The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-23

were only few people that qhe hated ana that Branch was one of them. The next day. Midshipman Van Decarr testified, Meriwether had said that it was all fixed that he and Branch had arranged fight
 Midshipman Earl w. Pritchard. the next witness, was the room mate of Branch, and is also from Louisiana. His testimony was of the utmost importance. covering the whole facts in the incident that led directly to the fight Meriwether had. he said, come to the room occupied by himself and Branch. accompanied by Midshipman Yeager.' Branch had gone to bed, but rose to his elbow and turned on light just above him, remaining in that position during the conversation. Meriwether accused Branch of acting un- fairly toward him by using his official position as midshipman in charge of the floor to report him about the matter of a dress suit case containing civilian clothes and charged Branch with having a grudge against him.
 The latter Branch admitted. Meriwether then said that Branch was "a damned low down, sneaking coward Branch then told Meriwether that his class could compel him to leave the academy, and to this Meriwether answered that he did not care if they did that he was not go-
 ing to be used badly by any one.
 The conversation continued, Pritchard said, and Branch told Meriwether that he had only reported one man since he had been at the acadmy, and that he could not help. Meriwether rejoined that if he ever reported him he would have to fight. There was some further talk about the standing of the families to which they belonged and the affair closed with Meri- wether calling Branch "a sneaky cow ard,'' "a damn coward" and mo gentle man"
 Said Fight Was Necessary.
 After Meriwether and Yeager had left Branch asked the witness what he should do, and was told that a fight was neces- sary. Afterwards Branch had told him that he had not reported Meriwether. An upper classman Moves, had spoken to him about it, and he had come to the con clusion that it would be a dirty trick to do so.
 Ralph Yeager. a classmate of Meri- wether and who went to the room with him on the night of the quarrel. testified that Branch had called Meriwether "a damn fool" when he came to the room, and said that he was damn ratty." By the latter Yeager explained that 1t was meant that he did things that the "code" did not allow for members of his class.
 It was explained that a fourth class man, for instance. has to keep away from certain walks of the academy, turn squarely at corners, never look at an up- per classman, never talk to girls, ob- serve certain regulations when eating and speak most respectfully when spoken to by an upper classman. This. it appeared, was still the unwritten law of the institu- ton where hazing has been abolished.
 Branch Better Man Physically.
 Dr. Robert F. Hoyt, head of the depart ment of physical culture at the academy furnished some interesting data on the comparative size and strength of Meri- wether and Branch, taken from actual measurements of the academy. While it is fact that Meriwether was slightly older, heavier and taller, Branch was larger of chest and arm and his total percentage of strength was about a fifth greater than Meriwether's.
 Commander Colvocoresses was closely questioned by the judge advocate and tho court in regard to the attitude of the academy authorities towards fighting He said most emphatically that there was no winking at it, but that every such offense would be- punished severely if known He also testified that all midshipmen were acquainted with the regulations of the navy by the copies which were put in their hands and by oral instruction. He showed the court the gloves which had been turned over to him as having been used in the fight. They are known as punching bag gloves and are used as a protection for the hands when punching the bag and have almost no paddling Midshipman Harold V. McKittrick who acted as a second for Branch during the | fight. told of the arrangements and the insistence of both parties that the fight should be to a finish. The fight itself, he l testified, lasted over p rounds of two minutes each, with one minute inter- ] mission. Early in the fight one Of