The Washington times., 1905-12-28
Hazed Midshipman Tells Story Before Court
Martial Which Is Trying Upper Class
man Coffin at Naval Academy.
WITNESSES GIVE EXHIBITIONS
OF HOW PLEBES ARE TREATED
Court Admonishes Alleged Victim Not to
Overdo the Thing When He Demon
strated What He Went Through.

ANNAPOLIS. Md. Dec. 2s.-It was a
few minutes past 10 o'clock this morn
ing when the court appointed to try
Midshipman Coffin. third class. on the
charge of hazing Midshipman Kim
brough, fourth class. met in the old
recitation hall.
1t was the same room in which the
Meriwether court-maTtial first met. NO
time was lost by the court in getting
down to business. Judge Advocate Har-
rison read the charge and specification,
and in reply to the question OF guilty
or not guilty, Coffin, in clear voice.
said "Not guilty.
First Witness Excused.
The first witness callee was Lieut.
Com. Charles g. McVeagh. but on
objection of E s. Thean, counsel for the
accused, to a question from the judge
advocate relative to confession made
by Kimbrough, the witness was ex-
cused.
Midshipman George Wilson Hewlett,
of the third class, said he knew Coffin.
on the evening of December II. few
minutes after D. m. witness said he
looked in room SO in Bancroft Han.
When asked what he saw he said that
under the law of Congress relating TO
hazing ii would incriminate himself to
tell what he witnessed. AT this point
the court was cleared to pass upon the
answer of the witness.
When the doors were opened again the
court announced that the witness must
answer. and that his rights would be
protected. es.ss. -. 49,
Saw Man on His Head.
The question OF what witness saw IN
room So was repeated. and witness SAID
he saw one man on his head and two
other men in the room. The three men
in the room were Coffin. Witmeyer. and
Kimbrough. The latter was standing
on his head. Witness said ne went down
the hall and came back again and looked
into room SO. and this time only Coffin
and Kimbrough were in the room.
Witness said ii was not the custom Tor
one fourth class man to haze another
fourth class man. In reply to a question
from counsel for the accused, witness
said he could not state that kiHorougn
was standing on his head by order OF
direction of Coffin
Stood on His Head.
Hewlett was asked by the court tc
show what standing on the head was
He placed his hands and forehead on the
floor and briskly kicked his heels up IN
the air. The exhibition was amusing
enough to justify witness explanation
that he went 10 Kimbrough's room be
cause he heard that fifteen or twenty
men were there having fun with th'
plebe.''
In cross-examination Hewlett said m
had heard Coffin say nothing 20 I'm
brough. There was "A crowd o. Tniunle
about the door, looking over his should
er and some remarks were made oa
.sThen you don't know who wa
standing Kimbrough on his head? ask
ed Mr.. Theall.
mo, sir" was the reply.
Midshipman Kimbrough was called
He failed to recognize CONN. ..
DO you recognize the defendantY
asked the Judge advocate
Attorney Thean objected to furthel
testimony by Kimbrough as 10 the acts
charged against Coffin without III
identifying defendant. he cited IN
regulations governing naval courts-m mar
tial. but the court overruled the obJec
tion.
Abused by Middies.
Kirbrough then testified that NUN
Der of midshipmen visited his room th'
evening of December u. and abuse'
him. Finally. all but one left. The re
naming nidshipman ordered him L
strip his blouse and get on his head
AS the others left the midshipman said
IF he gives out, I'll put him unde
the shower
81 stood on my head said witness
''and ~ midshipmsn told my room
mate ifrne did not want to see this. I
exhausted. the midshipman threw
pitcher OF water on my head aGG shoui
ders. From the time ! began until bu
gle call for study, when my visitor lef
/ was on my head for ten minutes.
got SO tired | could barely lift my fee
and my forehead WAS so sore 1 reste
It on m rms toward the last.
when I was ordered 10 stop, my eye
were so stiff that / had TO pun mysel
up by the bedstead. / was very dizZ
and could not recognize anyone. and al
ter managing TO get my collar on, re
on the bed. / remember some one oI
ening the door The next / remember
was IN the hospital"
Kimbrough illustrated the gentle al
OF standing on the head" for the benc
1T cf the court.
Don't overdo yourself" admonishe
Captain Recs. once or twice will DO.
Dared Rot Look.
why are you unable to recognize tn
midshipman who stood you on you
head?" asked the judge advocate.
1--WE are not allowed 10 look at a
upper class man except by permission.
answered Kimbrough. II didn't look a
him all the time he was there"
Lieutenant Commander McNeaR
was recalled He testified that he wa
assigned December II for duty with th
board of inquiry appointed by Admir-;
Sands for the investigation Of hazinj
He said.
81 made p note OF iourth-class me
who appeared before the board and d.