The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-14
CHARGE OF HAVING
MIDsHIPMAN MERIwETHER WILL
 AGAIN BE TRIED.
Six Specifications AiIege That He rut PIebes Through The Whole Gamut--TriaI of Miller Not
 Finished.

Annapolis, Jan. 13.--Tho sensation of the present series of trials of alleged hazers appeared this morning when it became known that the next case to be brought before the court would be that of Midshipman Minor Meriwether. IT,, of La Fayette, La., the midship- man of the third class whose trial on charges connected with d fist fight with Mdshipman James R. Branch Jr.. after which the latter died, attracted much attention.
 Meriwether is now serving 4 con- fincment of a year in the naval acad- emy, to which he was sentenced in connection with the Branch matter. All the offenses charged against him arc alleged to Have occurred during September last. At this time the fourth class had just entered and most of the members of the three upper classes were on leave. Meriwether was among tho number who were compelled to re- main at Annapolis because of deficien- cy in his studies. It is during this period that the haz- ing is alleged to have taken place. No offense of any kind has been charged again Meriwether since the sad affair with young Branch. The charge against him is of hazing under the act of 1874 and there is no charge of "encourag- ing or countenancing hazing" under the act of 1903. There arc six specifications, which run the whole gamut of the haz- ing practices and each specification all leges the hazing of q diJerent midship- man of the fourth class. The trial of Midshipman Meriwether will immedi- ately follow that of the case on trial of Midshipman John r. Miller. Only one witness was called this af- ternoon by the prosecution, this be- ing Lieutenant Commander II. A. Vii ley of the department of discipline, and he was immediately recalled by the de- fense. The witness was recalled by the prosecution to establish the fact that it was not within the power of a midshipman officer to infiet punish ment on his own responsibility. For the defense the officer testified that he knew Midshipman Miller in an official way and considered that he was a young man of quick temper, but of high character and sterling worth Midshipman H. B. McCleary of the third class. testified that he was in the room when the four fourth classmen came in representing an automobile Miller had been indignant, he said, and reprimanded them for coming into the room in that manner. He then told the four to do the sixteenth and they did it about twelve times" the witness said.
 Midshipman Frank H. Roberts was called. He said that after the occur renee Miller had come into his room.
 He seeacd to be very angry with
 the plebes and us for sending them there" said Roberts. He said that was no way to treat their superior of- flcers."
 Commander T. c. Dewey Lieutenant Commander Charles B. McVay, IT,, and Lieutenant Allen Buchanan gave Miller a higher character. and said That they l believed he had the making of q good officer.
 Colonel Laucheimer earnestly re- quested a reconsideration of this and urged that the line of examination was | material The court refused to reverse its rulig and then adjourned until 10 | o'clock Monday morning.