Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-11-29
EXPERTS TESTIFY AS TO DEATH
One Surgeon Affirms That Cadet
Died as a Result OF His Head Com
ing in Contact With the Floor
Blood Clot Found in the Dead
Mans Skull.


ANNRfOi-lS, NIL. NOV. Zo.-lne
autopsy held last Sunday on the
body OF Midshipman James II.
Branch. lr., bore fruit at today's ses-
sion of the courtmartial which is;
trying NIidshipman Minor Mer-
wcthor on charges inclusive of man
slaughter i'll connection with the
death of Midshipman Branch after Il
first fight with Mcriwether.
The days testimony was given
chiefly by medical men, who hai
heon present at the autopsy and bore
upon the question whether the death
OF Midshpman Branch resulted from
blows of his opponents fists or from
his head striking the floor OF tia
room in which the fight was held,
previous testimony being shown that
Branch fell or was knocked down
several times during the encounter.
Merwether on Stand Today,
Counsel for Midshipman Meri-
wethcr announced that. after put
ting the accused on the stand in his
own defense tomorrow they will close
| iheir case.
Surgeon a. NJ. Mccormick was re.
called for the purpose of verifyiua
| his testimony, and was asked in re-
| gard TO the midshipmen who had
been brought to the hospital in
bruised condition when the witness
was on duty at the academy. Some
of these, the witness said, showed
more external injuries than in the
case of Branch.
Surgeon Gives His Opinion.
Surgeon L. G. Gatewood was then
produced by the defense as the first
witness to testify as to matters con-
nected with the autopsy. He gave
minute and technical description of
the condition which the autopsy re-
vealed in the case OF Branch. He
said that there was no fracture OF
the skull nor injury TO the membrane
of the brain exceDt that brought
| about by the surgical operation. A
large clot was found. however, I'M
der the membrane OF the brain.
Surgeon Gatewood said that he
believed that it was more likely that
the injuries were received ny
| l'ranch's head having directly come
in contact with some hard object
rather than by first blows. In his
opinion the primary cause OF death
was hcmorrhage. 1t increased the
fluid outside OF the brain. The in
creased pressure on the brain sub
| stance caused death.
Examination is Rigid.
| Surgeon Gatew0od was rigidly ey-
amined by DR.. L. W. Clazebrook and
Surgeon L. ID. Stokes. the medical
experts of the defense and prosecu-
ton, respectively. On the cross.ex-
animation the witness said that there
was nothing shown at the autopsy
which disproved that the injuries
had been caused by the first blows.
The witness said that if the opera
tion had been performed earlier ana
III another place, the saving OF
Branch's life was possible 1t WIS
perfectly natural thing, however,
Judging from the symptoms to oper-
ate as was done in this case The
Judge advocate had a tilt with the
witness in order to extract an an
swer from him to the question
whether or not be considered himself
AS competent judge OF the matter
present both at the operation and the
autopsy. Finally after the president
OF the court had insisted on an an
swer the witness said that he would
he more capable of reaching deci-
sion If he had been present at the
operation.