Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-06-23
NELSON THE TARGET
OF NAVAL INQUIRY
CONTINUED from First Page.l


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Congressman Carlin also called the
courts attention TO the stringent new
order relative TO the close confne-
ment of the seven original defendants
particularly in the case ofAiidshipman
Vessels. He said they were all com
PEELED to eat their meals aboard ship.
and that the food served them is the
same as that for the enlisted mems
mess He referred 10 the fact that
Vessels had been experiencing much
difficulty with broken arm, sustain
cd while playing football several
months ago. and that coming from the
hospital, he is now compelled TO sleep
in a hammock aboard ship. He claim
ed that such condition is detrimental
70 the health Of Vessels.
The end OF the inquiry does not
seem 10 be in sight President Rus
sell. speaking for the court. said this
morning in informing counsel of a
ruling. that the inquiry is being pur-
sued along broad lines, in accordance
with the orders of the Navy Depart
ment. and he cannot foresee where
the inquiry will terminate.
The introduction Of direct testi-
mony by the Judge Advocate, or gov
ernment prosecutor, in support of the
theory ,hat Midshipman Ralph NJ.
Nelson. one of the star" men of the
recent graduating class, was one of the
mstieators, if not at the bottom of the
whole Irregularities committed in con
nection with examinations and other
scholastic work at the Naval Acad
envy. and tic admission by two Inder-
class midshipmen that they employed
unfair means to secure advance infor-
nation of their marks. said means be
ing the entering of departments af-
ter regular hours and getting into the
drawers, We're the chief developments
before the court today.
Another matter of importance, how
ever. occurred at the afternoon ses-
sion. when President Russell, after
clearing the court and deliberating for
half an hour. announced a ruling that
indicated its stand TO curtail the meth
ods OF examining witnesses. to the end
that the inquiry may be brought TO
President Russell spoke firmly when
he said that such ruling was nee
essary. saying that the court realizes
II might be here until doomsday as
matters now stand before the inquiry.
The ruling was passed when Ensign
Ivan Graham, who testified on Monday
and was taken under cross-examina-
ton at the afternoon session. when he
appeared to yerify his testimony.
Congressman Carlin was engaged in
the examination of Ensign Graham,
and he had led the witness to the
point where headmitted having dis
cussed matters pertaining TO the in
quiry with Ensign X. r.. Adams, who
was a witness several days ago, in
spite of the caution given TO Adams
not to discuss matters pertaining to
the inquiry during it's continuance.
Congressman Carlin was absent dur
ing Ensign Graham's testimony of
Monday when the witness said that he
had taken the matter up with Adams,
the class president. with the view of
trying to induce Nelson. or whoever
the guilty parties to the alleged fraud
might be. to resign.as a means of pos
sihly bringing about the end OF the
court of inquiry
Ensign Graham took the ground
that the present inquiry had cast too
much reflection over the student body
Of midshipmen. AT the juncture where
Graham admitted having talked with
Adams, the proceedings suddenly ceas-
ed and the court was cleared. In an
nouncing the ruling, President Rus
sell stated that the question of wheth-
er Adams or any other witness viola
ted the courts caution is a matter for
the purview of the court that the
counsel must put more direct ques-
tions and, furthermore they will be
given every opportunity TO examine
the witnesses at the time Of their first
appearance before the court.
Midshipman Nelson has been the
target beforet the inquiry for the last
two days of the Investigations The
whole of Mondays session was taken
up with a volley of questions, the OBJ
ject of which was to establish his CON
nection with the frauds, and likewise
the proceedings were much the same
yesterday. Direct evidence has been
ELECTED to show that he was a party
to large part of the illegal practices
in which midshipmen have INDUCED
in to commit fraud and to satisfy
their curiosities.
Young Romance" drama of ro-
mantle youth-Colonial Thursday.