The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-11-28

sOIuteiy in the absence of an autousy
but that there was no reasonable doubt
that tie blows had caused Branch's
death. admiral Mccormick evidently
was not at az satisfied that the hot ap-
plicaticns on Pranch's head by his
companions on the night of the fight
had not contributed t.. the death. He
brought out from the witl-.ess that hot
applications might contract veins if
applied :. them closely and e0ntin-
sally.
DR.. e. p. Stone was recalled and tes-
tilted from the academy records as to
q physical examination Of Branch
about eight months prior to his death,
This examination he said, Included the
heart and no disease of tina organ was
discerned.
Admiral Mccormick also interrogat-
cd tnfs witness. He asked IL the heart
examination Of Il miishipman was
thorough. The witness answered that
1t was.
Then" said Admiral Mccormick,
If showed you Il record where Il
young man passed that examinat-
ton and two weeks after died from
embelism Of the brain due to q
atation Of the heart being carried there.
would You change your answer"
Il would not" said DR.. Stone, .mis-
takes OF course may occt!r.'
\ startling incident occurred during
the cross examination of Dr.. Stone by
Mr.. Munroe. Meriwether's counsel.
He. asked III questions connected
with the death of Midshipman Battle,
which occurred at the academy last
year. The cause Of the death was not
cerfninly revealed by the autopsy, the
WituesS said. but an old injury to the
brain was discovered, and it was ru-
mOred that his had been Cccasioned
by IN injury which Battle had received
in some haZing, occurring when he first
entered the academy. He had no per-
sOnal knowledge Of this he said.
Reference having been made to a
nsidshipman who died of brain trouble
shortly after his entry into the acad-
envy, the prosecution evidently thought
1t better to lay it before the court from
the medical records. The case was
that of Midshipman Lawrence f.
Clark, who entered the academy, hav-
ing passed his physical examination
July II. 1903. He almost Immediately
was confined to his bed in the hospital
and on July %, died. An autopsy re-
vealed that he had died Of an'embOlism
or clogging Of the blood vessel of the
head / due primarily to a vegetation
from the region of the heart being
carried to the brain. This condition.
the report Of~the autopsy said, existed
prior to his entrance to the academy.
The defense offered two witnesses
during the afternoon session. They
were Midshipmar Herbert &. Lab
lardt, Il class mate and former room
mate of Merriwether and Midshipman
Norman L. Smith. Labhardt was called
to show that Branch had lone things
to Meriwether calculated to make good
bis assertion that he would make life
not worth living for him."
He said hat on II occasion Branch
had come to their DON and made
Meriwether hold Il book in his mouth
and on another occasion had spoken
harshly to him about doing things not
permitted to members OF his class by
the i~nstitution's unwritten laws
During the curse of Midshipman
Smiths testimony it WAS to be noted
that United States Attorney Rose. of
Baltimore, who is associated in the
prosecution with Judge Advocate Ma
riX, took a keen interest i'll the evidence
given that lighting had increased since
hazing was knocked out at the acad-
envy. He brought out very clearly by
his questions that the midshipmen
were still compelled to do various silly
things and obey ridiculous rules, the
impelling force being the fact that if
they do not prove tactable they must
fight. whereas they were formerly COM
PEELED to do the same thing by the i'm
position of physical cruelty in the
shape of hazing.
The special point which the defense
sought to prove by Midshipman Smith
was that Branch, when not On duty,
had voluntarily Informed the witness,
who was in charge of the floor, that
Meriwether had broken some rule, and
this was so stated by Smith.
Nashville. Tenn, November 24.-The
venerable Mrs. G.. VI. GOodlett, Of this
city. honorary president and founder
of the United Daughters of the Con-
federacy. has sent the following tele-
gram to her young kinsman, Minor
Meriwether the midShipman who il
now undergoing a court martial in con-
nection with his fatal encounter with
Midshipman Branch:
TIC Midshipman Meriwether, Annap-
oils, Md:
ancestors would have risen up against
you had you done otherwise than &C.
cept the challenge of Midshipman
Branch. (Signed)
Caroline Meriwether GoOOdlett.'