Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-06-15
CHARGE BEFORE
INQUIRY COURT
Virtually Accuses Academy
Head Of Tampering
With Evidence
HE is ASKED TO DESIST
Further Testimony is Taken Concern
ing Alleged Irregularities at An
.
napolis Academy.

Annapolis, Nd, June ia virtual
charge with tampering with the evil
dence of witnesses before the court OF
inquiry investigating the Irregular
tiles in examination papers at the
Naval Academy was made yesterday
against Admiral Fullam, superinten-
dent of the academy, by Congressman
James Hay, counsel for seven Of the
midshipmen defendants.
Hay said that the evidence of MID
shipmen chat they have been taken
to the Office of the superintendent OF
the academy and there that either the
superintendent or his aide had told
them if they took u certain position
in this case what would happen t.
them" INDEBTED tamperins with the
evidence of ID, witnesses.
"It may be proper" Hay continued.
"when these young men are ordered
up here from the ship that they
should report to the superintendent
But it not proper, in my judgment.
that the superintendent should be al
lowed to give them his opinion of
what they ought to say, or what they
ought to do, or in what category they
are to place themselves.
81 say it shocks the decency Of
the whole country that these young
men should have to undergo lecture
by Tie man who is over them, and in
whose hands rests their fortune as
long as ne occupies the position that
he does. 1t seems to me that the
court, in order to protect the witnes-
Ses and in order to protect itself, will
take some step to prevent that sort
Of thing going on"
After considering Hays request be-
hind closed doors for nearly an hour,
Captain Robert L. Russell, president
of the court, announced that he had
decided that the following letter be
sent to the principal Of the acad-
envy:
"The question has been raised in
this court in regard to persons al
ready summoned for appearance as
witnesses before the court being seer
at the superintendent's office, either
by himself or by his aide, and in.
structed as to their status as witnes.
ses or possible defendants. This
might Influence their testimony.
"Therefore, it is requested, that
prior to the completion of their tes
imony before the court and prior t.
their being regularly designated as
defendants, witnesses and possible
defendants summoned through thu
superintendent office, be not in
structed at any time o. place as Il
the possible status in which the,
will be placed by virtue of any action
they might take as witnesses or d.
! PENDANTS.
Further testimony was offered yes
terday tending to support suspiciou
of the Naval Academy authoritie
| that the offices of three department
had been entered just prior to tn
last annual examinations Instruc
tor Fournon, of the department o
modern languages, testified that Of
May Al he found both doors leadin.
to the office of the head of moder
languages locked, which was unusual
Commander C. F. Preston. head O
the English department, said that
week prior to the last examinations
key was missing from his office
| Examination papers were stole
from the department of electrical; er
gineering and physics. according t
! the testimony of Commander J. 7
| Tompkins. Another examination wa
prepared, he said.