The Washington times., 1905-12-31
CERTAIN DECATUR
GAVE HIM ORDERS
TO Do STUNT
Cadet McClary Says He
Stood on His
Head.
BIG CROWD AT HEARING
Prominent Army Officials
Testify In Behalf of
Defendant.
BIG CROWD AT HEARING

~A-N-N~AA O<~1Sp t41-s Lee. su.--BeCauSe
OF the prominence OF Midshipman Ste
phen Decatur, jr., first class. and the
prevalent opinion that he has been
picked for an example. an unusually
large crowd gathered this afternoon in
the little room I'm the old recitation hall
where the court-martiai assembled
The Middies had half a dav holiday
and quite number of the upper class
men were there to hear the testimony
OF the splebes." McClary and Church,
the alleged victims of Decatur's hazing.
In addition to the upper classmen there
were many citizens of Annapolis. all in
terested in the outcome of this case.
Two Prosecuting Witnesses.
The prosecution placed but tW5 -r.t-
nesses on the stand, McClary and
Church, and the defense contented tt
self by calling character witnesses who
gave Decatur a gilt-edge certificate
for truthfulness and honor and integ
rity
No evidence was produced by the
judge advocate to sustain the third
specification, which alleged that the ac-
eused had compelled McCIary to do
stunt seven. seven times nor did Nc
Clary know what exercise seven
meant in particular
McClary told a pretty straight story.
After saying he recognized Decatur he
said:
was ordered to report to his room
one day after dinner and when l re-
ported i was asked why 1 had not re-
ported the day before j made an ex-
planation and was told to go into the
closet and stand on my head and did
II until / played out"
Witness could not tell the exact date.
bat IL was some time between October
10 and Thanksgiving Day The only n
c'dent that he could recall to fix the
time was that il took place on the dav
the petty officers had their pictures
taken. Witness said he was also or
dered TO do 10. which he illustrated
Ior the court by placing his hands on
his hips and moving his body lrp and
down. He also did the Leaning Res.
whistling fiat on the stomach and rails
ing himself from the ground by tire aid
OF mis- arms This latter exercise was
not ordered by Decatur IL took place
in room IS. Bancroft Hail
Cross-Examined by TheaI.
Counsel Theall put the witness
through severe crOss-examination
Witness could not name the day he was
hazed he wa sent -or on the dav the
picture was taken. Two or three other
nidshipmen were IN the room wrI.., he
entered Decatur, he said. asked h-n
why he was there He had received q
message TO go 10 Decatur's room. but
could not swear that the message came
direct from Decatur. Witness could not
remember that any Of the others in the
room spoke to him nor could he say
that room SO was Decatur's room. but
was told 70 report 70 that room wit
LESS said IL was Decatur who told him
TO do the '16'' and stand on his head.
II Decatur went on the stand and
under oath said be did not tell YOU
10 stanG on your head or do the 10
would you say he was telling an un-
truth?' asked Counsel Theau. Nc
Clary in clear voice replied: II would
state that Decatur was telling an un-
truth II he swore that he did not tell
me 10 stand ON my head" Witness con-
tinued.
Decatur was in the room when I en-
tered it and left the room before did"
Witness could not tell how many times
he stood on his head. but il was for
three or four minutes. He did the "ls'
about two minutes. and was played out
when ordered TO do the Leaning Rest"
Witness said he was not told TO do
the "a"
Punished for Laughing.
Midshipman Gaylord Church was
called next. He identified the accused
as being a twO-striped officer OF Com
pany Eight. TO which witness belonged
He had been teld that the name of
the accused was Stephen Decatur
"I was I'm the ranks one evening at
supper formation" said Church. when
Decatur spoke to a midshipman in the
ranks. and laughed and Decatur turned
on me for laughing and ordered ne TO
report 10 a room. forgot the number
but I think IL was SS or Sc. / was or
dened 20 report Immediately after sup
per. ] reported. There were several
midshipmen in the room and / was told
10 get TO work and do the sixteen
or something. When ! was played out
] left
Witness said he. could not remember
the date, but it was soon after tho be-
ginning Of the academic term. He could
not call the names OF the middiea who
we're I'm the room. His impression was
that IL WAS the two-striped officer Of his
company. who ordered him to report 10
the room. who told him 10 get to work.
On eross-examination witness did not
materially change his statement. ex-
cept that II the accused. under oath.
would say that he was not the one who
ordered him TO report TO the room and
do the stunts. then witness would say
he might be mistaken.
At the conclusion or Church's tcsh-
mony the prosecution said il had no
more witnesses.
The defense then called the following
sConfInued on Second Page)