The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-12
Young NcrriWethcr to
 Tried.
KILLED JAMES R BRxI
Result Of Deplorable AlS
 at Annapolis.
seereta<y Benspavts wAfle or1e1G cenvenins sf Cssrt AsAs sss susre.sisa sf su1gnsst
 AGainst Mi1sAipnan.

Washington NOV. ll.-s4ecrqtAfy Bonaparte today ordered | courtm4rtt4k for the trial of Midshipmsn Minof Meri-' wether. Jr.. of the third ciass &t the! Annapolis naval academy in conn nectjol3 with the death of Midshipman Branch. which followed fistic encounter be- tween the two naval students Secretary Bonapartc issued the fol- lowing statement In connection with the case:
 James R. Branch. IT.. nafdshipmau. second class, at the Unieed states Naval Academy died November last. A1 board of inquest having been duly convened by order of Rear Admirnt James H. Sands. U. S. N. superfnteu- dent of the Naval Academy and senior officer present, reported under date of November as follows:
 The board from view of a body and from the evidence before it is of the opinion that Mfdshipman James H. Branch. Jr.. died from the effects Of h. juries received in a fist fight with Mid shipman Minor Mercwethcr. Jr- Ihi4 was not accustomed by any act of duty ] In which he was engaged.
 This report was approved by the con- vening officer. Prior to the death of Afidshipman Branch. board of iuvesf1- gation had investigated and reported l the circumstances preceding and at- tending the conflict referred to in the l finding of the board of inquest Brleny. | stated. these circumstances were re- ported by <the board of investigation to
 be as followss
 "s,ome personal hostility had existed
 for some time between Midshapmen Branch and Meriwether Midshfpnaan Branch. in the discharge of hts duty. Inspected the quarters of Midshipman I Meriwether and is alleged to have dis-' covered there suit of civilian cloth 1 ink. Possession of clothing Of thfs
 character by midshipHen is q serious
 ofrsnse under NJ shs s.s .feFu.ssaens U nass a ~e2 M l rort of this alleged dfsc6yerx howfXsf. l aprears to have beeu m&de by Midsn1r* ! man Branch Alidshipr1an MeriWutnfT subseduently visited the quarters oz Miashiptnan Branch ana hecame fn
 yagea 10 ~ angTy aItsrss tioG wstn fns s. { of Midshipnsass Msriwethnfss dnarters. t,raneh Was Inar1fe6. In the course of this dispute Nlqe slIpnlan Mefiwether is alleged 70 nave lnsuitad Midshipman pranrn, % tyins ko him the epithets sneak and coward After consultation with other midNhip- men. Midshipnian Branch challenged Midshipnan Meriwether to 2 hst nBnx and the latter accepted the ehallenEe
 The frht took place on tho evening or Sunday, November g.. ft lasted between an hour and an hour and quarter, and was finally declared 70 pe orew by the referee having been interrupt- cd by reason of the reported apprcaen of one of the officers.
 "At inc conclusion of the encounter Midshipman Meriwether apeared to bs the moro seriously injured 9k the TWO combatants and went to the hospital, while Midshipman Branch, whose m iurfes seemed at first quite superficial. went to his quarters. But q report made to the superintendent or the United States Naval Academy by the senior medical officer and also the eyi- dence taken by the board of inquest indicated that Midshipman Branch rf- ceived severe injuries to tne ela's sss es indicted during the conflict or Of falls of which several are said to hAve oc- cured while 1t was in progress 1t is clear that these reports impute to Midshipman Minor Meriwethers TT. offenses of such gravity that nis friai by eourt-martiaI is indispensipiS un- der the United States Revised statutcs- Penalfies are Fixed. The crime of manslaughfer fs pun ,ahabIe under Article 2z of the articles for the government of the navy, ana its maximum punishment has been duly fixed by the President. Moreover uu- der the same article, "Assauiting and striking another person in the navy, Is defined as "d.sorderly conduct* tag- gravated easel. and its penalty is Ike wise fixed by the President
 Tn view of the foregoing facts. court-martial is hereby ordered for the trial of Bfidshipman Minor Meriwethef, Jr.. on such charges as may be prefer red against him and all papers in the case are referred to the Judge Adve- cate General.
 The Department feels that it has a' duty to discharge against Midshipmnn Meriwether fn connection with this de- plorabIe affair by reminding the public that he has no opportunity to give his version of the affair and that tn view of the very serious situation in which he is placed he will not have such cp- portunity until he makes his defenSe before the court-martiai hereby or dered The Department therefore aslza as an act of justice suspension 'of jud Snent respecting his conduct until he has been heard in his own defense.