Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-23
DR.. Stone Testiies Regarding.
Branch's Condition.
CHIEF WITNESS TODAY
RESUMPTION OF COURT T-MARTIAH,
OF MERIwETHER.
Investigation Of the Recent Fatafs
Fight at the Naval Academy
Effect Of Hot Bath.

The course of the Meriwether court-msrO
tial at Annapolis today made the case
seem darker for the accused than pre-
viously. The chief witness of the day was
DR.. G. p Stone of the Naval Academy.
| He attended Branch as soon as he was
brought to the hospital He was present
at the operation on the deceased. and gave
| II as his opinion that death was due to
hemorrhage Of the brain brought on by
Meriwether's blows, and that, although the
| hot shower bath given Branch after the
| fight might have hastened the progress Of
| the hemorrhage, II could not be held rs.
| sponsible for II. The cross-examination and
| questions by the court failed to ma terially
| modify this testimony. The proceedings
| were exceedingly slow. owing 10 the recall
| of witnesses to verify their previous days
| testimony.
| Special From STAFF Correspondent.
ANNAPOLIS. Md, November 23.-Unp
| abated interest was manifested today in the
| court-martial of Midshipman Meriwether
| for the death of Midshipman Branol. which
! followed q recent fist fight. The defense
| yesterday called no witnesses OF Its own,
! but made use of several witnesses called by
! the prosecution. Judge Advocate Marix
! protested at this method of procedure. and
after that Commander Robinson kept more
closely to lines of regular cross-examna.
4 ton.
| Up to date the testimony has established
| two facts-one, that fighting, governed by
an unwritten code, was the rule OF the acads
emy; also, tina; although Branch was the
challenger, the fight was practically forced
on him by Meriwether. But II is useless to
/ deny that sympathy of the towns people
and of the officers and midshipmen of the
school is almost solidly with the accused.
| This generaliza don, of course. does not Inc
| clude the personnel of the court. who are
! under oath to act only In accordance with
| the evidence. But the outsiders take Merle
wether's side of the Case, saying that the
death of Branch, however regrettable, was
| a clear accident, which could not have been
| foreseen. There is much speculation as 10
| the verdict Of the court, but the evidence.
| even of the prosecution, SO far has proved
| only accidental death. brought Oh by tho
two boys following what was evidently the
established custom of the school.
The court reassembled promptly in its lite
tie 16 by "a room preparatory to the hear>
ing. when Admiral Mccormick moved that
the judge advocate be instructed to provide
more commodious quarters. Judge Advocate
Mark said he had tried to do so. but would
try again. the room was unquestionablX
dark, crowded and unsuitable.
Commander Robinson, the counsel for
Meriwether and his client sat in one core
, ner Of the room. Meriweather looked calm
and collected. as on the previous day, but
the strain under which he has been since
the death of Branch had been severe and
his smooth, square face looked a triia
drawn.
Judge Advocate Mark took up more than
an hour reading yesterdays proceedings.
The first witness of the day was Lieut..
Commander II. j. Zeigmar. who was the exc
ecutiye officer of the Hartford during her
practice cruise last year The object of hia
testimony was to prove that the articles for
government of the navy were posted ou
board the ship on which Meriwether was
serving.
The case dragged as witness after wits
ness was recalled to certify to the corA
rectness of the record of his testimony
There was some little misunderstanding
over the description of the fight by rounds.
and several of the venerable officers readily
volunteered expert information In helping
to straighten out the tangie.
Hospital Steward Mehleke then testiiedi
to having been summoned to find Branch.,
who In his room. unconscious. witnesS
conveyed him to the hospital.
DR.. Stone of the Academy hospital dee
scribed Branch's condition when he was
brought la the morning after the fight.
Branch was badly bruised, he said, and
there was little light reflex from either eye,
His left arm and leg were almost wholly
paralyzed His right arm and leg were
threshing around almost constantly. He
died about 1906 On the morning of the 7thy
DIR. Stone, as soon as he saw the serious
.aff fhn IL
spector Brynes, who assisted in handling
the case. DR.. Stone. in describing the
trephining operation on Branch performed
by Dr. Finney, said that several fiicks.
hardly clots, of blood were found The
brain was under great tension, owing to
an accumulation of serus fluid. There was
some relief noticed Immediately after the
operation, when the pressure was relieved
but the improvement was only temporary
DR.. Stone was asked whether the injuries
found could have been inflicted by the
gloves used in the fight. He said they
could.
When asked whether, If medical assist
anee had been called Immediately after the
fight could Branch's life have been saved,
DIR. Stone replied that he thought not.
The judge advocate asked whether the hot
shower bath had injured the patient. but
the doctor said. though it might have ac-
CELEBRATED the trouble. 1t did not in hia
opinion, materially affect the case.
Considerable Surprise Caused.
with considerable surprise by most of his
auditors. as it had been thought that the
hot shower bath would play important
part in the testimony, taking the immediate
responsibility for Branch's death of Mer-
wether's hands. Both the Judge advocate
and District Attorney Rose took hand In
the questioning at this point, but DR.. Stone
failed to express any belief in the efficacy
of earlier medical attendance. He said that
the injury was too deep-seated TO be reach
ed by the operation performed, and to have
gone deeper into the brain In search OF the
lesion would of ITSELF have been fatal.
Accused an Attentive Listener.
Midshipman Meriwether listened intentiy
to the description OF the effect of his Blow
and the character of the changes that muee
have taken place In the brain as the hems
orrhage progressed First he leaned back
In his chair. his eyes narrowed. ana drink
ing the doctors 3 emotioniess description a
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