The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-26
OFFICERS APPROVE,
DECLARES MILDLY
Continued from First Page.

former results when an upper -classman
considers that an insult has been Of
fered by an under-classman which out
RACES the upper class as a body. In
this case the under -classman is chal-
lenged and the upper class turns out
a man to fight him.
Witness said in answer to question
by Lieutenant Commander Robinson
that in case the underclassman whipped
his opponent the challenging class
would keep on sending its members
against the midshipmen until he was
knocked out. There existed, he said,
no personal malice but the class as
"a body, feeling aggrieved, saw to it
that, an obstreporous -classman
was put down. -.. &. = .e
The Personal Fights.
Gas to the personal fights, he said,
"the class of which the challenger is
member takes no action as a class.
The lower class, however, of which
the challenged midshipman isa member
may take an interest in the fight as a
Glass;
The defendants s counsel asked the
witness to explain in detail this. part
of the system. He said:
r ;"'Since a personal insult is the basis
of such a challenge, the class honor
is at stake in case the challenge, pro-
vided it be properly made, is not ac-
'cepted If a man fails to accept the
challenge and fight, he would probably
be: sent to coventry and practically
ostracized. I never heard Of a chal-
lenge not being accepted. In case the
challenge is, in the opinion Of the class,
not justifable, the class may So decide,
and then the class man failing to ac-
|cept would be exonerated.'
Referring to the matter of an entire
class being insulted, Midshipman Hum
phrey said "For the various offenses
against the academy etiquette
enforced by upper classmen upon
their Junior, commission of which
causes plebe or youngster to
be styled 'ratty,' a class generally feels
insulted. The offense is not against an
individual in the. class. but against the
body, and hence calls for an inter-class
challenge.''
Denials BY Middies.
Other midshipmen witnesses had al
ready denied toHthe court any knowl
edge of the specific prohibition of fight
ing between persons in the navy, con
tanned in the naval regulations.
EMidshipman Humphrey likewise knew
nothing of this and, by his testimony
F. IN. ha n q ~
envy labors under the belief that fight
ing is a part of his course at the acad
i emv and willingness to fight one of tn
necessities of his equipment.
The widest latitude is given the IN
vestigatlon by the decision of the cour
! today to. admit all the evidence the de
Tense wishes to submit, barring ont
hearsayc testimony: Capt: Walnwrlgh
objected to going too deep with collat
eraf inquiry, but the court, after a con
ference, reached the conclusion that al
the Information available shall be ao
, mitted.
With the revelations within the pas
few days it; is considered among nava
, men here that congressional investl
cation can hardly be- e~avoided Fight
! ing is. in "a way, an aftermath of haz
\ ingI with only an extra vicious aspect
I ! The testimony Of both Midshlpme
Atkins and Delano showed that Will
the authorities were cognizant OF tn
Aghting they never interfered to pur
ish participants. They agreed tha
: ighting has taken fhe place of haz
f ing. ,----
.. The autopsy on Midshipman Branch
body will be performed tomorrow at tn
J. naval academy. The body was exhume
l.. this evening. - ~
l !. Meriwether's Letter.
New York, Nov. 25.-Mrs. J. F
: Branch, mother of James Il. Branci
Jr., the midshipman who died Nov.
- after fist fight at the naval academy
L received shortly after her sons funera
: q letter from Midshipman Minor Merj
wether, Jr., now on trial at Annapoll
/ bv =, naval court martial on charge
s. growing out of young Branch's deatf
s The letter, which Col. and Mrs. Branc
e have shown to friends, reads as TO
q: lows: -
UMrs. Branch: AS deeply grieve
?. as Won are at the loss of your son,
r am as much as is possible for perso
; other than a parent to be. This deplo7
4 able and unfortunate accident IS on
:. which will affect my whole life and ct
s reer as it has been deeply rooted int
f my mind in such manner as l. sha
never forget that have been the caus
&. of a mothers s and father s loss OF the
n son; the loss of an efficient otflcer
= the naval service, and the bringing
y an end of life of one who had prom
: ising and brilliant caree~ before him:
u ts-Minor Meriwether, Jr. ~