The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-11-30
WAS FORCED TO
FIGHT OR RESIGN
Story of Meriwether Upon the Wit.
ness Stand.
PROSECUTED BY BRANCH
EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FA-
TAI AFFRAY.

a NNAPOLIS, Nd. Nov. 2s.-AIid-
~ shipman Meriwether took the wit
ness stand in his own behalf. His
story of the trouble between himself
and Midshipman Branch did not differ
substantially from the testimony OF
previous witnesses. He told of having
had a fight with AIidshipman Hum
phreys in 1904. in which the latter
knocked out" the witness.
Speaking Of the night when the feud
came TO a head, MeriWether said:
Went tc Branch's Room.
4 went in Branch's room and the
light was turned on. ] said that / had
come 10 see him about what occurred.
Branch said You are a id fool TO
come TO see me; you know that my
class hates you. / said, That is not
so; you are the only one who does.
Branch then asked. What if 1 do" ]
said, Then you are Il ID sneaking
coward, and I viii fight you, though
! am not ia fighting condition 1 adj
ded, II you get up l VIII lick you.
He said, You mean you viii try.
That's what l WILL, | said, and if you
get up ] will show you. He did not
get up and after a little further con-
versation Jaeger and l left the room.
Wanted to End the Matter.
Il called Branch what l did because
l was told the custom that a fight
would end'feeling, and Branch had told
me he was going to 'bilge' me, that is,
make me fail, and l wanted to hight
4 Il inf
TO fight when 1 went to the room, but
he again told me that he intended 10
'bilge' me"
Meriwether's counsel then asked him
about his RETAINING from hitting
Branch during the fight although al
lowed TO do SO under the rules. The
witness told of two instances of this,
explaining that he did not believe any
blows should be struck in stand-of
fight unless the men are on their feet.
He also told how he fOuled and offered
To give up the fight but the seconds
would not allow it.
Details of the Fight.
After the quarrel with Branch"
said he, ''Midshipman McKittrick came
TO my room and told me that he had
been appointed Branch's second TO ar
range a fight. 1 wanted Jaeger as
mine. The details were then arranged.
During the fight, we first fell under
the blinds, About the twelfth round
/ rushed Branch and both fell sideways
through the door. Tine next round
Branch hit me a terrific uppercut. It
stunned me for some rounds, I re-
turned 10 his jaw. He threw his head
back and L returned but swung my
..4- nj 81 Il Ia -. Il
position. his head striking the floor.
We We're lifted up. Ny arm could not
be used for the next two rounds. My
left arm was crushed in a football
game about three years ago. I had a
severe examination, but failed physic-
ally. However, I passed the next year.
The arm is still weaker than the 9TH
er"
MeriWether then showed a deep scar
ON the wrist Of the left arm, he said
a silver plate had been PUT in there.
Agreed to Be Friends.
At the end of the twenty-third
round" he continued, Branch came
across the room and we bOth apollo
gized anG he said afterWar1 We will
be friends. He then lett and l have
never seen him since. We parted as
friends. ! could not so To breakfast
the next morning. ! had &c go TO the
hospital An orderly came 5nd said
that there was a man unconscious in
the hall He was brought To the hos
pital that ISghr and Tn. AIaes tod me
that Branch was doing W eli. About
O'Clock the next afternoon J was told
by a nurse chat branch was dead. :
requested an oficia. investigation by
the superintendent. 7 was svieyad be-
yond expression. think that Mr.
Branch WAS indeed fortunate in being
IN his place, in going 10 sleep end not
waking up, than to De in mine and
having TO live this life after this sal
and deplorable affair"
Fight or Resign.
In answer to a question Meriwether
said:
If I had not resented lIr. Branch's
continued actions / would be in The
same position as anoCher classmate
with whom no one had anything 10 Gc.
under these circumstances I would
have TO resign, and could never hold
up my head again
The prosecution then began its cross
examination.
The defendant was requested to de-
scribe running as Branch mad con-
Quoted il toward him. Pressed fol Gil
rect answers as 10 what Branch Rad
done, Meriwether said:
Il don't care 10 rela-e them"
Meriwether then whispered 10 !he
judge advocate, and he question was
Withdrawn. II was evident thus MeIi-
wether hesitated 20 mention certain
things before women, of whom there
were a number in the courtroom.
He then declared that ~ hac not
been '-ratty,' hut had unfairly ac-
quired the reputation.
At the end of Meriwether's testi-
Grated. This, he said. Il think is also
mony the defense announced that it
had closed its case.
RebuttaI Testimony.
Capt. George 2. Coloyocresses. com
mandant of midshipmen, was the first
witness for the rebuttal He told Of
a conversation with Midsh:pman
Churchill Humphreys, president oi the
second class. in which he had told
Humphreys that he was under oltn TO
obey all regulations. He, as command
ant, took the stand that fighting at
the academy was against good order
and discipline, and would not be toll
Grated This" he sal. Il think is also
the view of Superintendent Sands"
RrnAHARIN nrnnfIhinrn