Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14
ON TRIAL FOR HAZING
TESTIMONY BEFORE CoURT-MAR-
TIAL IN MILLER,s CASE.

ANNAPOLIS, Md, January 13-Only one
witness was called this afternoon by the
prosecution in the court-martial case or
Midshipman John Paul Miller, charged
with hazing, this being Lieut. Commander
Hawley of the department of discipline,
and he was Immediately recalled by the de-
Tense. The witness was called by the
prosecution to establish the fact that 1t
was not within the power Of a midshipman
officer to infiict punishment on his own re-
sponsibility. For the defense. the officer
testified that he knew Midshipman Miller
in an official way, and considered that he
was young man of quick temper, but of
high character and sterling worth.
Midshipman H. B. McCleary of the third
class testified that he was in the room
when the four fourth classmen came in rep
reSenting an automobile.
Miller had been indignant, he said, and
reprimanded them for coming in the room
in that manner. He then told the four to
do the sixteenth and they did it about
twelve times the witness said.
Did Sixteenth Many Times.
Midshipman Ralph r. Stewart of the sec
ond class said he was in Miller's room at
the time. He thought that plebes had
jostled Miller. who, he said. became ,adig-
nant and reprimanded them. telling them
to do the Sixteenth This they did, he
said. about twenty or twenty-five times.
Newton II. White of the second class
gave practically the same testimony. his
estimate of the number of the times that
the Sixteenth had been done being be-
tween twenty and thirty.
Midshipman Frank III. Roberts was Their.
called. He is the chief petty officer of the
company of which Roberts is tie captain.
and was mentioned in the testimony as the
W orr nj no I'M ri ~
and sent it to Miller's room. He said that
after the occurrence Miller had come TO his
ROOM
He seemed to be very angry with the
plebes and with us for sending them there.
said Roberts. He said that was no way TO
treat their superior officers
Wilfred r.. Clarke of the same class was
in the room with Roberts when Miller came
there. He corroborated the last witness.
Gave Miller High Character.
Commander 7. G. Dewey, Lieut.. Com
n;Gnder Charles 3. Mcvay, jr., and Lieut..
Allen Buchannon gave Miller high char
acter. and said that they believed he had
the making of good officer.
A strong effort was made by Col LAUGH
leimer to get these officers to give some
testimony to bear out the idea that a cadet
officer had the right TO impose punishmenss
in his own discretion upon the midshipmen
in his company.
All the ofhcerS said they understood the
limits of the powers of cadet officer would
be to report or reprfmand a midshipman.
The defense wished to prove by Capt.
Thomas B. Howard, u. S. N. who was a
midshipman from 1869 to 1873 what the
term hazing was understood to mean at
that time The court ruled that this line OF
examination was irrelevant. Col. LAUGH
elmer earnestly requested a reconsideration
of this, and urged that the line of testi-
mony was material. The court refused
to reverse its ruling and then adjourned
until 10 o'clock Monday morning The de-
Tense will have at least two more witnesses,
but 1t has not been determined whether or
not Miller will go on the stand