Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-25
Witnesses In Merriweather
Court Martial Admit Dis
putes Settled That Way
TO gxHuME BRANcH's BODY
The Navy Department Gives Orders to
Have the Body Disinterred and Au.
topsy Held to Ascertain, If Possible
the Cause Of Death-TriaI Grows
More Interesting.

Washington, Nov. 25.-The navy de-
partment has ordered that an autopsy
be held over the body Of Midshipman
Branch, for whose death Midshipman
Merriweather Is now undergoing court
martial at Annapolis.
The court, in the case of Merri-
weather, requested the department to
direct that the autopsy be made sin
the interest of justice" Instructions to
this effect have been telegraphed to
Rear Admiral Sands, superintendent
Of the naval academy within whose
jurisdiction the court Is sitting. 1t
is the departments wish that the
autopsy be as thorough and at the
same time as quickly made as possible
Annapolis, Nd, Nov. 25.-Court
martial proceedings In the case of
Midshipnan Minor Merriweather,
charged with manslaughter in caus-
ing the death Of Midshipman Branch.
In fist fight, were resumed this
morning. Judge Advocate Mark has
telegraphed to the secretary Of the
navy, requesting permission to disin-
ter the body OF Branch and have an
autopsy performed In order to settle,
as far as possible, the doubts raised
during the trial as to the physical
condition Of Branch prior to his fight.
and possibility of death from causes
other than the blows received on the
head.
The Judge advocate announced that
Surgeon Charles II. Stokes had been
detailed by the navy department to
assist the prosecution. This action was
on account Of the Importance OF med
ical questions involved. Midshdpmen
Corstein Of the first class for the de-
fense, testified that at the end Of the
last term, while on duty, he had re-
ported Merriweather for breach Of
the regulations. Branch had manifest
ed great interest in seeing that the re-
port was made He had asked the wit
ness to be sure and forward the re-
port, and the sheet, having been stolen,
reminded him Of the report against
Merriweather. He seemed to have a
deep seated grudge against Merri-
weather. Corstein testified that the
attitude of midshipmen towards fight
ing was regarded as the only means
Of settling certain disputes. Leuten-
ant Commander H. j. Ziegemier testi-
fled that as executive officer of the
Hartford, he had received a report
from Midshipman Branch against Mer
riweather "for general disorder, insup-
ordination and not turning in prompt
ly on being ordered by Branch" who
was on duty. Witness found the charge
of not turning In promptly was the
only one sustained. He considered that
there was personal feeling between the
two.
Midshipman William T. Page, a
classmate of Merriweather, testified
to the report which Branch had made
against Merriweather, on the Hart
ford. He said the store boat had come
alongside the Hartford and that Mer-
riweather, the witness and others went
out of port and took some fruit. Some
minutes afterwards, Branch came
down and charged Merriweather with
having told him to "Go to hell" Mer-
riweather was the only one reported
by Branch. Midshipman William H.
Pashley testified that he had personal
knowledge both of the reports made
against Merriweather by Branch on
shipboard the Hartford and later in
Bancroft hall. He said that he himself
would have fought under the circum-
stances and that Merriweather would
have been "outcast in his class If he
had not fought and worse than out
cast" If he had refused Branchs
challenge. Fights, he said, had been
going on for some time, and ne had
never known any one to be reported
or punished for 1t. Merriweather had
at least one other fight during the last
t,n