Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-04
ON TRIAL FOR HAz|NG
Midshipman Foster Brought Be-
fore Court Today.
HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY
The Charge is Supported by Four
Specifications.
COMMITTED DIFFERENT DATES
Forced Victim to Stand on His Head,
Hang From Clothes Locker and
Eat Under Table.
COMMITTED DIFFERENT DATES

hAN-N<AI OL4ot AldJ Jduudly 81 lie
court-mart!al which has been in session
here for several days hearing charges
against Naval Academy students charged
with hazing reassembled this morning.
Mdshipman Decatur was brought before
the court Immediately after It met, and the
record of yesterday was read and approved
IN his presence.
Midshipman Trenmor Coffin jr whose
trial on the charge Of hazing Jerdone H.
Kimbrough has been completed was then
brought before the court and a minor
change in the record Of his trial was made
in his presence.
Midshpman Worth w. Foster of New
Albany. Ind, was then brought before the
court to be tried on the charge of hazins
Fourth Classman Chester s. Roberts of
joliet, Ill The charge Is supported by four
specifications, alleged to be committed on
different dates ranging from the middle of
October to the middle of December. The
first charges that Roberts was compelled
to stand on his head; the second that he
compelled him to hang from the clothes
locker, and the other time, that he made him
get UNDER TIE table during the progress of
charge and all the specifications.
Opening Of the Case.
At the opening or the case Mr. +. :.
Theall moved that the first, second and
fourth specifications be stricken out on the
S4oulli VI AllOSllElle 1lleSdllOnS Oh the time
and place of the alleged hazing The times
alleged, he said, covered tifty-seven days
and the place alleged was any of the 800
rooms in Bancroft Hall. The court refused
the motion, holding the specifications were
technically correct.
The witness said he was told twice to get
under the table, and one of these occa-
slons he thought Mr.. Foster had told him
~ get under the table, and had been handed
his dessert by Midshipmen Rice and
buchanon. He explained that by the un-
written law of the academy only a first
classman could order a midshipman under
the table; and the judge advocate finally
secured the admission that Foster was the
only first classman at the table.
Court Not Satisfied.
The members OF the court were evidently
not satisfied with the manner in which
the witness answered, and nearly all the
members asked some questions, bringing
out some incidents which showed Fosters
connection with the hazing.
Midshipman VIII R. MANNER of the sec
ond class was the next witness. Counsel
asked that the witness be cautioned that
he need not give testimony which would
-ncrtminate himself, He was then asked
If he had seen Roberts sent under the table
at any time and in reply asked II in an
swerfng this question in the affirmative he
would be discriminating himself by admit
ting being present when hazing was going
on and not reporting 1t. The court ruled
that his mere presence would not incrmi-
nate the witness. He then said that Mr..
hoperts had been put under the table by
MIR. Foster. he thought.
First Witness Reluctant to Testify.
Midshipman Chester s. Roberts was the
first witness. He identified the accused by
name. He appeared most reluctant to tes-
thy against the accused and parred the
questions of the judge advocate until Cant.
ReeS the DreSilpnf nS
him that he was under oath to tell the
whole truth in the matter.
He then said that about two weeks after
the school had opened Foster had ordered
him to report to Fosters room and he had
done so. Foster had ordered him to go in
the small room and that some one had then
held his thumb in four positions these indi-
eating, he said, that he was in succession
TO tell his name where he was from, who
he succeeded in the academy, and to get on
his head. He was then compelled TO do
Number 1S' and then to hang on the
locker. both of which he did He then was
asked If he could do any better at the
table
Ordered to Hang on Locker.
The witnessed answered that he had done
his best before and was then ordered to
hang on the locker again. Roberts said
that Foster then sent him for Midshipman
Clevenger. Foster and Decatur were in the
room, he said, and he believed that Foster
had made the motions with his thumb.
In response 10 a question or the court,
MANNER said that Foster was responsible
for the conduct at the table. and that Il was
not likely that a midshipman would be
placed under the table and the midshipman
in charge not know it.
MidshIpman c. r. Hyatt OF the second
class said that he knew both Foster and
Roberts. He had seen Roberts go under
the table, he said, almost two months or
six weeks ago. He understood It to be a
"first-class rate to order a fourth class
man under the table, meaning that only a
first ciassman could order 1t to be done.
Roberts Ordered Under the Table.
Second Classman William L. Beck said
that he had seen Roberts ordered under
the table. He did not know when 1t was,
but the dessert that day was dates He
did not remember who ordered Roberts
under, but that IL was "frst-class rate
TO do such thing. In answer to a ques-
ton by a member of the court, the witness
said that to the best of his knowledge and
belief Foster had sent Roberts under the
table.
Midshipman Paul II. Rice, n fourth class
man, said that he had passed dates to Rob
erts when the latter was under the table
but he did not remember who had told
Roberts TO get under or who had told him
to pass the desserts. Rice was a very re-
luctant witness.