. which
took place after supper formation Sun
day night, was the result Of a some
what regular procedure at the institu-
tion. Branch, it is said was in
charge of one of the floors Of Bancroft
Hall, and in making his inspection Ia
claimed to have found unauthorized
and forbidden articles in Merriweth.
er's room He reported Merriwether.
in the line of his duty, according to
the story. and this, it is said, resulted
in the lower classman calling his su-
perior out for satisfaction.
This code, according to reports, is
the only way in which lower class
man can retaliate for being reported
TO the authorities by an upper class
officer. The fight lasted twenty three
rounds, and il is now said that
| Braneh's injury came as the result of
fall TO the ground, in which he
struck his head. The Midshipmen
treated the matter as only Knockout
and Brancll was taken care of ia his
room during the night. He became
much worse and his condition WAS
discovered by the authorities on Mon.
day morning He was removed to
| the hospital. where he became unoon.
scious and paralysis set in.
Drs. j. nj. L. Finney and H. M,
Thomas. OF Johns Hopkins Hospital,
Baltimore, were summoned, and DR..
Kerr, chief of staff at the Washing
ton Emergency Hospital, was sent
over TO this city upon tho request of
President Roosevelt. These were AS
sisted by the medical staff at the Aoad-
emy, consisting of Drs. j. O. Byrnes.
V. +. Webb, ID. II. Stone and X. X.
Hoyt, The operation was thought to
have been successful and the patients
condition pronounced improved This
was about midnight, but during the
early morning Branch grew worse
and gradually sank until his death
During the operation his father.
Col J. II. Branch. of the Hanover
National Bank, of New York, and
secretary of the Amer rican Bankers'
Association, was in the hospital.
where he remained all night after
sending reassuring message to the
anxious mother, who was with friends
in Baltimore Mrs Branch reached
Annapolis this morning shortly before
her sons death and went at once 10
the hospital, where she remained un-
til the end. The plans have not been
definitely settled, bnt at present IL is
expected that the funeral will take
place tomorrow afternoon at the Acad.
emy chapel at 3 O'Clock. The inter
ment wilt be made in the Academy
cemetery.
Much sympathy is expressed for
young Merriwether, whose condition
is said 20 be pitiable in the extreme.
Itswas announced officially that there
would be no investigation OF the an
fortunate affair until after the funeral
and the departure of young Branch's
family. The matter will then be
taken mp officially and thoroughly
eifted. The impression prevails that
from the verdict OF the doctors, the
death was not caused by a direct
blow, but rather from the unusual
exertion and tho formation OF an air
elot in an artery, which was carried
TO the brain and caused the fatal blood
clot. Merriwether will, it is thought
escape direct blame.