Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-11-22
Branch's Seconds In, The Struggle
Offer Testimony Which
Favor Accused.
ONE MEMBER OF THE COURT
wITHDRAWS ON OBJEC-
TIONS MADE.
Commander Saunders Had Express
ed Opinions Regarding
The Case.
COURT ADJoURNS FOR DINNER
HOLD AFTERNOON
SESSION.


With all of the dignity of such a
military affair, participated in by
some of the highest ranking officers
in the Navy. the oourt-martial or the
trial of Midshipman Minor Meri-
wetheT, Jr., convened its sessions at
the Naval Academy this morning
shortly after 10 O'Clock.
Some little time was taken up in
the routine of the organization of the
court, aud the body went into exeeu.
tive session several times to consider
objections to one or two members of
the court by the counsel for the ac-
cused midshipman. Commander Syd-
new A. Staunton admitted having ex-
pressed the opinion that the accused
midshipman should be dismissed from
the institution aud stronger opinions
on the case before he was assigned to
duty as q member OF the court, and
Lieutenant Robinson objected to his
serving on this account. The court
sustained the objection and Oomman-
der Staunton Withdrew from the
body, and after the Judge Advocate
had been sworn and in turn admins
tered the oath to the other members,
the examination of witnesses began.
The room in which the sessions of
the court are held was well filled
with the officers composing the mar
tial body, counsel for the accused.
District Attorney John O. Rose, of
Baltimore, and numerous newspaper
artists, photographers and oorrespon-
dents Midshipman Meriwether ar
rived at the building shortly before 10
o clock, accompanied by Second Lieu
teuant Ralph L. Xeyser, u. S. NJ O.,
provost marsahl of the, court He,
like all of the naval people present.
was in full dress uniform of his rank
as a midshipman. While somewhat
pale the young fellows bearing was
best expressed by the word manly. -
He was assigned scat in enc corner
of the room at the table with his
counsel, Lieutenant Robinson aud. Mr.
James NJ Munroe, of this city, who
is associated with the naval officer in
the defence.
The charges were next read to the
membres of the court in executive ses-
sion and accepted as in proper form.
Captain Adolph Mark, Judge advocate
of the court, then addressed Meri-
wether, asking him il he was ready
for trial. The youths answer was
clear and simple Eyes, sir. !" The
charges, the first of which was that of
manslaughter, were then read to him
and he was asked: "How say you,
guilty or not guilty. after each
charge and specification. To all OF
these questions he responded in q
clear and direct mot guilty."
The first witness summoned was
Midshipman James O. Van DeCarr,
who sat next TO Meriwether in the
hnl u
a CONVERSATION between himself and
Meriwether on the evening of Octo-
ber 81. the day that Midshipman
Branch came off duty as cadet officer
in charge of the floor on which Meri-
wether roomed. He stated that Mid.
shipman Meriwether had said that
while there were a few men in he
waild whom he disliked, Branch was
ore of these, aud one whom he, Meri-
wether, heartily hated lie said
further that the midshipman now on
trial had declared that If Branch had
any manhood he would force him 10
fight. ON cross examination the wit
ness testified that Meriwether had
said that Branch's feeling toward him
was such as to lead him to be report
ed a number of times. Van De Carr
was slo asked regarding the rules pro-
viding that a midshipman 8 wardrobe
and table drawers should not be opened
and looked into in the absence OF
their owner, and the section regard
ing this read TO him. He then ex-
pressed the opinion, in reply to direct
question, that Branch, in his actions
IN Meriwether's room, had violated
that section. On the day after the
first conversation Van De Carr stated
that Midshipman Meriwether told him
that be had seen Branch and that
everything was arranged.
The second witness to testify was
Midghipman Earl W. PritchaTd,
Branch's room. mate. The eXamina
tion Of Pritchard this morning dealt
only with the first specification of the
second charge-that of applying cpl
thets TO anyone in the Navy and act.
ing in o quarrelsome manuer toward
them. This witness said that be had
been in the suite of three rooms num-
bered 405 occupied by himself and
Branch on the night Of Ocotber 81 at
about Q 30 O'Clock. Branch, said he,
had retired when Midshipman Meri-
wether and Midshipman Jeager enter
ed and the former asked for PTanch,
into whose bedroom he and his friend
then went Pritcherd said that Meri
wether had in substance accused
Branch OF prying into Meliwether' 6
suit case, which ne had mo right TO
do. According TO Pritchard, Branch
disputed the question of his not hav-
ing the right to investigate the con-
tents of Meriwether's locker. Meri-
ether then accused Branch of having
q grudge against hlm and to this
Branch replied: Yes. have got a
grudge against you = Meriwether
| then, according TO PTitchard's testi-
mony, accused Branch of using his
official 4 authority 70 ''eyen" mp a
| grudge and any man who would do a
/ thing like that was a &c damn
| sneaking coward. Branch then
warned him to be careful what he
said, as he, Branch had not yet re-
ported Meriwether. TO this Pritchard