The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-11-24
MAkSLAUGHTER ].
is CHARGE AGAINST MipsHIPMAN
OF Y. S. NAVAL ACADEMY.
Had Fought a classmate Under Rules
Of the Academy to Defend
His Honor.

Mark, judge advocate before the
court martial of Midshipman Meri-
wether at the naval academy today
developed the fact that a most COM
plete code of honor existed for the
settlement of cadets differences, in
which charges are made affecting the
honor of midshipman. These mid
dies, classmates of Midshipman James
r. Branch, Jr., whose death two weeks
ago Monday resulted from fist fight
with Meriwether, and some of whom
acted as seconds In the fight were call
ed by the prosecution and their testi-
mony showed conclusIveiy that O. sys-
tenn exists under which finish fights
are conducted.
1t appeared that while hazing is
absolutely prohibited, upper class men
still find means to subordinate under
class men.
Midshlpman Meriwether sat through
out tne Gay with the impassive atutude
born OF three years oi cadet discIpl.ne.
Before hIm sat IL gold BRAIDED naval
oihcers. Meriwether displayed no emo
ton when the charge or mansiaughter
was read, and pleaaed not guilty in
boyish voice, in which no feeling was
manifested.
The MILDLY witnesses who saw the
Hnht xttith hn nj fra m lx-
ness of the arrangements; the fight and
the circumstances and customs which
attend such encounters at the acad-
emy.
Branch's own friends and class
mates said that Meriwether as q plebe,
Qresnman) had been 'ratey," that is
had broken the custom, such as stay
ing off Lovers's Lane, cutting square
corners, sitting straight at table, not
"fussing girls" and not speaking to
upper class men.
Branch particularly had held a
grudge against Meriwether. The de-
fense will probably introduce q num-
ber of witnesses to show that in ad-
dition to fighting not being prohibited
in the academy, fighting under the
| code, has actually been tacitly and
expressly approved at various stages
Of the academy's history. .
Taken in conjunction with testimony
showing that Braneh died not direct
ly from the effects Of the punishment
he received so much as from the treat
ment following, Meriwether's friends,
who are numerous at the academy hope
not only to clear the manslaughter
charge but think there are possibiliz
ties of his remaining at the academy.
Earl Pritchard, Branch's roommate,
told the story of Meriwether's call Oc-
tober 80, when he told Branch that
the latter was e - low down
sneaking coward" for having examin-
ed the suit case in his room during his
absence. The story was later verified
| by Midshipman Yeager, Meriwether's
classmate, who accompanied him at
| the call.
| Meriwether offered to fight then and
there, but Branch refused the oppor-
tunity and later, on advice of Pritch-
ard the formal fight was arranged by
his seconds. Cadets McKittrick and
Humphries. Pritchard was on watch
outside room 1903, Bancroft Hall, where
the fight occurred during the dinner
hour, November 5th and saw Branch
Just after its conclusion, when he and
McKittrick assisted Branch to his
room.
Pritchard put his roommate to bed,
and the latter went to sleep but
breathed heavily all night, and in the
morning failed to arouse, and was ev-
identity unconscious. Pritchard sent
him to the hospital at sick call.
McKittrick, Branch's second, SEEM
ed to know the most of the fighting
customs or at least told more than
the other witnesses. He testified that
it Is customary as matter of cour.
tesy for the under class men to Sc
lect the officials and the upper class
men to decide the length OF the rounds
He also testified that 1t is the custom
for such fights to go to the finish. His
story of the Meriwethe Branch fight
showed 1t was 20 and half rounds OF
two minutes each with a minute inter.
mission, fought with three ounce gym
nastic gloves and arranged to go Il
finish. Branch had the better TO
20 rounus and then weakened slight,
and while Meriwether was good towar,
the end the fight was very evel
throughout. The fight ended upon tn
appearance of an officer.
Two incidents were strongly brough
! out by McKittrick. The first was tina
Meriwether on one OCCASION, whel
Branch slipped to one hand and knee
| jumped back to the centre of the room
saying: Il won't hit while You ar
r down, Branch" The code permits
, man to keep hitting when his oppon
} ent has not both hands and knees O
the floor The other point was the
3 at the conclusion of the fight, when
, was called a draw, Branch shakin
/ hands with Meriwether said: Il hor