The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-07
STEPHEN DECATUR WAS NOT 4 HAZER Alabama Men on the Stand at
 Annapolis CABANISS LETS CAT OUT Mdshipman Marsoni Is on Trial for Hazng-coffin Is Dismissed From
 the Academy for the
 offense.
CABANISS LET'S CAT OUT

opInentS tOuay al the naval aSauelly were important. Stephen Decatur, Jr., the first of the members of the first class to be put on trialg was declared acquitted and restored to duty, but was re-arrested shortly afterward and will be tried under other charges of hazing, under the act of 1874, and of encouraging or countenanc- ing hazing under the act of 1903. It is au- thorltatively stated that he will fight these charges,
 Announcement was made unofficially that Midshipman Trenmor Coffin, Jr., of the third class of Carson City, New, had been convicted of hazing and dis missed.
 During the trial of Midshipman Mar soni it developed that Tagging sys- tenn exists at the academy, underclassmen being expected to bring forward the breakfast table to upper classmen when they miss formation.
 It was also made clear that since the hazing investigation began upper class men have been subjecting others to these practices generally visited upon fourth class men so as to be able to testify that certain things were not done to under classmen only and consequently do not constitute hazing An intimation of this has been gained by previous testi- mony, but it remained for Midshipman R. W. Cabaniss, a first classman from Brmingham Ala, to finally let the cat out of the bag when he stated that since the sessions of the court 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.
 Marsonl Defends Himself.
 At the opening of the afternoon ses- sion MidShpman Marsoni was called to the stand by his counsel He absolutely denied that he had hazed Roberts or ever knew him. He said that I've had brought him food by request. He had thanked him for so doing, and I've did not appear to make any objection to this He only knew of two occasions when I've had brought him food. Bryant had also brought him food, and a glass of milk. It had been done under the same circumstances as in Tye's case. Upper elassmen he said had often done the same thing and there had been no differ enees in the circumstances under which they had committed it.
 Marsoni then absolutely denied that he had compelled Bryant to stand on his head as alleged in the specification. He said that he had never stood a fourth classman on his head and did not believe it a proper thing to do On cross-eXam- ination he said that he had never in any way caused fourth classman to stand on his head.
 When asked for an explanation of Bry ants testimony Marsoni said he could not explain it except to say that Bryant was mistaken.
 The accused midshipman was then asked in regard to the bringing of b. eakfast to his room by plebes-Tye and Bryant He said that both boys are from the same section of the country that he was and it Is the custom of neighborlng mldshlp- men to be on friendlier footing than oth- CTS are He said he had requested the youths to bring his breakfast when he was not down and they had done so The defense contended strongly that the under classmen did these things as cour- tesy to Marsoni and an act of friend ship. and not under compulsion
 Fond of More Sleep.
 Mr. Marsoni was followed on the stand by Charles Woodruff, his roommate, who testified to Marsonl's fondness for a lit tie more sleep, and that he missed break fast formation frequently in consequence He said that Marson was careless in re- gard to small breaches of the regula- tion, but never committed any grave of- fense. and that he enjoyed a good repu- tation among his fellows, which was also testified to by Midshipmen McCane and Newton, first classmen. Russell Wilson of Wyoming and a first classman. said that he had often '|butted in on hazing when he was a first classman' because he enjoyed doing the stunts" George w. Simpson, a second classman, said that he had often brought rolls and milk to Marsoni and had not done 1t as matter of eompulsion First Classman Edward S. Moses had done the same thing. He said, too, that with few days practice he had stood on his head 3oO times sue cessively and had felt no bad effects.
 Captain Reese, president of the court, said:
 But don't you think that your train ing In physical department made you better as a man to stand this?'
 The mldshipman answered promptly and naively yes but l was out of prac- tce"
 Mldshipman Archibald Turnbull. in an swer to a question as to what constituted the usual feast" at the academy, an swered:
 "Mlk. eggs and rolls of some descrip tion."
 John Dixon of Fayetteville Ala. a member of the second class, said that he took particular interest in Fourth Classman Bryant and that he considered that Marsoni was very nice to Bryant also.
 The last witness was Benjamin F. Til- ley of New York, a classmate of Marsoni, but now member of the fourth class. He said that when he was Marsoni's classmate he had brought the latter food at breakfast time. He also said that the accused was liked by members of the fourth class.