New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-06-15
l||AJURI III GLASS
AS MUCH TO BLAME
As Three Midshipmen Named to
Be Dismissed, Says Ward

Annapolis, Md, June ia virtual
I charge of tampering with the evil
4 dence of witnesses before the court
! of inquiry which is investigating ir-
| regularities in examination papers at
the naval academy was made yester-
! day against Admiral Fullam, SUPER
| intendent of the academy, by Con
! gresham James Hay, of counsel for
seven Of the, midshipmen defendants
When the court reassembIed afte,
the luncheoan recess Mr.. Hay arose
and said that, in view of the evidence
given by Midshipmen G. O. Ward and
w. j. Heath this morning "and al
l. most every other midshipmen who
has appeared on the stand, that thew
have been taken to the Office of IN a
superintendent of the academy ana
that there either the superintendent
or his aide has told them, If thew
took a certain position in this case
I what would happen to them, it seems
to me and my. associates that thar
is tampering with the evidence of the
witnesses who are summoned by
this court
Shocks Decency OF Country.
. TT may be proper Mr.. Hay con
tinued when these young gentle
men are ordered up here from the
ship, that they should report to the
superintendent But 1t is not proper,
in my judgments that the superinten-
dent should be allowed to give them
his opinion Of what they to ought
to say, or what they ought to do, or
n Uv1 no -
themselves.
L say 1t shocks the decency Of the
whole country that these young men
should have to undergo lecture by
the man who is over them and in
whose hands rests their fortune as
long as he occupies the position that
he does. It seems to me that the
court. in order to protect the wit
nesses and in order to protect itself
will take some step to prevent that
sort Of thing going on
Letter to Superintendent.
After considering Mr. Hays request
behind closed doors for nearly an
hour. Captain Robert l.. Russell, pres
identl of the court, announced that
he had directed that the following let
ter be sent to the superintendent Of
the academy: .ss H
The question has been raised in
this court in regard to persons al
ready sum oned for appearance as
witnesses before the court being seen
at the superintendent office, either
by himself or by his aids. and in
structed as to their status as witness
ses or possible defendants This might
influence their testimony.
ret ic fnd Z, a
prior to the conpletiona Of their
timony before the court and prior to
their being regularly. designated as
defendant1 witnesses and possi:.:> de-
PENDANTS summoned through the SUI
perintendent's office be not instruct
ed at any time or place as to the pos
sible status in which they will be
placed by virtue of any action they
might take as witnesses or defend
ants"
Further Testimony offered.
Further testimony was offered to-
day tending to support the suspicious
of the naval academy authorities that
the offices Of three departments had
been entered just prior to the last
annual examination. Instructor u.
i. r. Forunon, of the department Of
modern languages testified that on
- +
May ID he found both doors leading
to the office Of the head of modern
languages locked. He had never
known them to be locked before. 1t
was from this department that pa
pers, which Midshipman Moss claimed
to have received from an anonymous
soruce through the mail, are believed
by the authorities to have been stolen.
Commander c. F. Preston, head of
the English department, in reply to
question, said that a week before the 4
last examination a key was missing
from his Office. When asked what
precautions were taken in his depart
ment against .gouging' during exam
nations, Commander Preston said:
I'VE take it for granted that thea
won't 'gouge;' our whole dependence
Is placed on them. AS far as my
department. is concerned, our comb
,dence has not been abused - f9