New-York tribune., 1905-11-26
FIGHTS DISPLACED HAZlNG
NERIWETHER'S DEFENCE.
This Testimony GiUen at Court
Martial.

Annapolis, Md, Nov. Z3.-Io-days 5 SeSSloi49
of the court-mar rtial which is trying Mldshlp-
man Meriwether in connection with the dealh'
after a fight, of Mi1shipman James r. Branch.
jr, were very largely occupied with testimony
of classmates of the accused man and members
of the first class of the Naval Academy. The
evidence was intended by the defence to show
that Branch harbored animosity against Meri-
wether and prosecuted him, and also that the
existence of the practice of fighting was known
to and in a manner connived at by high officials
of the Naval Academy. Prominent officers OF
the navy mentioned in connection with this were
Rear Admiral Willard H. Brownson. who was
the predecessor of Rear Admiral James H.
Sands as superintendent of the Naval Academy;
Captain Charles J. Badger, who was succeeded
as comnandant Of midshipmen by the present
commandant Captain G. p. Colvocoresses, and
Commander c. E. Colahan (deceased). who pre-
ceded Captain Badger in the same Office. 1t
was testified that Admiral Brownson, while
SUPERINTENDENT oe the academy, had promised
that in consideration of the abolition OF hazlns'
there would be no investigation Of fights sane
tioiieu by the first class.
One of the important developments of the day
was the ordering by the Secretary of the Navy
of the disinterment of Branch's body for hold
ing an autopsy The body will be exhumed to-
morrow morning.
The judge advocate announced this morning
that Surgeon Charles H. Stokes had been de-
tailed by the Navy Department to assist in the
prosecution. This action account of the
Importance of the medical questions involved
Mdshipman T. c. Corstein. of the first class,
for the defence testified that at the end of last
term while on duty, he had reported Meriwether
for a breach of regulations. Branch had mani
tested great interest in seeing that the report
was made. He had asked the witness to be sure
to forward the report, and, the sheet having been
stolen, reminded him of the report against Mer1-
wether He seemed to have a deep seated grudse
against Meriwether.
Corstein was examined as to the attitude OF the
midshiunen toward fighting, and testified that
it was regarded as the only means of settling
certain disputes, and that the contestants gen
orally left each other alone after a hght-
Lieutenant Commander H. ]. Zegemier testl-
fed that as executive officer of the Hartford he
had received a report from Midshipman Branch
against Midshipman Meriwether for general
disorder Decentralization and not turning IN
promptly on being ordered by Branch, VINO was
on duty. The witness found that the chdrge OIL
not turning in promptly was the only one sus,
tanned. He considered that there was personal
feeling between the two
Midshipman William T, Page. classmate OF
Meriwether. testified in regard to the report
which Branch had made against MerlWether on
the Hartford. He said that a store boat had
come alongside of the Hartford and that Merl-
vether the witness and others went out OF the
port and took some fruit. Some minutes az
terward Branch came down and charged Meil.
wether with having told him to go TO neil
Meriwether was the only one reported oy
Branch. .
He also had personal knowledge of the Incl
dent which led to the fatal fight. Branch mad
told him on October SO that he had seen the
suit case containing civilian clothes ana De-
Heved the clothes were MerlWethers.
tIEav n
next witness, his classmate, Midsh1pman VIII,
lam H Pashley. The latter had personal
knowledge of both of the reports made against
Meriwether by Branch on board the Hartford
and later in Bancroft Hall, He said that he
himself would have fought in the circumstances
and that MeriWether would have been an Out,
cast in his class if he had not fought, ana
''worse than an outcast" II he had refused
Branchs challenge. Fights he SAID, had peeh
going on for a long time, and ne had never
known anv one to be reported or punlshed 1oE
it. Meriwether had at least one other hght
last term. s--4 o,oss man
testified that having been caught nShSlns
twenty-five demerits were given MN Dy Ine t"1e
Commander C. f. Colahan, then commandant OF
midshipmen He had fought, he said, because
q lower class man had run into him. ana tne tMo
broke into an unused room to fnd a quleI PIeCe
for the fight Commander Colahan had told nlrI
he said that ten of the demerirs had been m
nosed for fighting and the remainder for oreak-
ing into the room, adding, the witness stated
that he Commander COlahan) would De the last
man to ston a fight that was for proper cause,
but that no proper cause existed Tor the heiL
in question. g. ,,.
testified that while he accompanying TO the
hospital a midshipman who had been badly
used up in a fight he passed Commander
Charles j. Badger. then commandant, who no
ticed the condition of the mdshipman ana re-
rroari,ed on il to another officer At the hospi-
tai the sufferers eye found to be so badly
cut that ten stitches We're required to close the
wound There was no investigation of the case,
the witness said. i,
l. NJ Atkinson. another first class man. testl-
fed that Admiral Brownson, while superintend-
ent of the Naval Academy, had said in his pres
ance and that of the other members of his class
that there would be no investigation of any hght
sanctioned by the first class This promise was
made the witness said to induce them to DO
away with hazng and indicated to them that
the rules imposed by the midshipmen's code OF
ethics we're to be enforced by fighting instead
Midshfpman Harvey Delano, Of the same Glass;
subst initiated this testimony.
rrLa court adjourned until Monday morning.