Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-11-11
IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS.
MADE IN THE BRAEcH-MERI,
WETHER CASE.
Admiral James H. Sands Visits
Secretary Of The Navy
Bonaparte.

MidShl pmah "A lnOF A4efiN tlneft
whose fight with Midshipman James
Branch last week resulted in the lat
ter's death, has been discharged from
the hospital and is again among his
fellows at the institution. While the
unfortunate young midshipman may
or may not have enemies in the insti-
tution, certain il is that all, or praoti-
caliy all, of the midshipmen sustain
him in his actions in every way,
Numbers of the upper classmen,
who are known not to have approved
Of Meriwether as plebe, when he
would not stand for running or haZ-
ing, unhesitatingly say that had they
been in his place in the Branch Incl
dent they would have done exactly as
he did
Admiral Sands, superintendent Of
the institutions returned last night
from Washington, whittier he was
summoned by a telegram from Secre-
tary Bonaparte to furnish information
on the subject of the case. The Ad-
miral could not besseen this morning,
although he was in his Office. 1t was
stated that he was very busy when ad-
mission was asked to his room. His
aide, Lieutenant Commander 7. p.
Magruder, is out of town, and it is
understood that he is in Washington
| on the case.
AS vet no action has been taken here
| gb the Navy Department inthe Branch
Meriwether case and it is understood
none will be taken until after a thor
ough consideration of the reports. II
| has been given out from the Navy De-
partment that after the receipt TO
| day of particular information desired
| by the President from Admiral Sands,
superintendent Of the Naval Academy.
| an official statement will be issued
from tile White House.
| Admiral Sands returned to the Ma.
| val Academy last night from Washing
| ton. where he had been officially sum
| moned. He had a long conference
| with Secretary Bonaparte and supple
mented the official reports of the
affair. which have already been made,
| with his personal views. Lit is admit
ted that the midshipman who will be
the most heavily punished is Minor
| MeTiwether, Jr., of Louisiana. who
/ was Branoh's antagonist in the con-
test. Meriwether las yet has made nc
statement concerning his side of the
case, but will probably do So before
Secretary Bonaparte takes action.
| It is expected Secretary Bonaparte
| will announce todaysthe action he in
| tends to take in the affair which caused
Midshipman Branoh's death and per-
| haps half dozen midshipmen in one
way or another will be involved.
| President Roosevelt has shown strong
| personal interest in the case and asked
| for the official reports of the affair.
| The report of the preliminary board
/ of Investigation, the board of inquest
and the surgeons report. all the docu
ments that have been submitted to the
| Department we're sent to the White
House yesterday
The facts IL the case, so far as
| KNOWN, have been published. 1t was
said at first in a semi official way
| that the direct cause of Midshipman
| Branch's death was the stoppage of
an artery in the back Of the head on
| account of the great physical exertion
| which the man had undergone. but the
report of the board of inquest shows
clearly that death was due to blows
on the head. In view of these circum.
stances it is hard to see how Meri-
wether can escape being held respon-
sible directly.
1t is regarded as likely that Meri-
wether will be dismissed peremptorily
from the Academy, and it is possible
that others will be subjected to the
same punishment. 1t was said TODAY
that there are probably eight of the
midshipmen at the Academy who. on
account of participation in the affair,
will be punished. Just how severe
| the punishment TO each Will be cannot
be forecasted.
Following his conference with Sec.
retary Bonaparte yesterday Admiral
Sands called on Rear Admiral Con
verse, chief of the Bureau of Naviga-
| tion. Admiral Sands said that it was
quite possible that final action might
not be taken until next Monday OF
Tuesday, but it was said at the Office
of Secretary Bonaparte that the case
might be IN such shape that a decision
| could be reached by this afternoon.
| Secretary Bonaparte is expecting ad.
| ditional records from the Naval Acad.
emy today.
In discussing the affair Admiral
| Sands said: Everything that can be
| done has been done. When left An.
| napolis / left orders that no further
action be taken in the case, and it is
| likely that final action will not be-
taken until next Monday or Tuesday.
| By then l expect that the. cases ot
| eleven nf the midshipmen involve
| willb entirely settled. There are SIX
or eight individual cases. these in
4 cluding all of those actually partici.
pating and those who knew of the
| affair and did not seek TO prevent it.
| No one will be spared. -
The civil authorities have not sought
to intervene in this case.