Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-30
INVESTIGATING
AAz|NC CHARGES
Prosecution Introduces Evidence
To Show Kimbrough's Char
acter Was Good.
RECORD IN THE COFFIN CASE.
VIII at Once Dc Submitted to Admiral
Sands for Actlon--Sccy. of Navy
May Review IT,

Annapolis, Md, Dec, 20. The second
days session OF the court-martial OF
Mldsh!pman Trenmor Coffin, IT., for
the alleged hazing Of Midshipman KIM
brough, began this morning. The lit
Ito courtroom IN the temporary build
tors during the day An hour was con-
sumed az the opening Of the session I'm
reviewing the testimony given yester-
day
The first witness on the stand today
was Mldshipman Oyeriown whitney
er the roommate OF Kimbrough. lie
was introduced by the prosecution TO
rebut the testimony rejecting on KIM
brough's character for truthfulness. lie
said that he had never heard KIM
brough's reputation for veracty ques-
toned and that in his personal rela-
tons he had always found kimbrough
entirely truthful.
Midshipman Frank A. Braisted, a
classmatc, gave similar testimony
There were no further witnesses ana
arguments OF counsel began.
II. $. Theall opened Tor the accused.
Lieut.. Commander harrison, the judge
advocate, quoted from winthrop on
Military Form" in regard TO the rules
governing the Introduction Of evidence
as to confession. He made no fur
Their remarks and the case was given To
the court.
The record IN the Coffin case viii go
at once TO Admiral sands for his ac-
ton, though Mr., Theall, counsel for
Coffin, has filed II request that II be
forwarded to the secretary OF the navy
for review. In the same communica-
ton he urges that verdict OF guilty,
IL rendered, be set aside; that the navy
regulations We're violated by allowing
kimbrough to testify when he could
not Identify the accused, and also be-
cause he was not allowed to pursue Il
line Of questioning designed to lmpeach
Kimbroughs testimony by showing
that his reputation for veraclty was not
good.
The fact developed today that In adj
dtion to Nidshipman Stephen Decatur,
Jr., charged with four Instances OF
hazing, another member of the gradu-
ating class. is under the same charge
and others will be brought TO trial un-
der like allegations.
Midshipman Decatur was after recess
brought before the same court Wnlcn
had tried Mldshipman Coffin, but his
counsel, Il. S. Thcall OF Washington,
asked that recess be taken until 2
O'Clock tomorrow afternoon, and the
request was granted.
The other midshipman OF the gradu-
| atlng class, against whom charges OF
| hazing have been filed, Is Worthweigh
| Foster of New Albany, Ind. The speci-
| fications have not been made public. 1t
| Is also understood that Carroll f.
| Graves of Spokane, Wash, IL under ar.
| rest and that charges viii be filed
against him. Nor IL this case the end,
| for It Is known that several other MEM
| bers OF the first class have received In
| timatlons that they must answer to the
same charge i'm the very near future.
That the first class men are engaged
| In hazing, a practise hitherto left TO
| the third class, '0 explained on the
| ground that Admiral Sands opposition
| to hazing has arrayed the upper class
| men against him IN n desperate attempt
| to save the system at the academy.
| The other men at the institution are
| said to have taken II upon themselves
| to keep the practise alive because they
| thought themselves less likely TO be
| suspected and they are almost i'm
| mune from reports by members OF their
| own class the only class the members
| of which are on duty in the hall except
| In q minor way.