New-York tribune., 1905-12-13
NERIWETHER SENTENCED.
YEAR md REPRIMAND.
Secretary Bonaparte DecrieS System
Cause Of Braach's Death.

---ssl,3rS:on. Dec 12.-Confnemens to the I'm
-. - .he Naval Academy for the period of one
- and a public reprimand by the Secretary OF
- ,a,-v is the sentence of tho court in the case
- ,r5shipman Minor Mertwether. jr., tried by
-t martial at Annapolis on the charges OF
l.,sla1shter, violation of the third clause OF
,te eighth article for the government of the
49, and conduct TO the prejudice of good or
- and discipline, all three charges arising from
&c. fight between AIeriwether and Midshipman
r.-,ss r Branch, jr.. on November D. Two
7avs later Nidshipman Branch died Meri-
u,o+te- vas acquitted of the first charge, and
,o,d guilty of the second and third.
secretary Bonaparte to-day approved the ind-
- and ordered that the sentence be approved,
~ that so much OF the penalty might de-
nor the accused from service any practice
sbir attached TO the academy be remitted.'
rarlz this morning the Secretary received a
all from Representative Broussard, of Louisi-
ana from whose district A1idshipman Meriwether
u,s appointed to the Naval Academy, and made
l,ovvn 10 him the sentence of the court and the
s.nartrnent-s action thereon. Mr.. Broussard ex-
Dressed his satisfaction with both, and it IS
rnderstood that no action by Congress will be
asked in the case.
As soon as the necessary copies could be made
Secretary Bonaparte ordered that the sentence
NJ
The Secretary says there is perhaps room for
sore doubt whether the punishment imposed
might not have been made more justly severe
.,d disapproves the action of the court in sus-
aiming the chaIIenge of Commander S. A
stanton az d member of the court. on the
ground OF prej.,dtcs and in failing to sustain
The challenge of RAJ Admiral A II. Mccormick.
[. S y. {retic=dl. OH several gTound@,
In his reyie 9 Z the case the Secretary sayc:
Under the first. charge there was but speci,
Aoston. Of which the material portion alege.si
did then and there with his lists, upon the BODY
ana head Of the atores2-d James X sra9ch an & IL
IRON the effects of wIl.ch blows the said James r
On the 7tn day OF November rs die. ard the said
Minor Mertwethcr. jr in the T-annec and and, by & tho
R Branch ir The court found this sPeciacsati3a ca i
not pIoyed an ana ;99 [ne 9teqSf& In IN tbers -
The Department approves these ffndags and this
jnfcrmation as to the cause of the late Midship
man Branchs death which the deRartmtSnt men ma 9sq
Fbst autopsy disclosed certain facts which might
h fact due 10 blows inflicted by the accused there
ssirr at least possibility that it resulted from
fall. Of which several occurred curing ,T me Hf.
fight in which these blows were dealt: Ihere - Is
ground claim with some force thar @ dne LII
Say I7e deceased were those not set forth in the
snd technical and the department is not TO De
sood as a5oTsng n +e f sne 6qt fne Of sGy Reason
Pfs 5og5t md the record dscoses q state Of
Toof yylich II il did not compel at least justihed
IN acquittaI Of this charge
Of the second and third charges, on both Of
which the accused was found guilty. the Sec
ra-a-v saws there was practically no dispute
r. the facts and that the department has ne
5ssi+arcz in approving The several findings OF
The court lastly above mentioned OF the
1area arnonnt Of testimony offered for the pur-
rsnge Of showing that fghts had been OF tre'
or,en+ occurrence at the academy. ana tha'
7epauv no PENALTIES whatever had been in
ficted upon the participants. the Secretafl
says:
This evidence seems to the department alto alto
sser a5sas 3s as TBeTe can S be no such tns
IS lawful custom 10 commit crime ana tne lao =
afhsr persons in the Service other old offender
@ s p s 3H t sg0H5a aa N rR9t 9 Tss the paFtci
rants the fight al knew they we're Q1ne 9 eorino7
o the departuent by their inte9rqp5ag up r6s pS1
Then an otlcer y vas sG DTre eu Hevr W NAV not hav
expected TO receive adequate punishment but the;
There vas also evidence tending to show that bat n
accused was unfamiliar with the arIclss rot s ,is
government Of the navy and had not peen espGI
ciaIv Informed Of the prohibition against Quarrei
aFs sHo HS4Js S+TI snIlagrs IerV clearly however
q 3FQSLe = +P5e orioles for fhe govern
CT the practice ships during the snnne1 81 s
board Ghe accused being one of the latter, anc
since the oath which he took since his admlsslo
% the academy referred specifically 10 these ar
tcles. the department holds that he can claim n
immunity the ground OF Ignorance OF d ID
which it was clearly his duty to know
Of the sentence Secretary Bonaparte saws;
me department has no difficulty IN holding tha
this sentence is amply juStined by the oHehce coi
n1tred There is, indeed. room :or some ooup
whether the punishment imposed might not hay
Justly been made more severe, but as 70 TINS tn
department. need express no opinion in one re
spect. however il seems proper tilat the senlehC
should be rnitigated as to permit the accused
participate tn the next annual practice cruise
Colonel James f Branch. the father of Midshir
1nsn Branch. who is secretary Of the America
Bankers. Association was at his home, NJ
% West 57tn-st last night Colonel Branch de
olne6 10 enter into the merits OF the finding
the court martial in the case of NIidshipman Mer
wether but when his attention was called 70 IN
statement that Representative Broussard'
Louisiana -AIeriveUher's State-had expressed MN
self as entirely satisfied with the sentence paSse
upou MeriwetheT, he said:
Certainly the friends of Meriwether, VINO I haI
aeen doing what they could minimize the harsf
Ct the courts findings should nc satsile'
2 The sentence is certainly marked oY leIhe.cS-
! urged by friends Just alteT the I'd
ending the unfortunate affair TO engage Couits
assist in the prosecution. but DeIleVe9 IIis
the government competent 10 oesI WIN l.
matter and would with eminent fairness
ali the interests involved; and having ASSUME
this attitude do not feel that Cai! WIN PIT
prietv indulge III amy critical discussion OF Il