The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-23
~s-s- NAVAL CADETS CODE ".@
Meriwether Trial Brings Out Testimony
,,...' as to Ring. Fights. 49,:

Annapolis, Nov 223-Extreme inter-
est is being taken thruout the nation in
the case Of Midshihman Minor fMeri-
.wether, Jr., Of ia aFa9y 9yFettey, La, who was
put on trial here yesterday eon three
charges connected with @prearranged
fist fight in which he engaged with Mid;
shipman james R. Branch, Jr., and
during which the latter received inju-
ries from which he died. 49, ,
F The gravest charge is that Of man
slaughter upon conviction of which a
penalty Of ten years confinement in the
penitentiary can be imposed, and tho
other charges are those of using provok-
ing words towards and assaulting Mid
shlpman Branch, and conduct to the
prejudice Of good order and discipline.
The defense indicates that, it will
seek to show that lighting under the. un-
system at which the, authorities them
selves wink or at least make little ef-
fort to suppress. This, it is believed
will make. it impossible for the court
| to deal severely with Meriwether when
it. is clearly shown that he had no in.
tention of inficting severe injuries on
Branch. It will be argued that sim.
ply because Branch died from the iniu
ries he received he is not more guilty
than any person who ever took part OIL
countenanced a pitched fist fight.
An Unwritten Code.
/ The sad incident of the death Of
young Branch under unusual circum
stances has been widely told, and has
called attention to the existence in the
naval academy of an unwritten code
governing the student body, but quite
outside the authoritative regulation
and generally in violation of them.
+ Under the Hscode'' eAery detail o1
these fights is fixed, the midshipmen OF
duty absta1nlng from reporting then
and excusing from formation those con
nected with them. ~ -
Branch's roommate, the referee an(
timekeeper of the contest, and all tn,
four, seconds were all examined in ;
create or less degree about all the cir
cumstances Of the fight. the connection
Of the "code" and their ideas Of thei
duty under the regulations altho thi
subject was not pressed to such a degree
that the midshipmen were put on thei
defense as to the binding force of thei
oatns upon entering the institution t.
obey all it's regulations.
| Code Not Directly on Trial.
The "code system was therefor
not directly put on trial, altho it wa
very tnoroly yzentilate at times.
10 the credit Of the midshipmen i
should be said that every one Of then
gave Indication of being perfectly franl
and showing that there was nothinl
about the system that they need con
ceal, and if there was they would tel
1t, Notwithstanding. - .s
M1dss,h1pman Fitch, who refereed th
testified that he had refereed ninetee1 sn
lights, and Midshipman McKittrick tes
tlhed that he had taken part in nine
Deta1ls were given Of how midshipme1
on duty acqulesced in absence iron
duty and other derelictions, in orde
that the fights might go on.
frequently Severe Injuries.
The testimony also showed that al
tho frequently severe injuries resulte
from the fights, and the participant
otten mad to be taken I'd. the hospita
them. This the defense brought out O.
oss-examlnation, it being evidently in
;; tended to show that the authorities ais
: Wlnked at the code and prearrange
: fights. !. -
5 !, An interesting, sidelight to hazing, Q
9 srunn1ng, as it is called at the acat
one of the midshipmen. Meriwethe
had been generally disliked, it was saie
because he was too crafty that is,
was alleged he did not abide by til
3 rules laid down for the government q
7 the lower classmen.,
n d Rules Of the Cadets.
t Some Of these were that he had neve
: gone to 8 Lovers Lane,y an academ
t walk; that he should turn all corner
at right angles; should not look at a