New-York tribune., 1905-11-24
death was necessarily caused by the blows re
ceived from Meriwether-


ceived from Meriwether
HIS FACE TERRIBLY BATTERED.
Dr. Stone said in his testimony that Branch
came under his care at the hospital at about
3. so O'Clock Monday morning. He absolute
w unconscious he said, the left side of his head.
left temple his forearms, right eye and lips
were much swollen and discolored, and both
eyes were closed.
When the eyelids were opened with the hand
the eyes rolled and generally set toward the
left The left and leg We're paralyzed and
there was a convulsive movement in the right
arm and leg There was slight fever. but the
pulse normal
The witness said that he realized that
Branch's condition was very serious and called
Dr. Byrnes chief surgeon at the academy. into
consultation. Drs Finney and Thompson of
Baltimore. arrived during the day, and with
the consent of Branch's father an exploratory
operation determined upon.
The right side of the head was opened about
9 o'clock in the evening, and Immediately there
were three hemorrhages from the brain The
membrane of the brain appeared much dis
tended. and there was free flow of serum when
1t was divided. There also return of
pulsations in the vessels of the brain. Only
few small clots of blood found. and these
appeared to have formed toward the vertex of
the BRAIN and washed out Several needle
incisions and one exploratory incison
made into the brain substance. but it not
deemed wise to further expose the brain.
After the operation the paralysis of the limbs
was somewhat relieved, but there spasm
of the right foot, and it turned in toward the
left The general condition seemed slightly i'm
proved.
Dr. Stone stayed on watch from midnight un
til o'clock in the morning, and about / 81 there
IF tom and DO
cided change for the worse. Branch died at 10: 05
in the morning.
From the symptoms and what was disclosed
during the operation DIR. Stone confident
that the condition had been brought about by
external injuries to the head, such might
have been caused by blows of the fist. These
blows could have been inflicted either side
of the head
Dr. F1nney testified that he arrived in An
napolis at 3 o'clock on the afternoon of Monday
November g. and after consultation with the
other medical men. decided on operation. The
case presented many difficult features, he said
and the proper course was by means clear
but it hoped that the active cause of the
unfavorable symptoms might be found under the
portion of the skull which opened.
DR. Thomas told his manner of determining
the seat of the trouble from the symptoms in
! the case. and what hoped for by the opera
ton. He also expressed MS positive conVlctlon
that no treatment would have saved Branch's
life and that death was caused by the blows he
received in the fight.
The members of the court. particularly Ad-
niral Mccormick and Captain Barry, questioned
the medical men closely several points, but
seemed particularly anxious to elicit information
as to whether not it certain that Meri-
wether's blows had caused the death of Branch
and whether any other cause could be assigned
without stretching facts beyond the bounds of
reason. Admiral Mccormick especially per-
sistent in attempting to get from the experts
direct answers to his questions on this point.
The prosecution will close it's testimony early
! tor morrow. The defence may be[eabOrate. as it
| is known that Lieutenant Commander Robson
| and Mr. Monroe, Mariwether's counsel. will try
| to show the possibility Of organic weakness in
| Branch, and of thus being affected by causes
other than the fight and also of the effect of the
| unskilled handling of Branch after the fight. It
will also be urged that long series of persecu-
| tions of Meriwether by Branch drove the former
| to seek a fight, and that the challenge actually
: emanated from Branch.