The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-30

. Ing the fioor We were lifted up. My two roufaa. My left arm was crushed Tn footbaff game about three years ago. had a severe operation. but failed physically However, paesed the next year. The arm Is still weaker than the other"
 Mcriwether's weak Arn.
 Meriwether then allowed deep scar on the wrist of the left arm. He said a silver plate had been put in there. round" he continued. .Mr. Branch came across the room and we both apoioEixed. and he said:
 " Afterwards we will be friends. Ho then left and have never seen him since. We parted as friends. could not go to breakfast the next morning. had to go to the hospital An or derly came and said there was man unconscious in the hall. He was brought to the hospital. waited un- til the operation was over that night and Dr Ames told me that Branch was doing we'll. About o'clock the next afternoon I was told by a nurse that Branch was dead. I requested an om- cia1 investigation by the superinten- dent. I was hurt and grieved beyond expression. think that Mir. Branch was indeed more fortunate in being in his place in going to sleep and not waking up than to be in mine and having to live this life after this sad and de- plorabie affair"
 In answer to a question Mertwether said: eIf had not resented MT. Brancf's continued actions, would be in the same position as another class mate with whom no one has anything to do. Under these circumstances l. would have had to resign and could never hold up my head again
 The prosecution then began tho oss-examination. Meriwether said in answer to question:
 'Hazing consists of physical excr- cises. Running is much worse than hazing.''
 Lieutenant Commander Robinson--- Hazing is n ,molestation.
 Meriwether--Branch had taken a number Of opportunities of reporting me and asking others to report me.
 The defendant was requested to de- ed it toward him.
 Declines to Answer Question,
 Pressed for direct answers as to what Branch had done, Merfwether said: T don't care to relate them" !
 Meriwether then whispered to the Judge Advocate and the question was withdrawn. 1t was evident that Meri-, W&tIEfea U&StAAtGu tV aHNNtAlMf EEfEAtAk things before the women of whom there was number In the court room. He then declared that he had not been 'ratty.' but had unfairly acquired the reputation. E Admiral Mccormick and Captain Ber- ny of the court asked the witness sew eral questions on diferent phases of the case. sss A%
 Meriwether admitted that he had told Lieut.. Com. zeigemeir that he had said: "Go to hell,r to Branch when reported about taking the fruit and when the officer hnM altered the res port. He further said that although the report had not gone in. the fight went on because of the searching of his closet and because of his continued acts of anlmosity towards him and in order to prevent recurrences. At the end of Meriwether's testimony the defense announced that 1t had closed it's case. 5ss se
 Captain Gulrocoresscs. eoinmaifdanf of midshipmen. was the first witness for the rebuttal He told of a con versation with Midshipman Churchill Humphreys, president of the second class, who had told Humphreys that he was under oath to obey all regulations.
 He as commandant took the stand that fighting with the academy was against good order and discipline and would not be tolerated.
 "This," he said. T think is also the view of superintendents."
 Midshfpnan Dismissed.
 Midshipman Joseph R. Williams of Paterson, N. J., member of the first class of the naval academy, who testi- fled before the court martial yestehday. was this morning dropped from the navy for general inefiiciercy by order of Secretary Bonaparte.
 Midshipman Williams testified yes- l terday that Commander Hugo Oster- haus hal reported midsnlpman for not resenting an Insult. He was not dropped cn account or this testimony re1ecting on a naval officer. but 1t Is stated because he has been unsatisfac- tory on several of his studies during the present term, and was set back a class last year. The superintendents recommendation that he be dismissed was made before the Meriwether court martial proceedings began.
 Williams was q leading member of the academy track team.