The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-11-27
MIDSHIPMAN BRANCHES
 BODY IS DISINTERRED
AUTOPSY HELD BY 4 BOARD OF NAVAL MEDICAL
 OFFICERS

Condition of Body Such That Important
 Questions Can be Answered--Am
 Those Taking Part Hound to Secrecy
 as to Their Discoveries Untn Their
 Evidence is Given Before the Court
 martiaI-PossibIe Course of Meri-
 wether's Defense
 Annapolis, Md, Nov. 26.-The body of Midshipman James R. Branch, jr., who died on November 2 after fist fight with Midshipman Minor Meriwether, was disinterred to-day and an autopsy was held by board of naval medical officers pursuant of orders of the sec- retary of the navy. The condition of the body was found to be such that those who made the autopsy will be able to answer questions that have arisen during the MeriWether trial as to the condition of Midshipman Branch's heart and other organs prior to the fight.
 The board performing the autopsy was composed of surgeon, J. c. Byrnes, the ranking medical officer att tached to the naval academy, and Passed Assistant Surgeons W. R. Webb and R. E. Hoyt, also of the naval aead- emy medical staff. As requested by counsel for Midshipman Meriwether, Medical Director Howard Flames, feet surgeon of the North Atlantic fleet, and Surgeon B. D. Gatewood were present, as was also Dr. L. W. Glazebrook, an expert in medical testimony, who has acted officially in autopsies held in Washington, D. C., for some years.
 All those taking part in the autopsy were bound to secrecy as to their dis coveries until their evidence is given before the court-martial. Surgeon J. c. Byrnes, ranking officer of the autopsy board, however, made the statement that the body was in condition to fur- nish such evidence as was desired
 The autopsy was conducted in tent erected in the naval cemetery near the grave of young Branch, but some of the organs were taken to the naval hospital for more minute examination, The work of the medical men lasted until late this afternoon and at its conclu- sion the body was reinterred.
 Marines were on guard to keep from the vicinity all but those officially con- nected with the autopsy.
 That the examination made to-day was not made at the time of Branch $ death was due to the objections of his parents.
 Meriwether's counsel however. have indicated that one of their lines of de- fense will rest upon a possible doubt as to Branch's death having resulted from injuries received in the fight with Meri- wether. They have questioned witness es as to other possible causes induced by organic weakness and it was for the purpose of determining whether such weakness existed in Branch pre- vious to the fight that the autopsy was held.
 In the course of the trial mention has been made of midshipman who pass ed the physical examination, but, two weeks after being admitted to the naval academy, died of ennholism caused by vegetation formed in the heart or the blood vessels near it and carried thence. to the brain. It has also been suggest ed that symptoms similar to bhose in the case of Branch might be present in a case of brain trouble induced by dis eased kidneys. To-day's autopsy was held for the purpose of securing more definite medical testimony on such points as applied to the late Midship- man Branch.