The Washington times., 1906-01-04
Young Foster Enters
Plea of Not Guilty on
Each Count.
C0FFIN'S CASE CLOSED
Errors Corrected and Papers
Will Be Sent to Secre-
tary of Navy.

=
ANNAPOLIS. Nd. Jan. 4--After yes
terdays record OF Decaturs trial was
read and approved the court corrected
several clerical errors in the record Of
Midshipman Coffin. the first OF the mid
dies caught by Admiral Sands special
board OF inquiry.
Coffin was tried for hazing Midship-
man Kimbrough. Of the fourth class
KimbrOugh was sent 10 the hospital.
The verdict In Colfin's case is said TO be
guilty. The papers now 90 TO Secretary
Bonaparte.
The case of Midshipman Foster. first
class. was called by the judge advo-
cate. The formaHty Of swearing in the
court was again gone through. The ac-
cused asked that Z. n TheaU be ap-
pointed his counsel. ana this was done.
Before entering his plea Of not guilty
Mr. Theau moved 10 strike out the firsl.
second. and fourth specifications on the
ground that they were not drawn 5n
accordance with the regulations in that
they were too indefinite The court over
ruled the objection and the trial pro-
ceeded.
To TIE charge and each specification
Foster answered not guilty.
Roberts First Witness.
Midshipman Chester Sayre Roberts. Of
the fourth class the victim Of Fosters
hazing, was the first witness. Without
hesitation. he recognized the accused as
Midshipman Foster. OF the first class
Witness said he could not say definitely
that the accused had hazed him. IN
one occasion accused ordered him TO re-
4 T. -. raa
croft hall, and was told 10 go in the
locker.
Witness said he answered questions
and some one told him. by a. motion OF
the thumb. 70 stand on his head. and
he did II number Of times. witness
said he was ordered Ay some ere TO hang
on the locker, and he did 50. Foster
asked me, said witness, If i was very
much excited; he felt my pulse and let
me go. Witness said there were sev-
eral midshipmen IL The room at the
time.
Decatur Was There.
Decatur was one OF them. The stunts
performed by the witness were In re-
sponse 10 signals from some one
thumb. and in the opinion of the wit
ness. the thumb was that Of Nidship-
man Foster. Witness said he had been
ordered under the table several times
lie was ordered the FIRST time 10y Fos-
ter. He was confident il was Foster
because he knew his voice The second
tine he was ordered under the table
witness said he could not say who gave
him the order The manner OF the
witness was so reluctant in answering
the questions of the judge advocate than
Captain Rees, president of the court,
cautioned the witness several times that
he was under OATH and must tell the
uuth. and all the truth, and conceal
nothing
Probably Foster.
The witness finally said. in reply 10
question from the judge advocate, that
If he had been asked at the time he
was ordered under the table, he would
have answered Foster On cr0ss-ex-
animation by Mr.. Theau, AIidshipman
Roberts said he did not know who II
was that held out his hand and made
the motion with his thumb, nor could
he say who it was that told him to
get in the locker.
Witness said he could not say that IL
was Foster who ordered him under the
court, witness SAID that he did not
know that these things were done by
Foster. but he believed they We're done
by Foster.
First Class Privilege.
Midshipman w r Manner. second
class. knew Foster. He sat at the same
table with the accused. Witness knew
Roberts by sight. Roberts
was put under the table. Witness was
not positive. but thought Roberts was
there by order of Midshipman Foster.
Witness thought the table incident hap
pened just after the football season.
To put a fourth class man under the
table was q first class rate and the
privilege was not exercised by any
other upper class man without permis-
sion from the first class Witness said
if he had been speaking Of the table Ia
cident ut the time il happened he would
have said that Foster had ordered
Roberts under the table On crOss-exanl-
ination hy Mr. Hhean witness said there
about putting Roberts under the table.
but he could not say that a second class
man ordered Roberts under the table
Replying to ii question from the
president of the court, witness said that
Foster was IN charge OF the table at
which Roberts sat. and was responsible
Tor the order and discipline.
Aidshipman c. r. Hyatt, second class.
testified that he was acquainted with
NSipshipman Roberts Witness was, pres
ent when Roberts was put under the
table. 1t occurred about six weeks ago,
but he could not say who ordered Rob
for dessert on that day He understood
10 put a middle under the table was q
first class rate.
In answer TO a question from counsel
for the accused, witness said he did
not know who ordered Roberts under
the table He could not say that the
question had not been discussed. To the
president OF the court witness said Fos-
ter WAS in charge of the table.
Saw Him Under Table.