New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-07
DECATUR ACQUITTED.
HIS REARREST FOLLOWS.
Coffin Dismissed, 'Tis Said-Upper
Class Hen "Hazing" One Another.

Annapolis Nd Jan. 6.-The developments to-
day at the Naval Academy were important.
Stephen Decatur, jr., the first OF the members
of the first class to be put on trial, was de-
clared acquitted and restored to duty, but was
rearrested shortly afterward and will be tried
under other charges of hazing. under the act of
1874. and of encouraging or countenancing haz-
ing, under the act of 1903. 1t is authoritatively
stated that he will fight these charges. An
nouncement made unoff1cially that Midship-
Trenmon Coffin. jr, of the third class, from
Carson City, New has been convicted Of hazng
and dismissed.
At the trial of Midshipman Marzoni 1t de-
veIoped that tagging system exists at the acad-
envy under class men being expected to bring
food from the breakfast table to upper class men
when they miss the formation
It was also made clear that since the hazng
investigation began upper class men have been
subjecting another to the practices generally
visited on fourth class men, so as to be able to
testify that certain things were not done to I'M
der class men only. and consequently do not
constitute hazing. An intimaton of this had
been gained by previous testimony. but it re-
manned for Midshipman Robert W. Cabaniss
a first class man from Birmingham. Ala. finally
to let the cat out of the bag. when he stated
that since the sessions of the court Of inquiry
began the first class midshipmen and others at
his table had been required to report dessert
This was only required Of fourth class men UP to
a few weeks ago.
At the trial this morning Marzoni pleaded
not guilty to the charge and all of the specifca-
lions which support It. Ofthese the first alleges
the hazing of Midshipman Chester S. Roberts
of Joliet, Ill, and the second and third the
hazng of Benjamin w. Tye, Of Atlanta The
men are of the fourth class and the hasins
ed hem
his meals to his room and to perform various
forms of physical exercises.
The prosecutions first witness was Chester S.
Roberts, on whose alleged hazing the first specl-
fcation is based He said
At supper formation about month ago some
one came up behind mel believe 1t was Mr.
Decatur-and told me to go to Marzont's room
I did not know Marzoni, but went to the room,
and somebody told me to go to the closet l
went to the closet and did the sixteenth LOT a
few minutes. did not see the person VINO told
me to go in the closet or who told ms TO 40 tns
sixteenth. I did see Mr. Marzont when ne told
me to come out The room was No. SO in
Bancroft Hall.
Roberts said that he did not see Marzoni IN
the room when he went in but did when he went
out
Midshipman Howard H ]. Benson fourth
class man. said that his health had improved
since he had been in the academy. The counsel
for the defence evidently wanted to show that
the "plebes' were benefited by their course at
the hands Of the upper class men.
Midshipman Albert C. Bryant was cross ex-
amined by Marzoni's counsel to show that the
bringing of food from the breakfast table was a
courtesy and not q humiliation Bryant said
Southern midshipmen usually performed cour-
tesies for one another, and declared that he was
not harassed or annoyed in any way by bring
ing the food. He said he understood 1t to be a
request rather than an order.
At the opening of the afternoon session MIG
shfpman Marzoni was called to the stand by his
counsel He absolutely denied that he had haSed
Roberts or ever knew him. He said that I've
had brought him food by request. He had
thanked him for 50 doing, and Tye did not ap-
pear TO make any objection to this.
MarZoni then absolutely denied that he had
compelled Bryant to stand on his head, as al
legged in the specification. He said that ne had
never stood fourth class man on his mead ana
did not believe 1t proper thing to do
When asked for an explanation OF Bryant
testimony Marzoni said he could not explain It.
except TO say that Bryant was mistaken The
accused mfdshipman was then asked in regard
to the bringing of breakfast to his room by Tye
and Bryant He said that both boys were from
the same section of the country as himself, and
that it was the custom among Southern mid
shipmen to be on q friendlier footing than
others He had requested the youths--not or
| dered thenl-to bring his breakfast when he
was not down, and they had done so;
The defence commended strongly that the I'M
der class men did these things as courtesy 10
Marzoni and as act of friendship and not
under compulsion.
George w Simpson, a second class man, said
that he had often brought rolls and milk to
Marzonj and had done 1t a matter of COM
puIsion Edward S. Moses. a first class man, had
done the same thing He said, too, that with a
few DAYS practice he had stood on his head $50
times successfully and had felt no bad effects.
EXPECT DISMISSAL FOR COFFIN.