The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-24
He DIED FROM THE
EFFECT OF BLOWS
No Treatment Could Have
Saved Branch.
so SAY THE DOCTORS
An Attempt to Prove That Death
Might Have Resulted From Other
Causes Does Not Shake the
Opinion of The Physicians.
No Autopsy Held.
(By the Associated Press.)

Annapolis, Md. Nov. 23.-The pros
ecution used its heavy artillery in the
line of medical testimony during to-
days SESSION of the court martial
which is trying Midshipman Meri-
wether for manslaughter in connec-
tion with the death of Midshipman
Branch, importantes witness being DR..
Johns Hopkins University. of Balti-
more; Dr. Henry NJ. Thomas. neurol-
ogist of the same institution, and j. c.
Byrnes, the chief medical officer at
tached to the naval academy.
The operation upon MIdShipman
Branch. consisting of lifting and fold
ing over a portion of the skull in or
der to remove such blood clots as
might be formed, was performed by
DR.. Finney and DR.. Thomas, the spec
ialist IN that line, came to Annapolis
at DR.. Finney's request in order to
locate from the symptoms the proper
place for the operation. DIR. ByrneS
was called in consultation with DR..
Stone shortl after Branch had been
brought 10 the hospital
Much evidence that was interesting
was given by the medical men. one
point of interest brought out in ex-
was opened on the right side although
the paralysis appeared on the left side
of the body. was that the nerves con-
trolling one side of the body cross
from the opposite side of the brain,
while the nerves controlling the facial
muslec do not 1t was further brought
out that the injury. though on the
right side. was occasioned bv the sue
cessive fist blows on the left side OF
hn in i11t. n
ture medically known as "contre-coup
the blows to the skull on one side of
the head having the effect OF forcing
the brains against the walls of the
skull and causing compression in that
way.
Death Caused by Blows.
All the medical officers gave it as
their very positive conviction that
Branch died from the effect of the
blows he had received in his fight win
Meriwether The cross-examinauon
was for the purpose of proving that
the death might have been due to or
ganic weakness in Branch or to the
unskilled treatment he received from
his friends after the fight and the
delay in giving him in to the care OF
physicians.
stress was lad on the fact that no
autopsy was held, and the admission
was ELECTED that IL more certain opln-
ion as to the immediate cause OF the
death could be given il the autopsy
had been held. However. the physi-
clans testified most positively that III
their oplnion the blows, and noting
else had contributed to his death
The medical witnesses also bellttleo
any nossible effect of the Treatment
eranch received after the fight anc
gave il as their opinion that no treat
ment could haze saved his lie. me
absence of an autopsy was eApldlileo
NV Surgeon Byrnes who stated Una
Branch's father refused his perlnlS-
sion. ,.;, tho
The witnesses calleu oui ms
morning session were: Surgeon e. T.
Stone. of the Naval Academy stan
Lieutenant Commander H. j. Ziegenler
and the steward of the hospital, John
+. Mahnakee. Iiegemier was caiieu
to prove that the articles Tor the gov
ernment of the navy, which contain
the prohibitions against fightlni'' "eTS
read to all nidshipmen dufi'S ..l'
summer cruise, during which me W.T.
ness commanded the Hartford, OF
which Meriwether was stationcd
Hospital Steward Mahnakee told OF
being summoned to Bancroft Hail
seeing Branch and recognizing ms
serious condition. This he reported
To DR.. Stone and was ordered to prlhS
Branch to the hospital. He had MN
carried i'm an electric carriage to the
hospital and delivered him to sur
geon Stone The transfer. he testl-
fed. was accomplished without any
thing to disturb Branch.
Drs Stone and Finney Testify.
DIR. Stone said in his testimony that
when Branch came under his care
at the hospital he was absolutely un-
conscious.
From the symptoms and what was
disclosed during the operation, DR..
Stone was confident that the condi-
ton had been brought about by exter-
nal injuries to the head such as might
have been caused by blows of the fist.
These blows could have been inflicted
on either side of the head.
On cross examination. Dr. Stone
said that a similar condition of the
brain to Branch's might be produced
by forms of poisoning. The exact
cause of the death. in his opinion. was
the obltteraton of the vital centers
caused by the compression of the
blood vessels on the brain strong
attempt was made to show that some
other cause than the blows of Meri-
wether's fist might have produced
this. He was also examined as tC
the possible effect of the hot bath to
which Branch was treated after the
fight.
DIR. Finney i'll answer to hypotlle-
tical question propounded by the
Judge advocate, said that under cir