The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-11-28

Annapolis, Md. November 25.-To-
days session of the court martial
which is trying Midshipman Meriweth-
er in connection with the death, after
fight, of Midshipman James r.
Branch. Jr.. was very largely occupied
with testimony Of classmates of the ac-
cused and members of the first class
Of the naval academy The evidence
was intended by the defence to show
that Branch harbored animosity
against Meriwether. and prosecuted
him. and also that the existence of the
practice Of fighting was known to and
i'll manner connived at by high Off
Gals of the naval academy Promi-
nent officers OF the navy mentioned in
this connection were Admiral Willard
II. BroWnSOn, now commanding the
cruiser division of the North Atlantic
fleet and who was the predecessor of
Admiral James II. Sands as superin-
tendent Of the naval academy, Captain
Charles j. Badger, who was succeeded
as commandant Of midshipmen by the
present commandant, Captain G. P.
Colvocoresses, and Commander c. e.
Colahan (deceased) who preceded
Captain Badger in the same office. 1t
vast testified that Admiral Brownson.
while superintendent of the academy,
had promised that, in consideration of
the abolition of haZing, there would be
no investigation of fights sanctioned
by the first class.
One of the important Developments
of the day was the ordering by the Sec
retary Of the navy Of the disinterment
of Branch'S body for the purpose of
holding an autopsy. The body will be
eXhumed tomorrow morning. The
Judge advocate announced that Sur
geOn Charles H. Stokes had been de-
tailed by the navy department to assist
in the prosecution. This action was on
account of the Importance of the medi-
cal questions involved.
Midshipman E. c. Corstein, of the
first class, for the defense testified that
at the end of last term, while on duty,
he reported Meriwether for breach Of
regulations. Branch had manifested
great interest in seeing that the report
was made.
meier testified that as executive officer
of the Hartford he had received a re-
port from Mirshipman Branch against
Midshipman Meriwether "for general
disorder, insubordination and not turn
ing in promptly on being ordered by
Branch while on duty"
The witness found that the charge Of
not turning in promptly was the only
one sustained. He considered that
there was personal feeling between the
| two.
Midshipman William T. Page, a
| classmate of Meriwether. testified In
| regard to the report which Branch had
. made against Meriwether on the Hart
, ford. He said Branch charged Meri-
| wether with hoving told him to ''go TO
| hell Meriwether was the only one
reported by Branch.
| Meriwether found a spirited cham
| pion in the next witness, his class
| mate, Midshipman William F. Pashley.
Pashley had personal knowledge of
=, both of the reports made against Merf-
F.! wether by Branch on shipboard the
| Hartford, and later in Bancroft hall.
| He said that he himself would have
| fought under the circumstances. and
| that Meriwether would have been an
| outcast in his class ''if he had not
| fought and worse than an outcast'
! if he had refused Branch's challenge.
: Fights, he said, have been going on
! for a long time, and he had never
| known any one to be reported Or pun
ished for it. Meriwether had at least
: one other fight during the last term.
Midshipman II. L. Chaplin, first
; class man, testified that, having been
caught fighting, % demerits were given
him by the late Commander c. E. Col
;han. then commandant of midship-
men. He had fought, he said, because
a lower class man had run into him.
! Midshipman FL. III. Porter, of the
f.; first class, testified that while he was
accompanying to the hospital a mid
+! shipman who had been badly used up
In fight he passed Commander
| Charles J. Badger, then commandant,