The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-23
.MERIWETH|ER' S DEFENCE
WILL Be UNWR|TTEN. CODE
tContlnucd from First PageO

Is also furnished with bound copy, they
are read to them In a body at stated
Intervals and they receive regular in
struction in them Captain Covocoresses
said that he would under no c.rcum
stances pass over lighting ana would
punish severely every case brought to his
attention.
Dr.. Robert E. Hoyt, who Is the head
or the physical department OF tho Acad-
envy. gave soine very Interesting evidence
from the records of his department. bear
and strength OF the two participants in
the fight Meriwcter at the time Of the
fight was 10 years and ten months old,
seven months older than Branch. though
the latter was a class ahead OF him.
Meriwether weighed $50 pounds and
Branch l43 and the. former was FIVE feet
ten in&chcs in height to the latter's five
feet six and three. Fights inches. a re-
eight inches taller than Branch when
they were in a sitting posture. This in
dicatcs his remarkable length Of body
and comparatively short legs. although
had greater chest and bicep measure
and his total strength tests reached S34
kilometers and Meriwethcr only 693.
and general gymnasium. athlete. while
Meriw ether is a gprinter and has had
large experience as a fight fighter.
The "Unwritten Code.
The SAD tincident OF the death of youni,
Branch under such circumstances has
been widely noticed. and has called at
tcnton to the existence at the Naval
!. cadenly of an unwritten code governing
the student body, hut while outside the
authoritative regulations and generally
+. in violation Of them. Under the code
every detail OF these fights is fixed, the
mldshipmnn on duty abstainng from re-
porting them. and cxcusingt from fornta
ton those connected with them. These
( fact. We're very clearly brought out, both.
by the judge-advocate and in the cross
examination by Leutenant-C Commander
Robinson, for the defense. The Witnesses
to-day Included Branch.s Sroon-mate the
referee and timekceper OF the contest, and
all the four seconds were examined in a..
greater or less degree about all the cir
cumstances OF the fight. the connection
Of the code" and their Ideas OF their
duty under the regulations. Midshipman
a. w. Fitch, who refereed the fight,
which was followed by Branch's Death.
stated that he had OBLIGATED ia nineteen
such contests and Mddshipmnn McIIi1-
trick testified that he had taken part in
nine.
Detailed accounts We're given OF the
arrangements by which midshipmen on
duty acquiesced In absences without leave
and other derellctions, in order that the
fights might 60 on, and the testimony
also showed that although frequently
severe injuries resulted from these fights
and the recipients often had to be taken
TO the hospital, nothing further was ever
heard OF them. This the defense brought
out on cross-examlnation. It being evil
IDENTIFY intended to show that the authori-
ties also winked at the code and the pre-
arranged fights under 1t.
Real Cause of Enmity
An Interesting sldclight to hazing, or
running" as 1t is called at the acad-
envy, developed from the testimony OF
one Of the midshipmen. Meriwether had
been generally disked. he said, because
he was too ..ratty," that Is. 1t was ex-
planned, that he did not abide by the
rules laid down for the government Of tho
lower classmep. Some Of these were that
Z he should never enter Lovers Lane
an academy walk; that he should turn
all corners at right angles; should not
look at an upper classman and should
answer most respectfully when addressed
by one of them; that he must never
touch the table nor ask for anything
during q meal, and under no circun-
stances fuss" that is, to be In the So
ciety OF young women. These rules and
many Others are contained in that part