The news & observer., 1905-12-16
ACADEMY STAIN
TO Be EXPUNCED
Drastic Measures Will
Crush Hazing.
AN INQUIRY IS BEGU N
The Case Of Kimbrough Arouses the
Naval Academy Authorities. Mid
shipman H. G. Cooper, Of Oxford,
This State, Declares He Has
Not Been Hazed.
(By the Associated Press.)

Annapolis, Nd. Dec. IA search
ing investigation into the hazing of
Midshipman Kimbrough. by Midship-
man Coffin. of the third class, until
ne fa inted from exhaustion is being
made by the naval academy authori-
les. Commander Il. p. Magruder,
aide to superintendent Sands said to-
day that the investigation had been
placed absolutely in the hands of the
BOARD of inquiry, of which Lieutenant
Commander e. Durell is senior mem
ber, and that this board would thor
oughly investigate everything connect
ed with haZing and would then report
the result to the superintendent. Com
mander Magruder said further that it
was the intention of the authorities
here to investigate the matter to the
fullest extent and to deal draStically
with it, with q full determination to
stamp out the custom which he brand
ed as a disgrace to the academy. The
seeming determination is not only to
investigate the Kimbrough case, but
| to go to the bottom of hazing at the
academy. The opinion is expressed
| officially that the investigation may
| last for two or three weeks. The
board of inquiry was in session today
and witnesses summoned. One of these
| before the body this morning was
Midshipman Coffin.
Both Midshipman Kimbrough and
| Midshipman Cooper who are patients
at the academy hospital are reported
! as improving.
Midshipman Henry G.. Cooper. Jr.,
of Oxford n. c., whose right side and
vocal organs became suddenly paral-
| yzed in the class room yesterday is
in the academy hospital under treat
ment. He persists in the statement
| that he was not haZed but the acad-
emy authorities are investigating the
case. So far no evidence has been ad-
duced to show that Cooper was hazed.
Kimbroueh Is Improving.
Midshipman Kimbrough was to-
| night reported as rapidly gaining
| strength and IN no danger. The con-
dition of Midshipman Henry c.
| Cooper, Jr., is also improving.
Admiral Sands will go to Washing
| ton tomorrow to support his recon-
mendaton of dismissal in the cases
of Coffin who admitted taking part in
| the hazing of Kimbrough, and Van
Deveer, who was on duty and failed
| to report kimbrouSh's condition,
| though ii was known to him. The
| dismissal of the latter is regarded as
| of prime Importance by the naval
academy authorities DR.. George w.
| Van Dcveer, of Mount Holly, n. j.,
| father OF Van Derveer, does not re-
gard the dismissal of his son as just,
and will fight it before the Secretary
| of the Navy and, in case of failure
| there, probably before Congress. The
naval academy authorities state that
| there was no doubt of Van Deveer's
| failure to do his duty and add that if
X mbrough had not received proper
| attention he would probably have
| died.
Young Cooper's Trouble.
Midshipman Cooper has been ex-
amined by all the medical men at
| tached to the Naval Academy, who
| believe that his is a case of myaSthenia
gracis, very rare disease, only 60
cases of which are said to have been
reported. 1t IS described as nervous
disorder during which the nerve CEN
tres governing certain muscles refuse
| to do their work. 1t is said that over
exertion may cause it and that one of
| it's most peculiar features is that the
paralysis caused by it is intermittent.
| Rest and quiet favor at least tempor-
ary recovery. Coopers family have
been advised of his condition, and to-
night he was allowed to write to his
mother.