The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-03
HUNGARIAN BAND
PLAYED FOR HIM
Admits Having Listened to the
Music Of the Band But In
sists Doesn't Even Know
One Of His Hazing
Accusers BY
Sight.
(Ry Associated Prose- J


ANNAPOLIS. MD. January 2.--Thc tes-
timony of Midshipman Stephen Decatur,
in his own defense to-day before the
court-martial. revealed the fact that mid
shipmen in the United States navy are in
direct conflict In statements they have
made under oath. Decatur denied specl-
ticaily and positively all the statements
made by McCrary and Church, which
connected him with their hazing. He
said on the stand that he had never
hazed either Of the men, and did not
even know McCrary before he saw him
In the court-martial room.
Mccrary had testified positively during
the first days session that Decatur had
ordered him on his head and to do NUM-
Der 49," and Church also said that Deca-
tur had given him a similar order. The
cross discrimination brought from Decatur
the admission that he had ordered Church
to report to his room, and that some one
there had compelled tho UNDER classman
to perform Number 16''
as Decatur was the ranking cadet
officer present. the prosecution win con-
tend that this fact is sufficient to fix
she ofense OF hhz.ng on him The de.
tense contends that under the charge,
as well as the act Of 1874. the mere coun-
tenancing q, or allowing hazing, is insult
hcient and that active participation must
be proved.
Doesn't Know Accuser.
Decatur was the last witness for the
defence. Asked if ne knew McCrary. he
answered: II may have seen him before
the trial. but have no recollection of II.
T 81 u. .
recall IT,
He said he remembered being in his
room after dinner on si.e afternoon when
the pictures of the cadet and petty off,
GERS were taken, this being the day on
which McCrary said Decatur had hazed
shin. Asked IL he had done any of the
things stated In the specifications his
answer uniformly was: II did not
He positively denied ever hazing either
McCrary or Church.
On cross ss-examinatfon Decatur was
asked II he had ever seen the Hungarian
band He said ne had. and that 1t was
an organization Of fourth cassmen who
men. He admitted that they had per
formed in his room twice. The, JUDGE
advocate is understood to have informa-
tion that McCrary belonged to this organ
ization, but Decatur said that the only
member OF It he remembered was Ben
nett
Wasn't Decatur.
The most interesting testimony. next to
Decatur. was given by Mldshiprnan F. B..
Alarzoni. Of Florida. $50 Is also under
charges for hazing and will be tried short
~ Marzoni was the first witness, other
than the fourthclassmen, to state that
any fourth men We're In the room with
Decatur, and in that particular his tcsti-
mony corroborated that OF Midshipm2n
Church.
He said that while he was in Decatur's
told told to do NO. is" In the clos and af-
terwards 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
as he said that a person could easily be
In the closet undergoing hazing and not
be seen. while all the other said that II
a person had been hazed :4in. the closet
certainly have seen him. Marzonf men
toned Midshipmen Graves and Love. Of
the first class and Cox, Nagle and Keller,
OF the second as being in the Mso room during ing
named Will also be tried for hazing short
ily. It is understood.
The other witnesses introduced were
Midshiplnan George p. Trevor and Robert
testified that on Sunday, last Church
1T the more unwilling he was to swear
that Decatur was the one who had hazed
him. This Is a viola ton OF orders, as all
til witnesses are warned not to converse
about their testimony.
1t is understood that 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 discovered and
that quite number OF the upper class
men may be compelled to face charges
based on the bards compulsory concerts.
(Continued on Second Page9