The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-25
CHALLENGES ONE
 OF COURTMARTIAL
(contlnued from First Paee.)

lasted much longer than the examination of the counsel. His manifest intention was to bring out clearly the degree of certain knowledge of the medical men as to how far antecedent causes on possible diseased condition of Branch might have contributed to or even caused his death. Admiral Mccormick evidently was not at all satisfied that the hot applications upon Branchs head by his companions on the night of the fight had not contributed to his death. He brought out from the wit ness that the hot applications might con- tract veins if applied to them closely and continually.
 Branch's Physical Condition.
 Dr. E. P. Stone was recalled and testi- fled from academy records as to phys- cal examination of Branch about eight months prior to his death. This examina- tion, he said, included the heart and no disease of that organ was discovered
 Admiral Mccormick asked if the heart examination of a midshipman was thor ough The witness answered that it was.
 Then" said Admiral Mccormick, '1f I showed you the record where a young man passed that examination and two weeks after died from embolsm of the brain due to negation of the heart being carried there. would you change your an- swer?"
 q would not" said Dr. Stone. mistakes of course, may occur'
 startling incident then occurred. MT. Munroe, Meriwether's counsel, asked Dr. Stone some questions connected with the death of Midshipman Battle, which oc- cured at the academy last year. The cause of death was not certainly revealed by the autopsy, the witness said, but an old injury to the brain was discovered and it was rumored that this had been oScasoned by an injury which Battle had received in hazing. "I had no personal knowledge of this" he said.
 Reference having been made to mid shipman who died of brain trouble shortly after his entry into the academy, the prosecution evidently thought 1t better to lay 1t before the court from the med teal records. The case was that of Mid shipman Lawrence F. Clark, who entered the academy having passed his physical examination on July 15, 1903. He almost immediately was confined to his bed in the hospital and on July 20, died. An au- topsy revealed that he had died of em- bolism, or clogging of the blood vessels of the head, due primarily to vegetation from the region of the heart being carried to the brain. This condition, the. report of the autopsy stated, existed prior to his entrance to the academy.
 
 cross examination are opened up by the order to exhume Branch's body, and per- form an autopsy at which there would be not only the medical officers of the naval academy staff, but the two who will be in a measure, representative or the de- fensive and possibly others. It Is known that 'the defense has summoned many witnesses to testify along other lines and 1t is hard to foresee the end of the court. though 1t is now believed that 1t will last until the end of next week.
 The court will meet every day, Sundays and holidays included, until the end of the trial is reached.
 Defense Offers Two Witnesses. The defense offered two witnesses dur ing the afternoon session. They were Midshipman Herbert B. Labhardt. class mate and former roommate of Meri- wether, and Midshipman Norman M smith, very trim little first class man. I.abhardt was called to show that Branch had done things to Meriwether calculated to make good his assertion that he would make life not worth lfv- ing for him." but his testimony was not particularly strong. He did say. how ever on one occasion Branch had come to their room and made Meriwether hold a book in his mouth. and on another oc-- casion had spoken harshly to him about doing things not permitted to members of his class by the institutions unwritten laws.
 He was examined particularly for the purpose of show that the opportunities of the midshipmen to aranae knowl- edge of the regulations against fighting were limited, and also to the recourse Of lower classman who was imposed upon by a senior, especially by unjust reports
 Fighting Has Increased.
 During the course of Midshipman Smiths testimony 1t was to be noted that United States District Attorney Rose of Baltimore, who Is associated in the prose cution with Judge Advocate Mark, took a keen interest in the evidence given that fighting had increased since hazing was knocked out at the academy. He brought out very clearly by his ques- tions that the midshipmen were still com pelled to do various silly things and obey ridiculous rules, the impellng force being the fact that if they do not prove trac- tible they must fight. whereas they were formerly compelled to do the same thing