The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-16
FULLAM EXPLAINS
 ADVICE GIVEN ID
 CADET WITNESSES
Naval Academy Head LSs clares He Did Not Att S' to Influence St'< 9
 Testimony

Annapolis. Md. June I5.-Rcar Ad- m,irai William F. FuIIam, superintend- ent of the Naval academy, today eN- piained before the court Of inquiry in- vestigating the examinations scandal, the advice which he had given prospec- tive midshtpmen witnesses. While he was in the witness chair. Admiral Full nm said,
 q consider myself in some sense a de- fendant in view of what the press of the country has had to say in criticism of the system at the academy"
 When Midshipman A. C. Rogers joined the seven original defendants, said Ad- miral Fullam. after testimony had been given that a paper in Rogers handwrit- peared to questions in the last Spanish examination, he accepted the counsel of the other defendants. Admiral Fullam said he sent for Rogers because he felt that he was wrongng himself and jeopar- dizing his interests by placing himself Tn the same category with the seven mid shipmen recommended for dismissal
 Tn no case did l try to influence the nidshipmens testimony or ther actions in this court said the superintendent.
 After others had been drawn into the proceedings the superintendent said, coun- sel came to him and asked that the seven under arrest be freed. that all the de- fendafits should be given the same status. He told counsel he considered the status of the seven different and he could not release them from confinement aboard the prison ship
 Interests Jeopardized
 Referring again to Tom Rogers. Admiral Fuliam said that when he considered that the young mans interests had been jeopardized he wanted to know. as his commanding officer, if he was satisfied. Gt vas liis duty said saaisa before putin g him on the prison ship to ask him if he wanted to go into that category.
 Asked by Congressman Carlin, of coun- sel for the midshipmen. about his inter- view with Secretary of the Navy Daniels in Washington last Saturday, the admiral said that he reviewed the whole matter with the secretary, who expressed a de- sire for "a full and free investigation of the whole thing by a court in order that there should be no complaint that there had not been a thorough inquiry.
 Admiral Fullam said he considered H for the best interests of the academy and of the navy that he should reiterate to the secretary his previous views as to the guilt of the seven midshipmen.
 Unless the court discovers evidence of wbicf l cannot conceive, and which I never heard" the admiral said, T think 1t hardly possible to establish the nno- eence of these men"
 Admiral, is it your purpose to resign and go to sea in a collier?'' asked Con gressman Carlin
 No Intention to Resign
 Not at all.'' was the reply. My req son fof mentioning that subject at all was simply this: That after all I had said to the midshipmen of my views on 'gouging I had apparently not succeeded in pound- ing into them the seriousness of it. I told the four class presidents that I consid- cred it such reflection on this school that if 1t continued to exist here l would find it no honor or satisfaction to remain as superintendent"
 Evidence was given at the morning ses- sion tending to show that there was a material difference in the value of infor- nation given to midshipmen in class rooms by instructors in various sections pursuing the same course of studies in the moderp languages department