Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-01-06
MILDLY 1...rS
HAZING CHARGES
Decatur's Trial is q Question Of We
racity Between ClaSsmen.
THE COURT WILL DECIDE

Annapolis. Md. Jan. S-The court
Z artial proceedings against Midship-
llan stephen Decatur. OF Portsmouth,
:. "a. charged with the hazing OF Mid
lipman Isaac n. McCrary, OF Texas.
and Gaylord Church, of Pennsylvania.
10th fourth class men, were continued
here, Decatur going on the stand In his
own defense.
Decatur denied absolutely all the
statements OF McCrary and Church
which incriminated him The court is
thus left to decide between the testi-
mony under oath Of the upper and
lower class men. Other witnesses were
introduced TO bear out the defense's
theory that the prosecuting witnesses
were mistaken as to who had hazed
them.
McCrary had testified positively dur
ing the first days session that Decatur
had ordered him on his head and to
do Number l6," and Church also said
that Decatur had given him a similar
order
The cross-examination brought from
Decatur the admission that he had or
dered Church 70 report to his room.
and that some one there had compelled
the under classman TO perform Mum
Der g" 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
participation must be proved.
Finally Decatur was asked n he had
ever hazed either McCrary or Church.
and his answer was a positive mega
tive
The most interesting testimony. next
TO that Of Decatur. was given by Mid
shipman F. B. Marzoni. OF Florida. who
is also under charges for hazing and
viii be tried shortly. Marzoni was the
class men. 10 state that any fourth
class men were I'm the room with De-
eatur. and in that particular his testi-
mOny corroborated that Of Midship-
man Church. He said that while he was
in Decatur's room, Church had come
in and had been told 20 do Number
16" in the closet and afterward had
been told TO stop. He could not remem-
Der who had given the order. but was
positive II was not Decatur. His evil
dence was In strong contradiction 10
other evidence produced by the de-
Tense. as he said that a person could
easily be In the closet undergoing haz-
ing and not be seen. while all The
others said that n a person had been
hazed In the closet while they were in
the room they would certainly have
seen him. Marzuni mentioned Mid
shipmen Graves and Lowe, OF the first
class. and Cox, Maggie and Keller. OF the
second, as being In the room during the
hazing % Church. The first two named
will also be tried for hazing shortly. Il
Is understood
Decatur's case Is attracting great at
tention. and desperate effort is being
made 10 save him. He Is a great grand
son OF the famous naval hero OF the
same name. and stands No. in the
studies In the class which will graduate
next month. He has some very power
ful friends. who ave willing to help him
In every way. Admiral Dewey Is a rela-
tive, but little help can be expected
from this source il Decatur Is convict
ed OF the charges against him.