Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-03
DECATUR MAKES
GENERAL DENIAL
SAYS MlDSHIPMEN'S CHARGES
ARE FALSE
Declares He Has Never Hazed Either
McCreary or chureh-Defendant
Is High stand Man in
His Class
Nv Associated Press.


ANNAPOLIS, Md, Jan. 2.--The court
martial proceedings against Midship-
man Stephen Decatur, jr, of Ports
mouth, N. H., charged with the ha1ing
Of Midshipman Isaac N. McCreary OF
Texas and Gaylord Church of Pennsyl-
vania, both fourth class men, were
continued this morning.
The testimony of Midshipman Deca-
tur in his own defense reveals the fact
that midshipmen in the United States
navy are in direct conflict in state
ments they have made under oath.
Decatur denied specifically and posi-
lively ali the statements made by Nc
Creary and Church which connected
him with their haZing. He said on
the stand that he had never hazed
either of the men and did rot even
know McCreary before he saw him in
the courtmartial room.
McCreary had testified positively
during the first days session that
Decatur had ordered him to stand on
his head and TO do mo. 49," and
Church also said that Decatur had
given him a similar order. The cross
examination brought from Decatur the
admission that he had ordered Church
to report to his room and that some
one there had compelled the under
class man to perform mo. 16.'
AS Decatur was the ranking cadet
officer present the prosecution will
contend that this fact is sufficient to
fix the offense of hazing on him. The
defense contends that under the charge,
as well as the act of 1874, the mere
countenancing of or allowing hazing
Is insufficient and that active partici-
patton must be proved.
n., ait1af fif,A fN6n
was asked if he had ever seen the
Hungarian band" He said that he
had and that 1t was an organization
of fourth class men who sang and
played the banjo for upper class men.
He admitted that they had performed
in his room twice. The Judge advocate
IS understood to have information that
McCreary belonged to this organiza-
ton, but Decatur said that the only
member of it he remembered was Ben
nett.
The most interesting testimony, next
10 that of Decatur, was given by Mid
shipman Il. b. Marzoni of Florida, who
is also under charges for hazing and
will be tried shortly. Marzoni was the
first witness other than the fourth class
man to state that any fourth class men
were in the room with Decatur, and in
that particular his testimony corrob-
grated that of Midshipman Church. He
said that while he was in Decaturs
room, Church had come in and had
been told to do mo. 16" in the closet
and afterward had been told to stop.
He could not remember who had given
the order, but was positive it was not
Decatur. His evidence was in strong
contradiction of other evidence pro-
duced by the defense, as he said that
person could easily have been in the
clio vet undergoing hazing and not be
seen, while all the others said that if
person had been hazed In the closet
while they We're in the room they
would certainly have seen him.
IT is understood the Hungarian
band,' reference to which was made
by Judge Advocate Harrison. is one of
the creations of the hazing system
which the court Of inquiry has dis
covered and that quite a number of
the upper class men may be COM
PEELED to face charges based on the
bands compulsory concerts.
The defense in Decatur's case closed
today and several witnesses in re-
buttal will be brought by the prosecu-
ton. 1t is probable that the case will
he finished tomorrow and given to the
court.
Decatur's case is attracting great at
tention and a desperate effort is being
made to save him. He is a great grand
son of the famous naval hero of the
same name ana STANDS SlXtn III STUDIES
In the class which graduates next
month. He has some very powerful
friends who are willing to help in every
way. Admiral Dewey is relative, but
little help can be expected from this
source il Decatur is convicted.
Mdshipmen Cox, G, S. sT-eeler, r. "
Towe. Percival D. Made, Carroll S.
Graves, o. X. Davis and Harold Jones
also testified, but brought out nothing
new of Importance If ia stated that
Graves will also be tried for hazing.