Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-11-24
LOOKS DARK FOR MERIWETHER
Prosecution Has All But Closed It's
Case and Evidence is Against Ac-
cuscd-Dcfcnse Will Try to show
Death Was Caused by Disease or
Lack Of Medical Treatment
Usy Associated press.l


prosecution used It's heavy artillery
in the line of medical testimony dur.
ing today'S session OF. the courtiuartiul
which is trying MdShipmau Meri-
wether for manslaughtcr In counec-
ton with the death OF Milshipmau
Branch. important witnesses being DR..
j. NJ. Il. Finncy, chief surgeon OF the
johns Hopkins University. OF Balti-
more; DIR. Henry NJ. Thomas, neurolo.
Sist of the same institution, and ]. c.
Byrncs. the chief medical officer at
iached TO the naval academy.
Fist Blows the Cause.
Much evidence OF Il technical char
actcr was given by the medical me:l
1t was brought out that the injury
though on the right side, was occa-
stoned by the successive fist blows on
the left side OF the head. The injury
was OF the nature medically known as
''contrecoup,' the blows to the skull
on one side OF the head having the
effect Of forcing the brains against
tho walls OF the skull and causing
compression in that way.
All the medical officers gave il rs
their very positive conviction tba.
Branch died from the effect OF the
blows he had received in his fight
with Meriwether. The cross-cXamina-
ZION WAS for the purpose OF proving
that death might have been due TO or.
Sanic weakness III Branch or to the
unskillcd treatment he received from
his friends after the fight and the de-
lay IN giving him to the care OF tho
physicians.
No Autopsy Was Held.
No autopsy was held and the admits
sion WAS elected that more certain
opinion as to the immediate cause Of
the death could be given il the au.
topsy had been held. However. Tie
physicians testified that it was their
opinion that the blows and nothing
else had caused his death. The med.
zeal witnesses also Dclittled any pos.;-
ible effect of The treatment Branch re-
ceircd after the fight and gave it us
their opinion that no treatment could
have saved his life.
The absence OF an autopsy was ex-
planned by Surgeon Byrnes, who stat.
ed that Branch's father refused his
permission.
Prize Fighting Prohibited.
The witnesses called during the
morning session were Surgeon +. T.
Stone. of the naval academy staff;
Lieutenant Commander Ziegemcicr.
and Hospital Steward John F.. Nfahn-
axe. ZieGemeier was called to prove
that the articles for the government
of the navy, which contain the prohibi-
lions against fighting were read 10
all midshipmen during the summer
cruise. during which the witness com
mandcd the Hartford, on which AIeri-
wather was stationed.
Hospital Steward Mahnake told OF
being summoned to Bancroft Hall. SEQ
ing Branch and recognizing his serI:
GUS condition. This no reported to
DIR. Stone and was ordered to bring
Branch to the hospital He had him
carried in an electric carriage to the
hospital.
DIR. Stone said in his testimony thot
when Branch came under his care at
the hospital nc was unconscious
DIR. Thomas expressed his positive
conviction that no treatment would
have saved Branch's life and TINT the
death was caused by the blows he
received in the fight.
Defense to &c Thorough.
The prosecution will almost surely
close its testimony tomorrow, in fact
1t is not likely that anything further
VIII be brought out that will greatly
Affect the case. The defense may be
elaborate, as it is known that Lieu
tenant Commander Robson and Mr..
Monroe. Meriwether's counsel, have
entered into the case with much yieor
and research.
1t is pretty we'll known that an a..