The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-30
Followed by Full Apologies
From Both.
MER!WETHER'S STORY
Declares Branch More Fortunate Than
Himself in Sinking into the Dream
less Sleep While He Must Live in
tie Shadow Cast by Branch's
(Ry the Associated Press.) }

Annapolis, Md, Nov. 29.-MedShlp-
man Minor Meriwether today told his
story<of the fist fight between him and
Midshipman Jas. r.. Branch, Jr., which
was followed by the death of Branch.
He closed it with the words:
Il have never seen him since. We
parted as friends"
Meriwether was on the witness stand
an hour and a half When he left it
the defence rested.
1T is said that argument of counsel
will be concluded and the case given
TO the court on Friday
Meriwether told of Branch's ami
mostly toward him, saying Branch
was particularly disagreeable and fire.
quently said he was going to ''bilge"
witness. Branch ran" him and re-
ported him several times.
While on the Hartford al Newport
News some fruit was being brought
on ship. Witness, Branch and many
others were helping themselves TO
fruit. Branch told him to turn in.
Witness said, eco to hell" Branch
made report of INSTRUMENTATION. dis
respect and not turning in promptly.
II told these facts to the executive
officer" said Meriwether, "and he
took off all but the last charge.
heard that Mr.. Branch wanted 10
fight. but 1 paid no attention to it,
Branch made an inspection of his
room and had tried to get a report
against him. Meriwether continued:
THAT night after consulting my
friends 1 went to Branch's room with
Jaeger. i asked Pritchard if I could
see Branch and was told that l could.
/ went in Branch's ROOM and the
light was turned on I said that
had come to see him about what oc-
Cured. Branch said, You are dam
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 l do?' ] said, Then you are a
damn sneaking coward and / will
fight you, though / am not in fighting
condition. / added, If you get up
will lick YOU He said, You mean
you will try That's what I WILL I
said, and if you get up | will show
YOU He did not get up. and after
little further conversation Jaeger and
/ left the room.
"I called Branch what I did, be-
cause l was told the custom was that
a fight would end feeling and Branch
had told me he was going to 'bilge'
me, that is make me fight, and 1
wanted to fight and end the matter.
did not intend to fight when l went
to the room, but he again told me
that he intended to bilge me-
Meriwether's counsel then asked
him about his refraning 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 a stand off
l..e. flNni, fnc
lie also told how he fouled and offered
to give up the fight, but the seconds
would not allow it.
Preliminares and Fioht.
after the quarrel with Branch he
said, "MidshiDman McKittrick came to
my room and told me that he had
been appointed Branch's second to ar
range u fight. ] 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 fen sideways
through the door. The next round
Branch hit terrific uppeTcut. 1t
stunned me- for some rounds | re-
turned to his jaw. He threw his head
back and | returned but swung my
arm around his neck. We fell in that
position. his head striking the floor
We were lifted u. NY arm could not
be used for the next two rounds. NV
left arm was crushed in a. football
game about three years ago. | had a
severe operation but failed physically
However, L passed the next year. The
arm is sill weaker than the other
Mcriwether then showed a deep scar
on the wrist of the left arm. He said
Il silver plate had been put in there.
''At the end of the twenty-third
round, he continued "Mr Branch
came across the room and we both
apologized and he said, afterwards we
will be friends. He then left and I
have never seen him since We narted
as friends. l could not go to break
fast the next morning. [ had il, go
To the hospital. An orderly came and
said that there was a man unconscious
in the hall He was brouoht to tbe
hospital that night. After the opera
tion DR.. Ames told me that Branch
was doing we'll About 8 O'Clock the
next afternoon I was told b. 2 nurse
that Branch WAS dead. | requested an
official investigation by the superin-
tendent 7 was hurt and errieved be-
yond expression. / think that Mr..
Rranch was indeed fortunate in being
i'm 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 deplorable affair."
1t Meant Ostracism.
In answer to a question Meriwether
said: 'If 7 had not resented Mr..
Branch's continued actions l would
be in the same position as another