The Tupelo journal., 1905-12-01
C0URT-MART|AL.
AT ANNAPOLIS
The Trial IF Midshipman Minor
Meriwether, Jr., Begun.
CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGhTER
ssfdshfpmnn James r.. Branch, Jr.,
Died as The Result OF Injuries
Received In "a Fist Fight
With M~crfwetier.

Annapolis, Nd, Nov. 23.-Midsh.p-
man Minor Meriwether. Jr,. of Lafay-
cite, La, a member OF the third class
OF the naval academy, was put On trial
here before a naval court-martial on
charges that include that of man
slaughter in having caused the death
Of M.idshipnfan James H. Branch, Jr., OF
New York, a member of the class above
his, as a result of a prearranged fist
fight which took place on the evening
of Sunday, November 5 last.
A Charge OF ManslnaGtlter.
The first and gravest charge is man
slaughter, in having caused the death
Of Midshipman Branch, but there are
two other charges, the second support
ed by two specifications and the third
by one. The second charge is of VIC
lation of the third clause of the eighth
article of the rules for the government
Of the navy. The first specification is
that Meriwether applied to Branch the
names of sneak and coward, and the
second that he assaulted him. The
third charge, of conduct to the preju-
dice of good order and discipline, speci-
fies that Meriwether engaged in a fight
with Branch.
Wide Interest In the Case.
The sad incident Of the death Of
young Branch under such circum-
stances has been widely noticed, and
has called attention to the existence
at the naval academy of an unwritten
code governing the student body, but
quite outside the authoritative regula-
tons, and generally in violation of
them.
Under the "code," every detail Of
these fights is fixed, the m1dshipmen
on duty abstaining from reporting
them and excusing from formation
those connected with them. These
facts were very clearly brought out
both by the judge advocate and in the
cross examination by Lieutenant-Com
mander Robinson, for the defense.
The Naval Academy "Code."
The witnesses included Branch's
roommate, the referee and t~imekeeper
of the contest, and all the four seconds
were examined in a greater or less de-
gree about all the circumstances Of the
fight, the connection of the code and
their ideas of their duty under the reg
ulations, although this subject was not
pressed to such a degree that the mid
shipman was put on his defense as to
the binding force of his oath upon en-
tering the institution to obey all its
regulations.
The code" system was therefore not
directly put on trial, although it was
very thoroughly ventilated along some
lines.
witnesses Perfectly Frank.
In fairness to the midshipmen, it
should be said that every one of them
gave indication of e~ndeavoring to be
perfectly frank, and of either believing
that there was nothing about the sys~
TEN that they need conceal, or if there
we're. that they would tell it all not
withstanding.
Midshipman A. w. Fitch, who ref
creed the fight, which was followed
by Branch's death, stated that he had
oficiated in 10 such contests, and Mid
shipman McKittrick testified that he
had taken part in nine. Detailed ac-
counts were given of the arrangements
by which midshipmen on duty &C
quiesced in absences without leave or
other derelictions in order that the fight
might go on; but the testimony also
showed that although severe injuries
resulted from these fights, and the
recipients often had to be taken to the
hospital, nothing further was ever
heard of them. This the defense
brought out on cross-examination, 1t
being evidently intended to show that
the authorities also winked at the code
and the prearranged fights under II.