The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-12-02
FALL KILLGD BRANCH
Surgeons Who Conducted Autopsy
on Dead Midshipman Testify.
ALL ORGANS WERE NORMAL
pefense's Expert Medical Witnesses
Claim Branch's Death Was Caused
BY His Head Striking Some Hard
Substance.

Substance.
Annapolis. Nd, Nov. 29-The au-
topsy held last Sunday on the body OF
the late Midshipman James r. Branch,
Jr., bore fruit at the session of the
court martial which is trying Midship-
man Minor Meriwether on charges in
elusive of manslaughter in connection
with the death OF Midshipmah Branch
after q fist fight with Meriwether. The
days testimony was given chiefly by
medical meS who had been present
at the autopsy. and bore upon the
question whether the death of Mid
shipman Branch resulted from blows
of his opponents fists or from his head
striking the floor of the room in which
the fight was held. previous testimony
having shown that Branch fell or was
Knocked down several times during
the encounter
Medical Director Howard p. Ames
was not asked concerning the details
of the autopsy. The cause of Branch's
death. he said. was hemorrhage under
che covering of the brain. which, he
believed both from what he saw dur
ing the operation and at the autopsy.
had been caused by Branch's head
coming in sharp contact with some
hard substance, like a floor or a wall
"The injuries could not" Or. Ames
said. have come from blows Of the
fist encased in punchingbag gloves
unless Branch's head had been against
some unyiclding substance. The elias
ITCHY of the neck and of Meriwether's
arm and knucklcs would have made it
impossible.
DR. Ames. who has recently been
relieved as medical officer at the naval
academy. testified that all cases re-
ceived at the academy hospital were
recorded in a journal kept for the pur-
pose and were also reported To the
superintendent in the morning sick
report The journal. he said gave the
origin of the injuries. but the sick
report did not.
Surgeon f. u. Stokes. L. s y. who
IS assisting the prosecution. cross-ex-
amined Or Ames and the other medi-
cal witnesses offered by the defense.
particularly with regard 10 the evi-
dence that there was paralysis Of the
left side of Branchs body. whereas
they Indicated that the probable In
jury was on the same side. In answer,
witnesses said that Branch's case pre-
scented some very unusual features.
DR.. L. W Glazebrook OF Washing
ton. who is assisting the defense as
medical adviser. and who saw the au-
topsy, was the last expert witness for
the defense. He stated that he was
present at the autopsy upon the body
OF Midshipman Branch. Death, he
said had been brought about by
hemOrrhage of the brain covering
There were at least three blood clOts
on the right side of the skull where it
had been opened by the surgeon per
forming the operation. From what he
saw during the autopsy the witness
was satisfied that the fatal injuries
were due 10 Branchs having hit his
head against a hard. unyielding sub
stance. such as a floor or wall, and
could not have been due TO the blows
OF fists encasod in punching-bag
gloves. All three blood clots that he
saw could have been caused. the wit
ness thought. by one blow of the head
against the floor or wall The spinal
cord. heart. lungs and kidneys were
found in normal condition. without evil /
dence Of previous ill-health in these
organs.
The witness was asked If he knew
Of a case in which a fist blow had |
been the direct cause Of a fracture Of |
the skull He answered that he did, !
but that the recipient Of the blow had |
a skull a fourth thinner than the nor
NAL Branch's skull, he said was OF
average thickness and strength.