The sun., 1915-06-19
SAYS MOST MIDDIES
WOULD STEAL TO WIN
Second Class Man Startles An
napOlis Investigators by
His Testimony.
SQUADRON'S TRIP HELD UP

ANNAPOLIS. June 1S.-Although every
effort was made to push the work of the
court of inquiry which Is investigating
conditions connected with examinations
at the Naval Academ. IL will not be
possible complete the hearing OF testi-
mony of all the midshipmen on the prac-
tice squadron so that II can start on the
cruise to the san Francisco exposition
via the Panama Canal on sunday morn
ing IL is probable that the start cannot
be made until Wednesday or Thursday.
judge Advocate Watts has still about
eighteen midshipmen to call, and this
will fully occupy to-morrow's session
The defendants have n large number OF
midshipmen to call
1t has been agreed that the midship-
men on the squadron will be called be-
fore other witnesses and that both sides
will have the right to call additional
Witnesses the object being u permit
the departure OF the squadron as soon
as practicable. The disappointment at
the delay of the fleet is felt keeniy
at the academy.
Midshipman Daniel s. Appleton of the
second class In his testim my to-day said
1t was his belief that majority OF the
midshipmen would either steal cxami-
nation papers or profit by them know
! ns them to be stolen. He asserted
frankly that he himself would do so.
Members OF the court and counsel
seemed loath 10 leave this unqualified
statement in the record. but though
questioned from different angles, APP
pe,on stuck to his statement He said
that the mdshlpmen were all the more
ready to use these means since II had
been made more difficult for them to
pass examinations.
\ classmate. Ralph wyman. said
that he would probably use improperly
obtained information IL II was neces-
sary to do SO 10 get a passing mark.
This testimony shed some light on the
expressed viewpoint of some midship-
men. who hold that II is much more
severe offence to use unfair means to
secure high mark in the class than
! merely to obtain "A passing mark.
When Midshipman !. *. Davis was
n witness. Ensign Struble. one OF the
defendants, asked him II he had over
heard that a messenger in one of the
departments. wearing white trousers.
| had sat on the mimeograph machine In
such n way that the impression OF an
examination was taken. and then sold
/ the trousers to a midshiI man Davis
said that he had heard the story. but
had not taken IL seriously.
Among the Witnesses heard to-day
| were the five who of all tho first class
| Of nearly two hundred members were
| tho only ones supposed not 10 have had
any of the advanc. information whch
seemed to he 40 plentiful
Midshipman J. X. Davis did not be-
/ lieve in using dope which he sus-
pected might have had an improper
origin and also doubted its practical
value.
/ Midsnipman II. $. Hitchcock said that
I he could get good enough mark with
out it. Midshipman Carl II. Hilton had
turned in early the night before the
! examination and had not known IL was
about"
/ Midshipmen W. r. Mackay and Milton
: Carlson were both doubtful of the
value OF dope" the latter remembering
! bitterly an occa sion when he had been
/ in the hospital and had been loaded with
dope" none OF which appeared on eN-
! am nation.
Midshlpman Arthur 9. Miles. who
: captains the football team ard who il
also an excellent student. and George
T.. Hussey. j.. q class leader. testified
In connection with the statement of a
former witness that Trey had refused %
! sign a protest against the punishment
] Of three OF their classmates Hamilton.
I Evans and VESSEL. because the paper
expressed confidence in their honor and
integrity. They denied that his intiu-
! rnCed them. and said that they had en-
+ tire confidence In their classmates, They
I EXPLAINED that they did not believe IL
, proper 10 say that hey were equally
! guilty when hey did not know what
the board mad discovered, and Miles
alsp said t1at ne knew II was improper
to sign a paper OF the Kind for higher
auth ritN.
Judge ADVOCATE Watts asked all the
midshipmcn whether they had ever seen
a mjdshlpm1n "gouge" on examination
or give assistance 10 another. Every