New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-12
REPORT OF CONVICTIONS
DECATUR ON THE STAND.
TSoo MidsEipmen Thought to Haze
Been Found Guilty of Ha2ing.

Annapolis, Nd. Jan. 11.-There is good reason
for the belief that Midshipman Worth W. Fos-
: ter. of New-Albany, Ind, and Petersen B. Mar
zoni. of Pensacola. Fla, have been found guilty
of hazing. The record in each of these cases
forwarded by the court more than twenty
four hours ago. and it is officially said that they
are awaiting the action of the Secretary of the
Navy. 1t is thought to be equivalent TO saying
that verdict of guilty was rendered. If this
had not beer the case it is thought the men
would have been released from arrest within an
hour or two OF the receipt of the records by Ad-
niraI Sands.
The last stages except the argument. were
completed this afternoon in the case Of Mid
ship1nan Decatur. The accused midshipman oc-
cup{ed the stand for about three-quarters OF an
hour and his testimony is regarded as having
strengthened his case.
Decatur was examined as to the facts in re-
gard to all the specifications alleged against
him. AS TO the first specification. alleging that
on or about November IS he sent Chester s.
Roberts 10 a room in which were upper class
men with the message IF she had been a dog
do You think she would have done it In this
wav?" Decatur said 81 did not send such
message"
His counsel then asked him about the circum-
stances connected with the bringing OF break
fast TO him by Charles c. ". Matlley, OF me
fourth class Decatur said that he had met
daiIIey early in the academy year and hked
him. One morning Decatur had missed break
fast and had asked NIailley casually why ne had
not brought him any breakfast He had spoken
in the same way to Graves. his own roommate
and TO Midshipnan Hall. OF the second class.
After that Iainey brought him breakfast
number os times but did not do so always when
Decatur had missed the morning meal On the
occasions when 1iailley did not bring him
breakfast Decatur said that nothing was said
or done to him. He continued:
never gave any order for him to DO it. and did
not UNDERSTAND II in that way 1 al ay az for failure
and supposed that he brought the food because ne
did intend by sQggeson an va am, as
SUMPTION or 5uIoray bi,, 81 eli Ireeerded II ex
actly in the light that did my own classmates
tnost any other member of his class and gave him
many privileges as MEMBER OF my ciass coS t
when I passed, and looked on him as a persona S
friend. [ have never hazed him in any form what
ever
Decatur was the next examined to the
facts alleged in the last specification. which
was the only one under the act Of 1904. and in
which encouraging or countenancing hazing"
IS made a dismissal offence Inasmuch as De
catur had already been examined this Incl
dent in his former trial and had made adnis-
Eions which caused the academy authorities to
believe that his conviction on this specification
was probable, he started with a handicap. De
catur said:
told Church Il report TO my room because he
had laughed in ranks and l wished 10 reprtmand
him. When ne came was standing in the other
part Of the talking to q number of mdshp-
men, and did not take any particular notice OF
him. 1 do not remember that said anything to
him at all. but remember that some one said
something him about getting in the closet.
Church went into the closet. hut don't know what
he did in there. He stayed there about three min
1tes.
Nidsbipman Warren A. Vanderver. Of Mount
Holly \. J.. who has been under suspicion of
having protected the midshipmen who were
hazing Jeldon 2. Kimbrough, has been released
from arrest and restored 70 duty. Vanderver's
dismissal had been ordered by Superintendent
Sands, bur the Attorney General decided that
the superintendent of the Naval Academy did
not have the power of summary dismissal. There
IS an apparent change Of attitude toward Van
derver. He has insisted all along that he did
not protect the hazers Of nbrough