Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-01-17
MERINETHER DISCOURAGED.
MADE PLUCKY FIGHT FOR HIS
RETENTION.
1ells That The Authorities Are Not
Kind In Raking Up Other
Charges Against
Him.
NOW ANXIOUS TO LEAVE THE
NAVAL SERVICE

After the plrokiest kind of a fight
TO lay the foundation of a creditable
career in the Navy, Midshipman
minor MeriwetheI, Jr., of LAFAYETTE.
La, who had the misfortune to infliet
natal injuries on a brother midshin.
man, James r. Branch, in a fist fight
about ten months ago, has given IN
In the face of the fact that he has
been called before a court-m martial
charged with offences occurring before
the great event which was a turning
point IN his career.
Mldshipman Meriwether submitted
ms resignation yesterday, as stated in
last nights Capital, but it will not be
accepted because he is under charges
OF hazing, and also because he has
served but month of the sentence of
confinement within the walls of the
Academy for one year, which lie re-
celved in addition to a reprimanu for
taking part in the fist fight with Mid
shipman BraLch.
The trial of Meriwether has been
going on for parts of two days. Sew
eral fourth classmen gave positive evil
dence that he had hazed them, the usual
forms prevalent at the Academy hay-
ing been used. There has been no
evidence of any brutality or of carry.
ing the exercises to an extreme de-
gree, but they are very much the same
sort of thing which led to the convie.
tlon of other midshipmen whose trial
have been misunderstanding on the
head, the ''sixteenth'' and the "rab-
bit dance. 1t was very evident from
the testimony that the plebes had en-
tered into the fun of the thing and it
was all jollification together.
Five of the offenses are alleged to
have taken place in September and one
in October. The fight was not until
November. Since his sentence began
Meriwether, formerly one of the low
est members of the class in scholastic
standing, has worked like Trojan
and has starred in two subjects,
Notwithstanding the time he lost. He
is now utterly discouraged and only
wishes to have the whole matter over
and to get out of the navy as soon as
he can. He feels that fate and the
authorities ale not overkind in raking
over what he wishes to make his past
life.
Immediately upon the conclusion of
the court martial of Midshipman
Minor Meri wether, .Tr., that tribunal
ests S 5sks g. u B efss st. OF rMaJhaRnap t Jasy
No, member of the third class.
The charge of hazing in his case is
supported by six specifications, each
alleging the hazipg of a separate
fourth classman during Septemher of
last year. In common with several
others Bloebaum was refused the regu-
lar months leave and compelled to
stay at the Naval Academy because of
deficiency in his scholastic work. The
authorities believe that he occupied
much of this time doing things to the
fourth 3lassmen.
The first specification is that he
hazed Levin III. Campbell, Jr., of
Hyattesville. Md, on September %
last, by compelling him to stand on
his head. The second is that on Sep.
tember % he compelled Oscar @.
Greene, of Opelika., Ala to do the
same. The third is that he compelled
William ID. Kilduff, of New York
city, to stand on his head, lido the
crew" and the sixteenth" and hang
from a clothes locker. The fourth
specification is that he ordered Joseph
M. Deem, of Memphis, Tenn, to
stand on his head aud perform the
"IeBBing rest and the sixteenth. T"
The fifth was that he directed John
E. Sloan, of Greenville, S. c., to stand
on his head
The last specification is that Bloc,
baum compelled Edgar N. Caldwell, of
Glasgow, KY, to lie on a box with his
head down and raise his feet These
specifications introduce one new stunt
the crew." It is simple and con.
sists of having the plebe lie on his
back and raise and lower his feet. The
last specification is probably intended
80, wnFnr 4n