Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-29
Was Caused by His Head
Striking the Floor,
Not by Blows Inflicted by Ad-
Versary in Fatal Fist Fight.
MeriWether 10 Take Stand in His Own De.
fence, Today-..Case Nearly Over.

Annapolis, Md, Nov. 2S.-The autop-
sy held, last Sunday, on the body Of
the late Midshipman James r. Branch,
Jr., bore fruit at today's session Of the
court martial which is trying Midship-
man Meriwcther on charges including
nianSlau5htcr in connection with the
death of MidshiDman Branch after a
fist fight The days testimony was CIV
en- chiefly by medical men who had
been present at the autopsy and bore
upon the question whether the death of
Midshipman Branch resulted from
bloWs of his opponents fists or from his
head striking the floor of the room in
which the fight was held, previous tes-
timOny having show that Branch fell
or was knocked down several times
during the encounter.
Counsel for Midshipman Meriwether
announced that after putting the ac-
cuSed on the stand in his own defence,
tomorrow, they will close their case.
Surgeon a. Mccormick was recalled
ana questioned in regard to midshp-
men who had been brought to the hos
pital III bruised condition when the
witness had been on duty. Some of
external injuries than that in the case
of Branch.
Surgeon F. d. Atwood was then pro-
dUceI by the defence as the first wit
ness to testify as to matters connected
with the autopsy. He gave a minute
description of the condition which the
autopsy revealed in the case of Mid
shipman Branch. He said that there
was no fracture of the skull nor injury
to the membrane of the brain except
that brought about by the surgical OPP
Grafton. A large clot was found, how
ever. under the membrane OF the brain.
The spinal cord, heart lungs and kid
neys We're found in normal condition
without evidence of previous i'll health
in the organs.
Surgeon Gatewood said that he be-
lieved that it was more likely that the
injuries were received by Branch's
head having come directly i'm contact
with some hard object rather than by
fist blows. In his opinion the primary
cause of death was hemorrhage. 1t in
creased the fluid outside of the brain.
The Increased pressure on the brain
substance caused death.
The witness was examined by DR.. E. W.
GlaZebrook and Surgeon f. d. Stokes.
the medical experts of the defence and
prosecution, respectively. On cross-eX-
animation, the witness said that there
was nothing shown at the autopsy which
disprovcd that the injuries had been caus-
ed by the fist blows.
The witness said that if the operation
had been performed earlier ard in another
place. the saving of Branchs life was
possible.
At the conclusion of DIR. Gatewood's
testimony the court took a recess.
Medical Director Howard f. Ames, who
went on the stand at the opening of the
afternoon session, said the cause of
Branchs death was hemOrrhage under
the covering of the brain. which, he be-
leved, both from what he saw during
the operation and at the autopsy, had
been caused by Branch's head coming in
sharp contact with some hard substance
like a floor or wall.
DIR. AmeS, who recently has been re-
leved as medical officer at the Naval
Academy. testified that all cases received
at the academy hospital were recorded in
also reported to the superintendent in the
morning sick report. The journal, he said,
gave the origin of the injuries, but the
sick report did not.
Lieut.. Commander Thomas p. Macgru-
der testified that he did not know of any
inspection of the hospital journal having
been made by the authorities. Dr. l.. W.
Glazebrook of Washington. who is as
ssting the defence as medical adviser and
who saw the autopsy, was the last expert
witness for the defence. From what he
saw during the autopsy the witness was
satisfied that the fatal injuries were due
to Branch having hit his head against a
hard. unyielding substance, such as n
floor or wall, and could not have been due
to the blows of fists encased in punch
ing bag gloves.