Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-07-12
EVIDENCE ALL IN
ARGUMENTS TOMORROW
Inquiry Of ''Cribbing" Scandal at
Academy, Completed.
RECORD VOLUMINOUS ONE.
Contains More Than 1000 Pages of
Typewriter Matter---PrObe An
Exhaustive One.

Exhaustive One.
The defendants TO the 'cribbing''
scandal at the Naval Academy. and
their counsel spending today going
over the record of evidence. prepara-
tory to arguing the case before the ma
val court of inquiry tomorrow. The
court has been conducting its invcs-
LEGATIONS for five weeks. during which
il held sittings on twenty-eight days
With a record containing more than
1000 pages of evidence, given by ap-
proximately one hundred witnesses
officers, midshipnten and civilian in
structors-the court completed the ac-
ual work of the probe Saturday af-
ternoon,and adjourned until 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning.
The court was enabled to complete
the work of evidence gathering only
by sitting an hour later than usual, and
it was SO o'clock berore adjournment
was finally given. In going over until
Tuesday. President Russell, speaking
for the court, announced that Monday
would be set aside to allow counsel for
the defense full access to the record in
the preparation of their summing up
arguments
An inspection by the members of
the court and others of the depart
ment of modern languages, from a
drawer in which the advance exami-
nation papers that caused all the stir
are supposed TO have been stolenaddi-
tional high tributes to the general
character and reputation of Midship-
man Ralph Mex Nelson, the bright
first classman, who is one of the origi-
nal seven defendants recommended
for dismissal by Superintendent Full
lam. mad further testimony by Mid
shipman Charles NJ Reagle, the
"sleuth' in the series of raids and
other illegal visits made to the several
academic departments were among
the closing incidents of the session of
the court on Saturday.
And, to further emphasize the broad
manner in which the inquiry has been
conducted, the court gave additional
oportunity TO all defendants to add to
their previous testimony. Several of
them availed themselves of this in or
der to clear up certain things,
When Midshipman Reagle was call
ed to the stand by the Judge Advocate
late in the afternoon, he made a rath-
er bold statement concerning Midship-
man Nelson and Midshipman f. III.
Jones, both defendants, although Rea-
gle had, on the last occasion that he
\, L.
nothing else whatever in connection
with the subject under investigation
With question along this line put to
him Saturday, he made statement
that would indicate Nelson and jones
were aware of the fact that they had
seen the advance examination papers
and were anxious OF know whether the
examinations had been changed
Reagle stated that on the night be-
fore the date of the examination Nell
son asked him if he intended to go
over to the building and, II so. to find
out the number on the indicator of the
mimeograph machine. that by doing
so. he (Nelson) would know whether
the examination had been changed. as
he had the number of the indicator
when the other papers had been print
ed. Reagle then said that he believed
Jones made similar remark TO him.
Later on both Jones and Nelson went
| on the witness stand at their own re-
quest and entered emphatic ienials
when questions were put to them by
counsel
Before adjournment, President Rus
sell. of the court. outlined the manner
in which the arguments of all parties
would be made. He said that those
who cared TO do so, would be permit
ted to file written arguments in the
form of briefs, that there would be nc
| time limit placed on the actual argu.
ments but that the court would expect
these to BE- within reason Captain
Russell stated further that counsel foi
the original defendants would bs
heard first in designated order. anC
then arguments in behalf of the othel
! interested parties, in the order II
which they were made such parties
during the progress of the inquiry ans
the closing argument would be reserv
ed for the Judge Advocate.
The court placed upon the recor,
letters which made up a tbree-corner
ed correspondence between the court
United States Senator Lee and Rea
Admiral w. F. FuIlam, superintendent
of the Naval Academy, in reference Il
the latter's using Senator Lees mann
in connection with political activity il
the case of the midshipmen accused o
using the advance information on tn
examination. In Senator Lees fina
letter he said that his interest ha'
been to secure q full investigation O
the whole matter. and that the fact
brought out by the court had full.
iustified his course.