The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-16
FULLAM
WAKES INDIGNANT
MAKES LENGTHY STATEMENT
Suggested 20 Midshipman Rogers that
He Consult Ofsicer and Gave
Friendly Advice TO Others, He
Declares.

Annapolis, Md, June BIN
dignant at the charge made by Rep
resentative Hay, of counsel for the
defendants. before the court of In
auiry investigating gougtng and sur
rounding conditions at the Naval
Academy, that he had fntimated ano
tempered with midshipmen called AZ
witnesses. Rear Admiral Fuliam.
superintendent of the academy, MADE
the request that he be allowed 10
aupear and make a statement. fer-
mission was promptly given. ana Au-
miral Fu1lam occupied the STAND uuI
ing the whole of the afternoon SEES
sion. He admitted giving the miu-
shipmen certain advice about tneIr
course before the court. but dlsciaili-
ed any thought of influencing then
testimony. He asserted that ms Dos
ton as their commanding of1cer
made II his duty TO advise them
Though cautioned by Captain Rus
sell, president OF the court. to con-
fine his testimony as Tntfch as pos
sfbIe To answering the questions, HNu-
miral Fullam claimed the right 10
cover what ground he thought neces
sary in defense of himself and his aa-
mInistratfon of the academy. nay
administration has been attacked De
fore the country" he said. anu
feel that l should he given tne op
nortunitv of explaining my position
Admiral Fullam states that atter
Aidishipman A. c. Rogers. the nrst OF
the defendants. had been placed IN tnat
status by the court, he learned that
Rogers had asked the counsellor t"e
seven original defendants 10 act tor
him He said that he thought Rogers
had placed himself in a serious posi-
ton by taking this step ana aoF'seu
him to consult with some othcer anou.
the matter. He said that Rogers had
asked his advice and that ne haa SUE
eested to him that his association with
the others would result In him being
nlaced under the same RESTRICTIONS.
suxxe~ted Old Line of Tesfimony.
Other midshipmen, Admiral ruiIam
sta ted. called as witnesses or named as
defendants have ben given the same
general advice by the superintendent
or his aide. Lieutenant Maniey. ne
was very emphatic that he had not sus
gested any line of testimony 10 them'
and that his only suggestions hao peeH
thos which he felt impeHed TO MAKE
NV his sense of duty towards them
Representative caTlin. of counsel for
the attendants. was the only duesttoner
~ Admiral Fullam outside of the pres
tdent of the court. The examination
covred not only the matter or the eau
tton 10 witnesses, but meeting Oh
officers of the academy, which Mr. Lar
lin understood to have oeen a CONFER
epce TO arrange course of action in
connection with the investigation. and
Admiral Fullam's interviews with sec
rotary Daniels. IN which the cases OF
seven midshipmen recommended Tor
AA
Admiral Fullam stated that the meet-
ing was a regular meeting OF the aca-
demic board and that the subject OF
ina,try was probably discussed In an
Informal way. and that 10 general plan
q faction among the officers was out
lined
Defends His Course.
The soard. he said. took up no other
matters during the meeting.
Mr. Cariin tried to bring out that
Admiral Fulam had sought to impress
Secretary Daniels with hiss view Of the
case in advance of the action OF the
court Admiral Fulam stated that ne
had an Interview with Secretary Dam
ieis, and that he had urged upon him
the importance of upholding the meas
ures taken for the maintenance OF dis
elpline and high standards OF honor At
the academy. He defended this course
as being proper when his administra-
ton had been attacked. and denied that
aan ydisrespect to the court had been
intended or committed.