Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-11-10
DEAD DMIDSH|PAAN' 'SPARENTS
REQUEST THOROUGH INvESTI.
CATION OF DEATH.
Visit The President And Secretary
of Navy-Mr. Bonaparte
Asks More Complete
Report.

Report.
The report of Admiral James II.
Sands, superintendent of the Naval
Academy, in the matter of the case
of Midshipman Branch, whose death
is said TO have been the result Of a
fistic combat at the Naval Academy
with Midshipman Meriwether, was re-
ceiyed yesterday by Secretary of NAVY
Ronaparte, as stated in last nights
Capital.
The report gives the facts obtained
by preliminary investigation. The
report, however. is confidential and
will not be made public. The Secre-
tary is not satisfied with the report,
however, aud Immediately after its
receipt the Secretary, who is deeply
interested in the welfare of the Naval
Academy and much concerned over
this case, telegraphed to Admiral
Sands asking for another report The
preliminary report did not embody
the reports made by the medical Off
GERS, aud therefore the department is
as yet without official information as
to the death of young Branch.
Telegraphic advices from Annapolis
to Wasbinton informed the Navy De-
partment that the reports of the med
to Admiral Sands. 1t is the under
standing at the Navy Department that
a second communication from Admi-
raj Sands, embodying the medical Off
GERS reports, will be laid before Sec
retary Bonaparte today.
Col. James K. Branch, of the Hano-
yer Bank, New York. accompanied
| by Mrs. Branch, called on Preside mt
Roosevelt at the White House and Sec.
retary Bonaparte at the Navy Depart
ment yesterday afternoon and asked
| for a thorough investigation into the
death of their son, Midshipman
Branch, after his fight with Midship-
man Meriwether at the Naval Acad-
envy They were assured that the in
vestigation would be made with an
| endeavor to ascertain every fact and
| fix the responsibility for the occur
renee. After their visit it became ap-
parent that il the facts correspond
with the unofficial impression the Navy
Department has gained of the affair
the action to be taken will be drastic,
! embodying punishment for some OF
the midshipmen and the abolition of
the ''code of honor at the Academy
Colonel Branchacalled at the White
House first, and was not q stranger
there, since he is a close personal
friend of the President. Mr. Roose.
velt expressed his regret to the parents
of the young midshipman and assured
them that full justice would be done
in the ultimate Adeciscion of the Ad-
ministration. From the White House
Colonel aud Mrs. Branch went across
to the Navy Department, where they
called on Secretary Bonaparte shortly
before he left the city for his home in
Baltimore. Mr. Bonaparte first ex-
pressed his sympathy to Colonel and
Mrs. Branch and then talked over the
case with them. Colonel Branch asked
for a thorough investigation, but
made no reference to any intention on
his part of seeking redress under the
laws of Maryland, and it is understood
that Colonel Branch will rely upon
the machinery Of the Navy Depart
ment for justice, instead of endeavor-
ing to reach the affair through the
civil courts.
Colonel Branch, after leaving the
Navy Department, declared that Meri-
wether was much taller and heavie
than his son. and that he took every
opportunity to insult young Branch,
rendering it necessary for the latter,
under the conditions existing at the
Naval Academy to resent the insults
by challenge TO fight in order to pre-
serve his honor among the midship.
men. Colonel Branch characterized
the fight as brutal one.
No one in Washington or Annapolis
doubts the ability of Secretary Bona
parte to properly handle the situation,
and his record for three months as
Secretary of the Navy convinces every
one that he will act vigorously af ter
investigating. On August / he eau
toned all naval officers not to discuss
the Bennington disaster for publica-
tion. Thirty days later. after receiv-
ing the report in that case, he disap-
proved the verdict of the court of in
quiry in certain particu lars and order
ed that Commander Lucien Young,
who was IN charge of the vessel, be
tried on the chage of neglect of his
official duties. More recently Mr. Bon
aparte dismissed an employe of the
Navy Department at Norfolk who re-
fused to give board to an enlisted man
of the navy.
Mr.. Bonaparte yesterday issued
statement showing that he had ap-
proved the action of a sergeant of the
Marine Corps and Ieprimanded two
lieutenants of the navy in connection
with All incident which occurred re-
Gently at the entrance to the New
York navy yard. Mr.. Bonaparte made
statement Wednesday concerning his
action in this case, stating that Lieut..
r. p. Williams. of the Marine Corps,
and Lieut.. Farmer Morrison, of the
navy, have received letters of repri-
mand from the Navy Department,
while Sergeant Harry Rohm, of the
Marine Corps, has received a letter
from the department approving his ac-
tion. The two officers. it appears, ap-
preached the entrance OF the New
York navy yard and declined to give
the sergeant IN command more infor-
nation as TO their identity than that
they were officers. Lieutenant Will
Jams is said to have attempted TO re-
lieye Sergeant Rohm from the charge
of the gate and to place corporal in
charge.