Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-17
On TRIAL FOR HAzING
Hearing of Midshipman Meri-
Wether is Resumed
AT ANNAPOLIS TODAY
Defense Anxious to Relieve Accused
of 0pprobrium.
TACTICS DEVELOPED IN QUERIES
Midshipmen Marzoni, Foster and Cof-
fin Publicly Dismissed From Acad-
emy at Drill This Morning.

ANNAPOLIS. Md, January 1.-THE trial
of Midshipman Minor Merwether, jr.. on
the charge of hazing was resumed this
morning An unusually long time was oc-
cupied in the verifcation OF the large record
of yesterdays proceedings
Midshipman Minor Meriwether continued
his defense on the charge of hazing. A
number of members of the fourth class tes-
titled that Meriwether had treated them
with consideration and that he acted to-
ward them In a friendly and good-natured
manner.
1t was made clear by the line adopted by
the defense that Meriwether is anxious to
relieve his name from the opprobrlum of
cruelty.
Winters the First Witness.
Midshpman Theodore H. Winters, the
first witness, said that he remembered an
occasion where Meriwether had sung songs
with the plebes and enjoyed fun with them
on equal terms. He also said that Meri-
wether had protected him from a first class
man by telling him to hide when the upper
classman was coming.
Midshipman c. E. Fanhook was the next
witness. He Is a fourth classman, and said
that Meriwether had treated him with great
consideration and had saved him from haz-
ing, and also from a fight with first class
man.
Always Had Fears of Fight
On cross-examinat,on Judge Advocate
Harrison brought out very skillfully that
fourth classnen always had the fear of a
fight hanging over them if they refused to
take any kind of hazing.
Fourth Classman J. A Murphy also said
that Meriwether was a kind hazer. and
added that he enjoyed being hazed in
measure.
Murphy said that on one occasion Meri-
wether had let him become the hazer and
that he had made Meriwether wipe smile
on, put 1t In the corner and swallow It,
He also said that he did not feel humili-
ated Ii an upper classman put him on his
head, but would feel so If a policeman had
done so. The custom made the difference
he said.
Midshipman Ridgely Hunt of the fourth
class, also said that he had "butted i'm
in hazing and that Meriwether had pro-
tected him from hazing. The occasion
was, he said, that a magazine had con-
tained reference to him and a first-class
man had made him read it backwards.
He was in another room he said and
Merfwether had given him the notice SO
he could read it off.
Protected From Hazing.
Floyd Sexton of the fourth class testt-
fed that Meriwether had protected him
Meriwethef had stood on his head about
fifty times to show how it should be done
Sexton said that only one member of
the fourth class had refused to take haz-
ing, and he had been practically put in
coventry by the members of his own
class. Although no name was mentioned
this was understood to refer to Jerdone
T. Kimbrough. Sexton thought this ac-
ton was just because the midshipman
had refused TO take what the other mem
bers of the class had taken. He said he
thought that the sentiment of the class
was that it was manlier thing to take
hazing than to refuse to take it. The
members of the court showed very clear
ly that they held this in contempt and
brought out the fact that the midship-
man who had been put in coventry had
been given no opportunity of giving his
side of it.
On a further examination it was shown
that the fourth-class men had acted on
mere surmise in the matter and had made
no investigation.
Andrew c. Dearing, fourth class man.
said he enjoyed the running which he re-
ceived
At II As the court adjourned until 10
o clock tomorrow morning.