Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-29
CANNOT IDENTIFY THE HAzER
Rule NJ Annapolis Prevents Fourth
Glass Man from Looking ut
His Seniors.

ANNAPOLIS. Md. Dec. S.-Court- t-mar-tal
proceedings against Mdshipman Crenmor
CONN. ir.. member OF the third class on
the charge Of hazing Midshipman Jerdone
p Kimbrough Of the fourth class, began at
the naval academy today. The charge Il
supported by the specification that the ac-
cused caused Kimbrough to stand on his
head continuously for space OF ten min
utes or thcreabout. until he became uncor.
scious This. IT Is specified took place on
the evening OF December last
The president of the court is Captain Cor
win p Rces. Lieutenant Commander Will
liam X. Harrison is Judge advocate and Y.
S Theall Of the Washington bar is counsel
for the accused.
Midshipman George w. Hewlett of the
third class was the first witness. The wit
ness testified that he had seen Kimbrough
standing on his head.
Midshipnan Kimbrough was the next wit
ness and it developed that he was unable
TO identify Coffin as the man who had haze,i
him. The rule, it appears is that no lower
class man must look at an upper class man
under such circumstances and this so
| rigidly observed in the present case that
kimbrough could not say that Coffin had
hdzed him. He told. however. how he had
been hazed bv being compelled to stand on
/ his head until he gave out entirely. Then
/ the midshinilan who whs doing the hazine
, threw water over him land compelled him
. to go OIL again.
! Lieutenant Commando Charles Il. McNey
| jr was the last witness during the morning
/ session. He is attached to the department
| OF discipline at the academy.
The court ruled that the evidence OF the
confession which Coffin made to Lieutenant
/ Commander Charles Il. McNcy. tr., was nd
missible. inasmuch as the confession wos
entirely voluntary. The officer said that
Coffin also asked TO be allowed TO resign.
Surgeon j. c. Byrnes, the ranking medica
officer Of the academy, stated that he was
called to see Kimbrough on the night mon
toned and found him in an alarming condi
ton, he being in a state of physical col
lapse on cross-cxamination Dr. Byrno.
said positively that Kimbrough's uncon
sciousncss was real and that he might hav,
died had he not had prompt attention. DR.
Byrnes was the last witness for the prose
cution. which here closed its case.
The defense offered only mdshipmen a.
witnesses, but will continue the presenta
tion of its case tomorrow.
The witnesses all testified that they I'D
not consider Kimbrough's reputation 10
truth telling the best, but admitted tina
they had only heard reflections upon hi
truthfuness since the incident which form
the basis of the trial, and they also al
mltted that the midshipmen had consider
able feeling against him
! 1t is believed that the case OF Midship
man Coffin will be completed tomorrow. TIL
same court will probably try the cases O
AIidshipmen Warren A. ,Nanderveer who i
charged with neglect Of duty in railing :
report Kimbrodch's condition. and q
Stephen Decatur, jr., jDf the first class
charged with hazing Nidshipmen Gaylor
Church of Meadville, Pa . and Isaac n, NJ
crary of Calvert Tex. Poth1pstnl,ers qf "a
fourth class. 4---i - II -.