Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-07-06
INQUIRY OF GOUG|NG
SCANDAL IS RESUMED
Every Effort Being Made to Disclose
Sender of Papers.
MORE WITNESSES EXAMINED.
But No Light is Shed on the All
Important Point at Issue.

Anls uinOIluS IOliOWlnS the IeCesS over
the Fourth of July. and proceeded with
the examination of the few additional
witness in connection with the inves-
tigation of the gouging scandal in the
late annual examinations among the
midshipmen.
The court announced il was through
with witnesses as far as midshipmen
aboard the practice ships are concern
ed, and with only few others yet to
be examined, it is believed that the end
of the inquiry into the "cribbing" is
only few days off.
Two witnesses were examined dur
ing the morning. These were En-
members of the class recently gradu-
ated, but no new light was shed on the
situation as the result of their evil
dence The court is still entirely at
sea on the main point which it is try
ing TO uproot, and that is the origina-
tion of the papers that were sent
through the mail TO Midshipman Moss.
Like the many other midshipmen
who have preceded them as witnesses,
Clarke testified that 80 per cent. or
more of their class were in possession
of the advanced dope" that proved
correct on the examination. -
Ensign McCrea. while on the stand,
availed himself of the opportunity to
defend himself against the insinuations
made in previous evidence in the rec
ord. of suspicion that he was guilty
of an act of cheating during a recita-
tion in the ordnance section room. He
denied absolutely all circumstances of
the alleged affair and, among other
things, stated that he had consulted
his instructor, Lieut.. w. Il. Smith, who
asserted il was hardly possible for a
midshipman to commit such an act of
unfairness in the classroom.
Midshipmen James Il. Moss, T. w.
Harrison, Jr., and L. p. VESSEL were
recalled to the witness stand this morn
ing to verify testimony previously
given by them. Incidentally they were
asked a number of additional questions
by the Judge Advocate, concerning the
examination papers. none of which.
however, adduced anything of import
ance in connection with the matter,
How the midshipmen virtually run
wild in their efforts to secure tips or
information pertaining to an exam
nation, especially when it is regarded
as good stun, was told to the court by
Ensign Harvey T.. Overesch.
Overesch was called as a witness by
the governments side to the inquiry
He was asked TO tell the proportionate
number of his class that had anvance
information pertaining to the recent
annual examinations III madern Ian
guages that later proved to be correct
and TO give the names of those to whom
he supplied with the dope" that was in
his possession. Overesch replied that
he could not mention all because his
room was so crowded that he was com
PEELED TO block the door to keep down
the rush of those in the corridor trying
to force their way into the room.
Asked whether he ever knew or
heard of an occasion where such
straight information on an examination
was i'm general circulation among the
midshipmen, 0veresch stated that he
had heard that the three classes that
were graduated ahead of him had par
ticularly good dope on the modern Ian
guage tests. Continuing, he said he
had been informed of an instance when
there was dictation as part of an ex-
animation, and practically all of the
students had the matter down on their
papers, before the instructor began to
dictate, indicating that they must have
had straight advance matter.
Overesch was one OF the star athletes
at the Academy during the past year
He was captain of the football team, a
member of the basketball team. and
also rowed on the crew. In course oi
his testimony, Overesch paid high trib
ute to the general character of Mid
shipman Nelson. a classmate. who il
enc of the original seven defendants
he spoke particularly of Nelson's viii
lingnes at all times to render assist.
ance TO the less proficient in theil
work than himself.
The fact that Midshipman Moss, of III.
third class. received through the mail Z
large envelope apparently containing
tne set OF or examination papers fol
which he and the six other Original
defendants were convicted by the frs
board of investigation and subsequent
ly recommended for dismissal by Su.
perintendent Fullam. was further es.
tabiished by the testimony of Midship.
man Carlson, and several others who
had charge of mail distribution about
the time Moss is alleged TO have re
ceived the papers. But the date of tn.
alleged receipt of the papers. as testi
fed to by Carlson. differs from previou.
evidence given before the court.
Carlson testified that the letter he RI
fered 70 was delivered by him to Mos,
on May is. where as Moss and othe,
midshipmen have testified that tn.
date Of the receipt was May IA and Is