Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-30
NERIWErHER ON The STAND
Accused Midshipnsn TsstihsS in BIS 0wn
Behalf Before Osur = Martial,
TELLS OF VISIT TO ROOM OF BRANCH
Words Were Passed On visit and an
oRer TO Fight Made, Al
though Meriwether
was NOT Est.

him and Midshipman james r. Branch,
r.. which was followed by the death of
Branch. He closed It with the words:
Il have never seen him since. We parted
as friends"
Meriwether's evidence excited greater in
| terest than has any previous portion of the
| trial, and while speaking the accused was
at times visibly affected. When he left the
witness stand the defense rested.
The prosecution called in rebuttal several
midshipmen, DR.. Thomas, neurologist of the
Johns Hopkins hospitals Surgeon Byrnes of
the navay academy, and Captain George P.
Colvocoresses, commsndant of midsnpmen.
1t is expected that argument Of counsel will
be concluded and the case given to the
| court on Friday.
Meriwether's Testimony.
Midshipman Meriwether took the witness
stand In his own behalf. His story of the
| trouble between himself and Mldshipman
Branch did not differ substantially from
the testimony of previous witnesses. He
told Of baving had a fight with Midship-
man Humphreys in 1904 in which the latter
knocked OUT witness.
Speaking Of the fight when the feud came
to a head, Meriwether said
II went in Branch's room and the light
was turned on. said that l had come
| to see him about what had occurred
Branch said: You are a damn fool to
come to see me; you know that my class
hates you. l said: That is not so; you
are the only one who does Branch then
asked; What II doT l said: Then you
are a id sneaking coward and will
| fight you, though am not In fighting con-
| dillon. l added If you get up I will
lick you He said; You mean you will
try That's what 1 will l said, and If
you get up l will show you. He did not
get up and after little further converse
ton Jaeger and l left the room"
II called Branch what did because 1
was told the custom was that a f1ght
would end feeling and Branch had told me
he was going to 'bilge me, that is, make
me fail, and 1 wanted to fight and end
| the matter. l did not intend to fight when
] went to the room but he again told me
that hA intended to bilge me-"
Meriwether's counsel then asked him
about his refraining from hitting Branch
during the fight although allowed to do
so under the rules. The witness told
of two instances OF this, explaining he did
not believe any blows should be struck in
a stand off fight unless men are on their
feet. He also told how he fouled and Of
fered to give up the fight but the seconds
would not allow it.
Tells of Fight.
after the quarrel with Branch" said
he, "Midshipman McKittrick came to my
room and told me that he had been ap-
pointed by Branch's second TO arrange a
, fight. I wanted Jaeger as mine. The de-
tails were then arranged. During the
fight we fought under the blinds. About
the twelfth round rushed Branch and
both fell sideways through the door. The
next round Branch hit a terrific uppercut.
It stunned me for some rounds. re-
turned to his jaw. He threw his head
back and / returned. but Swung my arm
around his neck. We fell in that position,
his head striking the floor. We were lifted
up My arm could not be used for the
next two rounds. Ny left arm was
crushed in a foot ball game about three
years ago. l had a severe operation and
failed physically. However passed the
next year. The arm is still weaker than
the other"
Meriwether then showed deep scar on
the wrist of the left arm. He said a
silver plate had been put in there.
AT the end of the twenty-third round"
he continued. Branch came across the
room and we both apologized and he said
afterward we will both be friends. He
then left and I have not seen him since
We parted as friends could not go to
breakfast the next morning. l had 10 go
to the hospital. An orderly came and, said
there was a man unconscious in the hail.
He was brought to the hospital that night
and Or. Ames told me that Branch was
doing we'll About o'clock the next after
| noon l was told by nurse that Branch
was dead. requested an official nvestiga-
tfon h1y 40 'a,iperfntendpnt I WAS oriavad
beyond expression. l think that Mr.
Branch was indeed fortunate in being in
his place, in going to sleep and not waking
up than to be in mine and having to live
this life after this sad and deplorable
affair"
| In answer to a question Merwether said
''If had not resented Mr. Branchs con-
| tinued actions would be in the same posi-
ton as another classmate with whom no
one has anything TO do. Under these cir
cuInstances / would have To resign and
! could not hold up my head again..
CrOss-ExaminatiOn Is brief.
The prosecution then began cross exam
! ination. The defendant was asked to de-
scribe running as Branch had conducted
| II toward him. Pressed for direct answers
as to what Branch had DONE Meriwether
said: II don't care to relate them
Meriwether then whispered to the Judge
advocate and the question was Withdrawn
/ Il was evident that Meriwether hesitated
| to mention certain things before the
women OF whom there were a number In
court He then declared that he had not
been fatty but had unfairly acquired
| the reputation.
! At the end Of Meriwether's testimony the
defense announced that II had closed it's
! case.
| Captain George p. Coivocoresses, COM
| mAndant of midshipmen. was the first wit
ness for the rebuttal He told of a con-
versation with Midshipman Churchill Hum
, phreys, president of the second class. in
! which he had told Humphreys that he was
under oath 10 obey all regulations. He,
| as commandment, took the stand that fight
ing at the academy was against good
order and discipline and would not be toler-
ated This" he said, II think. is also
the view Of Superintendent Sands"
VIII Not Investigate Code.
! WASHINGTON, Nov. 2s.-Representative
Lacey Of Iowa, who was one of the commit
tee who made the investigation OF hazing
at West Point and incidentally at An