New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-26
HAzING FORCED
G0UGING THEFTS
MILDLY ADMITS
Reagle Retracts Testimony
and ConfesSes He En-
tered Buildings.

Annapolis, Md, June 25.-Hazing at
the Naval Academy, which was sup
posed to have been stamped out ten
years ago as the result of a Congress
sionsl investigation and the dismissal
of a dozen or more mid9hipmen, has
been practised during the last two
years, at least, according to Midship-
man Charles NJ. Reagle, testifying at
to-day's session of the court Of in
quiry investigating irregularities in
examinations at the academy.
The revelations came from chance
remark made by Reagle in describing
a visit he had made to a certain room
for some advance information. Mid
shipman A. r. Boiling was there, "fac-
ing the wall" he said. Congressman
Carlin, of the counsel for the defence,
INQUIRED what that meant, and was
told that whenever an upper class
man entered a room the 'plebe, as
the members Of the fourth class are
Midshipman Reagle was recalled to
the stand to-day for tie purpose OF
correcting and amplifying his prevl-
Gus testimony. He made so many and
such marked changes IN his former
statements that Mr. Carlln expressed
the belief that kesgle had perJured
himself and asked II the testimony
was 20 be received.
The court stated that il wished Rea-
gle TO proceed. At the close Of the
changes and additional testimony, Rea-
Gle Said he had tried TO protect the
midshipmer under charges, but had de-
cided to tell all he knew.
Confesses He Had Keys.
~ have had numerous keys to the
different buildings" he said, "and
have been in every department in
which | have subjects" He visited
them 70 see marks, he said, and also
10 get what information he could.
Reagle said he had in his posses
sion two keys and a pair Of pincers
with which he opened windows. he
had taken recitation slips, blue prints,
solutions of problems and models, he
said. all of which had given advance
information, and had taken from the
English department rough copies OF
questions which had proved to be those
given on examination.
He named Midshipmen Waddell,
Click. Keller and Whitaker, class
mates. as his companions in his
stealthv visits, and stated that Ne lson,
the first classman, who is one OF the
defendants, had been 10 the engineer
ing department several times, though
he had never seen him take anything.
The testimony Of Reagle, as given
today. indicated his belief that the
midshipmen Of his class who saw the
papers alleged to have been dissent
mated by Midshipman James +. Moss
knew them TO be advanced copies OF
the examination in Spanish and French.
The witness had been told that they
were TO be shown only TO those IN
danger of failing on the test.
Objects to Testimony.
Judge Advocate Watt objected to the
testimony respecting hazing, but the
court ruled that il would be admitted
IL connection between it and the sub
iect under investigation could be shown.
Mr.. Carlin announced that IT would
be the intention Of the defence TO show
that upper classmen had forced under
smen to break into buildings TO get
marks and secure other information for
them through hazing or threatening 10
haze them.
Proceeding, Reagle, who is now sec
ond classman, related some Of the IN
dignities which he said were practised
upon the "plebes." He said II was a
prevailing custom. He soon found that
he would be unable TO resist, he said,
and that il would be better for him 20
WELD TO the treatment. A plebe must
take everything coming 10 him without
resistance or uttering a word" he
added
Reagle related some Of the things
ne declared he was compelled 70 submit
10 or 70 do. such as having mucilage
poured inside the legs Of his trousers,
holding a number Of books out in each
hand as long as he could possibly en-
dure il, standing on his head and other
stunts. He said that on one occasion
ne was made to do the "stoop forward
until he reached the point of exhaus-
tion.
Reagle stated that hazing, was very
fagrant during the last academic term,
and admitted that since he became an
upper classman he himself had INDUCED
in the unlawful practices"
Because they feel that "the public
has not had sufficient information TO
Continued on paGe 2, column