Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-07-15
STOUTLY DEFEND
NAVAL ACADEMY
Hay and Bushnell Argue
Before Inquiry Court
at Annapolis
MAIN FIGURE
Faith Expressed in High Standards
of Honor-Robert Moss Closes
Case for Original Defendants.

Annapolis, Md, July l5-Refore
the court of inquiry at Annarolis
yesterday much progress was made,
and there is no doubt that the argu-
ments for the defendants will bc
closed today. the Judge advocate will
then close for the government.
The defense of Midshipman +. ".
Nelson, whose achievements as Ii
scholar and admitted readiness to
help other midshipmen with tnel"
studies, as well as the fact that ne IS
the only member of the graduating
class recommended for dismissal,
have made him the most interesting
figure of the proceedings, was male
by n. P. Bushnell, of Peekskill, \. Y,
the home of Midshipman Nelson. Mr..
Bushnell argued that not only had the
government failed to show that any
Of the defendants had been parties
20 Il theft of the examination papers
hut that the overwhelming evidence,
including the testimony Of many mid
shipmen called by the Judge advo.
cate, proved that they did not Sus-
pcct the character of the papers
when they fell into their hands.
The additional charges against
Midshipmen Nelson, Mr. Bushnell
said, were that he had entered ;!,e
academy building TO find his marks
that he owned Key which would
open department doors, and that he
had taken some turbine sheets from
the department. He argued that the
ragging of marks was schoolboy
prank which was punished lightly by
The academy authorities, and that the
key in Nelson's possession had been
borrowed by him to open Il room
where he could use Il typewriter. He
urged that the turbine sheets were OF
no value to Nelson, but had been used
by MIN in other midshirmen's IN.
terest.
Representative Hay stated at the
opening Of his remarks tnat he had
been informed by Secretary Daniels
that he would adopt the findings o;
the court of inquiry as to the guilt
or innocence of any midshipman, ANA
he expressed his confidence in the
fairness of the courts action. Mr..
Hay praised the Navy, and expressed
his belief in the high standards OF
honor among the midshipmcn. He
argued that the midshipmen actions
in handling the papers openly, IN
stead of capying them and destroying
the originals, showed that they did
not suspect their character. Rober;
Moss, father of Midshipman James f.
Moss, the recipient of the papers.
closed the case for the original dc
PENDANTS.
George D. Price. of Charleston,
w. Va. argued the case of Midshlp.
man A. C.. Rodgers, R. l.. Walker and
George R. Price, the latter his son.
The evidence against these midship'
men was that translations in the
handwriting Of Rogers were found
near the examination room, and the
answers of Walker and Price were
found to be similar. in some cases
II was argued that the midshipmer
! mad possession of the information
which was common throughout th+
classes, and that Rogers had trans
lated it for Walker and Pric. These
translations, it was claimed, wcr"
thrown away by the two midship
men before they entered the eXami
nation room.
Statements in their own behalf
were read to the court by Midship
men II. H. Harrison, w. J. Confer
a. D. Struble and R. Burhen, al
members of the class which gradua
ted last month. The evidence agains
Harrison was that he secured cop,
of the advanced information, constr
! tuting most of the examination, from
VESSEL. who was in the hospital
and distributed it to various member
of the class. Harrison explaine'
that he secured the information. be