The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-11-25

Survivor of Fatal Eight 81 Annapo-
lis Faces CouI,martial.
TRoUsLE

NJ the naval ayademy. was put on trial
here before naval court martial on
charges that include that OF man
slaughter in having caused the death
of Midshipman James r. Branch. Jr,
OF New York. a member OF the class
above him. as a result of a pre-
arranged fist fight. which took place
ON the evening of Sunday. November
5. last. An operation was performed
on Midshipman Branch the next night
but he died on the following Tuesday
morning
Interesting side light TO hazlng or
running" as it is called at the naval
academy. developed from the testi-
monv OF one OF the midshipmen. Meri'
wether had been generally disliked'
he said. gecauSe he was too "ratty.
that is II was explained. that he dld
not abide by the rules laid down Tor
the government of the lower class
men. Some OF these were that ne
should never enter lovers lane. an
academy walk: that he should turn
all corners at right angles. should not
look at an upper classnan and should
answer most respectfully when adj
dressed by one of them. that he must
never touch the table nor ask for any
thing during a meal. and under no cir
cumstances fuss that is to he IN the
society of young women. These rules
and many others are contained IN that
mart of the code" relating 10 the gov
eminent of under classmen Branch
had been one Of the midshipmon who.
according 70 the testimony. deter
mined to make life mot worth living
for Meriwcther because he would not
abide by these rules. and from mat
the enmity arose
Meriwether Demanded Satisfaction.
Ralph Yeager. a classmate of Meri-
wether's. and one of his seconds in the
fight said that Meriwether had spoken
to him several times about the way
Branch was treating him.
He told me thar Branch had Il in
for him ever since he came 10 the
academy. and that he was going 10
settle II with him if he had any nerve
at all. Mr. Meriwether said he thought
Branch had reported him for french
ing and that he had sneaked around
his room when he was not there TO
find something else TO report him for.
We talked about the suit case Incl
dent. and then Nj Meriwether said
he was going 10 90 TO Branch and de-
mand satisfaction. We went up that
night. Mr.. Branch was lying on his
bed When he saw Mr. Meriweiher
he said: We'll. what do you want. you
- fool? Don't YOU know that you
are too ratty coming mp here?
Mr.. Meriwether said: want salts
faction. Branch. and if you have any
spunk you'll give it to me. You've been
packing me long enough, and l am
about tired of it,
well. what are YOU going to do
about ito Mr.. Branch asked
"Ill fight you right now. if you get
on your feet Mt Meriwether replied.
and Branch said that his class could.
and would. bilge Meriwether, If he
was not careful We left the room
few minutes later. and the next day
the Sight was arranged
"Bilge" meant to fail in examina-
tions: "frenching' was to leave the
yard without permission from the com
mandant: packing was reporting by
the cadet officers.
Branch's roommate Earl Pritchard.
testified as to what had taken place
in the room when Meriwether called
with his def. and said that Meri-
wether. using an oath. had called
Branch sneak and coward He
had advised Branch to fight and they
had discussed the probability Of Meri-
wether having the best Of the battle.
Il told him that there was no way
out of It," was Pritchard's candid
statement. "and asked him if he had
reported MI Meriwether for having
the suit case in his laundry bag. lie
said that he had not, though he want
ed to. but that Lieutenant Noyes said
he wanted to see fair play. and unless
the inspection was made regularly, ad-
vised against the report"
Thus it is indicated>that the whole
fight was based on Meriwether's be
lief that Branch had done something
that he had net done. The gloves used
were the kind known as punchingbag
gloves. used to protect the hand only,
and almost without padding.
Witness Tells Of Fight.
Midshipman Harold V. McKittrick.
a classmate of Branch, was then
called. He acted as second to Branch,
and said that the fight took place in
Bancroft Hall. and the midshipmen of
ficers made no report Of it. that being
according to the code" The rounds
were two minutes in duration. with one
minute intermissions. Early in the
fight Branch had one eye closed, but
I'D to the 18th round had something
the better Of it. Then Meriwether had
Il a little in his favor till towards the
end, when he appeared to be much
fatigued. and clinched to save him
self. There we're several minor fouls,
none OF which appeared intentional,
nor had any effect on the outcome Of
the fight. Once, towards the last, Meri-
wether fouled by hitting in a clinch
and offered to giveNup the fight. but
this was not accepted by Branch and
his seconds. Another time Branch
was on his knees, and under the rules