The Washington times., 1906-01-07
"PlebeS' Bring Him
Breakfast According
to Orders.
NOT HARSH INTREATMENT
Accused Admits Having Had
Morning Meal Brought
10 Him.


of Midshipman z. B. Marzoni. first class.
charged with haZing AIidshipmen Rob
erts. Tye, and Bryant. of the fourth
class. it was shown that the accused
had a decided weakness for having his
breakfast brought 10 him while In bed.
1t was not denied by the Witnesses that
this practice was against the regula
tiQns of the Academy. but il was such
"a small matter that no compuncTlon was
felt in breaking the rule In fact. II
was stated that il was really a common
occurrence for upper clasSmen 10 have
their breakfast served them in bed by
the ''plebes," ana frequently the upper
classmen did the trick fSr their room
mates as some of the witnesses for the
defense testified.
MaTZ0ni on the Stand
Marzoni, when he took the stand and
was examined by his counsel. G. H
Mann. admitted that he had in a friend
Is way. requested Aidshipman Tye and
Bryant to bring him his breakfast when
he did not show up at the table He
denied positively that he had caused
Roberts TO do the ''l6'' or that he had
stood Bryant on his head or made hlm
do the '1G-' There was no hesitancy on
the part of the accused iH making this
deRial He took occasion TO say that he
never stood any fourth class man on his
head because thu accused did not APP
prove OF il
The defense before the conclusion OF
the day, esta ablished good reputation
and character for the accused
Midshipman Roberts foE the prose
eution was not willing to say that it
was Marzoni who ories.1 Slim f1t0 the
closet TO do the '1G." but It was the
accused who told witness to come ont
Witness said fourth elassman by the
name of Benson was ia tie closet at the
same time. Witness said an upper GLASS
man sent him TO Marz0ni. who was ia
room 9S. 10 deliver the following mes
sage:
If she had been dog. do you think
she would have taken it?"
Il was after delivering this message
that he was ordered into the closet Re-
plying TO counsel for the accused. wit
ness said that he did not know Marzoni
at that time, nor could witness give the
date Of the occurrence.
Answering question from the Judge
advocate. Roberts said:
Il did the 16' for fear that something
worse might happen TO me If I did not
do IL"
Experienced 90" Also.
AIidshipman II. II, J. Benson. of the
fourth class. had the 'l6'' done TO him
at the same time with Roberts but he
could not tell who ordered him To do II.
He was not positive that the accused
was in the room. but he might have
been there.
The court was informed by Lieut. Com
mander b. C. Decker. one Of the dis
cipline ofhcers of the academy, that the
upper classmen had no authority to or
Ger any nidshipman on his head or do
physical exercises.
The testimony Of Nidshipman b W.
Tye, who is mentioned in specifications
? and 3 as having brought Marzonis
breakfast to him On or about December
s and s. was TO the effect that he had
been asked in a friendly way by the ac-
cused TO bring breakfast to his room,
and witness had done so about that
time He had no objection TO doing the
favor. but still he would not have done
so had he not been requested.
on ross-examination witness said he
and Marzoni were from the South and
were on friendly terms. An upper class
man, he said, could ask ''plebe" to do
many things which the plebe did not
consider hazing or running. Witness an
swered question by saying he knew II
was against the regulations TO take food
from the mess hall.
Feared the Consequences.
Midshipman Albert C. Bryant. of the
fourth class. a witness for the prosecu-
ton, said Marzoni had requested him
to bring his (Marzonfs) breakfast to
him. Witness did not consider it an or
der, but if he had not brought the break
fast unpleasant consequences might have
followed. He took TO the accused a
glass of milk on December 4. Witness
said Marzoni had stood him on his head
once for failure to properly write a ''ba-
zoo" He did not expla.e what this was.
1t was the latter part of November that
witness was stood on his head He could
not recall that ii was Marz0ni who or
dered him to do the sixteen" Answer
ing a question from counsel for tie ac-
cused. witness said he felt friendly to
Marzoni, Cor on one occasion the ac-
cused interfered when an upper class
man was hazing witness. Tie prosecu-
ton here closed. and the defense opened
Oy Placing MdfLDtll on the Si&nu.
rhe accused proved a good witness. In
the beginning of his testimony Marzoni
denied that he had ordered Roberts to
70 do the sixteen" or that ne had stood
Bryant on his head and had ordered him
to do the sixteen" as set forth in the
specifications. he had requested Bry-
ant and Tye to bring breakfast to him
Cross-examiaation by the Judge advo-
cate accused said he first saw Roberts
on Sunday last Bryant, he said. was
Continued on Second Page.)