Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-29
THE DEFENSE CLOSED
Midshipman Meriwether on
the Stand.
QUARREL WITH BRANCH
REHEARsEs THE STORY OF THEIR
RELATIONS.
Expresses Grief for the Fatal Termina-
ton of the Recent Fight at
the Academy.
QUARREL WITH BRANCH
pecial From a STAFF Correspondent.

est in the court-martial of Mdshipman
/ Meriwether for the death of Mdshipman
Branch, which resulted from a fist fight,
seems to increase as the case progresses.
| Today opened with larger attendance OF
| outsiders than ever before. 1t had been an
nounced that Meriwether would take tho
stand in his own defense. and every one
was anxious to hear from his own lips the
story of his relations with the late Midship-
man Branch.
Admiral Brownson, former superintendent
of the academy, was present. 1t had been
announced that he had been summoned to
testify, but it was stated before the court
convened that he had not been slbpoenaed,
and that he would not take the stand. He
had conferred with the officers of the court.
but it was said that 1t had been agreed
that the investigation should not extend
back of the present academy administ-a-
tion.
DR.. Thomas of Baltimore, who had ap-
peared on the stand earlier in the trial,
and who present at the operation on
Branch. was also called back to Annapolis
TO confer with the officers. but IT has not
yet been decided whether he will be called
in rebuttal
Dr. L. w. Glazebrook. the deputy coroner
of Washington. was again present and sat
at the table of the accused TO help counsel
in the medical examination.
Meriwether sat, where he has been for
week past, at the elbow of his naval coun-
sci, Commander Robson He looked more
serious than at any time before or during
the trial. but seemed confident that his
story would carry weight with the court.
Meriwether Tells His Story.
Merlwether took the sand at 1913 Be-
fore he was called on for his story he was
warned by Admiral Ramsay that he need
not commit himself in any matter in his
story unless he chose.
Meriwether said he had never met Branch
till the upper classman came to the acad-
emy In September. 1904 Then he went
into the history of his personal trouble
with Branch. 1t was certainly a story OF
continued irritation
Mr.. Branch, for some personal reason
he said. seemed to have a deep-seated
grudge against me- He had a room in tho
same building with me. on the same deck
and few doors off down the corridor He
took particular interest in running me.
l might as well say here that there is q
great difference between running and haz-
Ing. Hazing is forced physical exercise that
nobody would object to. Running on the
other hand, especially when there is a
grudSe behind II, is n much more personal
matter. and is much harder TO stand
This was all that was said to the diff
ference between running and 'hazne"
but it was distinction well understood
by the court and listened to intently.
Continuing, the witness said:
Branch tried to catch me numerous
occasions and find something to report me
for / was in his company and quite with
in his reach. So / stood from under He
made extra inspections of my room be-
tween times, but knew that he could not
get me in my own room as l was careful
to keep II in perfect order
Branch asked Cadet n. n Smith to get
me on the report for visiting during study
hours. Smith told me that as he had not
personally caught me- he would not report
me Mr.. Carstein was also asked to put
me on the report, and Branch told me that
he was determined to bilge me If he could,
and 1t was certainly in his power to do so.'
Trouble on the Hartford.
Meriwether told the story of trouble with
Branch on the Hartford. He said that
when the storeboat came alongside the
ship with fruit. Branch, as well as a num-
Der of other midshipmen. was cut stealing
fruit from the boat Branch was in his
pajamas and with no sign of his rank about
him. When Branch saw Meriwether in the
crowd he ordered all midshipmen to their
hammocks. Meriwether admitted that on
this occasion he told Branch to "go to
HI" Branch reported him to Lieut. Com
mander Ziegemeyer for "disrespect and in
subordnation and not turning in when or
dered." Meriwether said that he had given
his side of the case to Lieut. Commander
Zegemeyer the next day, and the report
was modified to mot turning in when or
dered."
Altogether Branch had reported him once
personally the Hartford and requested
other Elidshipmen to report him on three
occasions Once was an occasion when Mid
shipman n. NJ Smith was asked to report
him, again when Mr.. Carstein was asked
to report him and a third time when Mr..
Morrison was asked by Branch to put him
on report for smoking on the Arkansas.
The general story told by Meriwether
vas practically that told by many witnesses
during the week. He told OF the call on
Branch and of the subsequent fght. and
mentioned one or two instances of small
prosecutions hy Branch that had not been
brought out before. But in the main there
was nothing new brought out>in the story.
The interest lay in the personality OF the
witness who told II.
Grieved Beyond Expression.
Meriwether gave his testimony slowly,
stopping frequently and considering between
words and sentences, almost though re-
citing lesson But when 1t came to the
part OF his story relating TO the result OF
the fight witness faltered and set his teeth
before going on. Apparently he was almost
on the verge of breaking down. He finished
this part of his story more slowly than ever.
What effect has this fight had on your
asked Commander Robson.
1T has hurt and grieved me beyond ex-
preston in words, replied Merlwetner,
gripping the arms OF his chair. Il think.
Sir that Branch was the lucky man OF the
two in going TO sleep and not waking up
rather than to be in my place here and to
have to live this thing through.
Now continued Commander Robson,
tell us what the effect upon you would
have been had you not followed up Branch's
actions toward you as you did?'
II would have been cut. sir" replied the
cadet slowly. II would have been In the
same position as a member of my own class
TO whom no one ever speaks and with whom
no one has anything to do. If / were In
that position could not stand 1t. l should
resign from the academy"
View Of the Oommandant.
Captain Coivercoresses was recalled BY.
tho prosecution in rebuttaI. He Is the com.
mandant of midshipmen OF the academy
and the chief disciplinary officer under the