Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-06-28
SEVEN MORE MIDOIES
ARE MADE DEFENDANTS
Twenty-Three Parties Now Before
Naval Inquiry Court.
DEFENSE GETS A START.
Several Character Witnesses Examined
Today, and Speak Well Of Their
Accused Classmates.

Several additional midshipmen We're
today made interested parties TO the
proceedings in connection with the in
yestigation of "cribbing' and ''goug-
/ ing in the late annual examinations
at the Naval Academy This announce
ment was made when the naval court
of inquiry convened for the fourth
week of the inquiry this morning.
There are now twenty-three defend
ants before the court including the
seven original ones, who were recon-
mended for dismissal. by Superintend-
ent Fullam.
Those made parties to the inquiry
today are: Charles NJ Reagle,who was
the governments star witness, and the
'sleuth" in the nocturnal raids made
on the several departments for the
ragging of marks: Karl Keller. +.
II. Jones. David Click, J. E. Waddell,
w. II Hopkins, Jr.. all of the former
third class. and II. r. " hittaker, of the
former fourth class.
That they have thus become party
defendants is the result of the evi-
deuce adduced by the court al the ses-
sions Of last Friday and Saturday BY
the testimony of Reagle, Click and
Hopkins each implicated themselves as
well as some of the others and vice
versa
In addition the evidence shows that
all of the seven saw a good many ques-
tions copied in the english department
by Midshpman Reagle during one of
the raids, and this dope" proved to
contain about 40 per cent OF the actual
examinations in English
After these seven lads had been
hailed before the court and advised by
President Russell Of their right TO en-
gage counsel and cross witnesses, the
court proceeded with the examination
of witnesses for the defense, Judge Ad-
vocate Watt having temporarily rested
the governments side of the inquiry
with the close Of Saturdays session.
j. l. Kenworthy, secretaTy-treaaur-
er of the present first class, and vice
president of the Young Mems Christ
ian Association. of the Naval Academy,
was the frss witness for the defense
81 would consider il very foolish for
man who, after hunting for dope
and finding upon the examinations
that it proved good STUFF, t. report it to
the authorities" This was the reply
made by Kenworthy to a question put
by Ensign Raymond Burhen, one Of
the interested parties
Kenworthy Is the roommate OF Louis
p. Vessels. one of the original de-
fendants Vessels IS the lad who was
IN the hospital just prior to the exam
nations, and to whom it is alleged a
copy Of the advance questions were
sent. Kenworthy stated that he got
very little dope from Vessels, but most
of that which he had came through the
usual channels. He said he never heard
of an advance paper being in circula-
| tion before and had no knowledge that
such was the case in this instance.
Kenworthy was shown an exhibit
copy" by the Judge Advocate, and said
he never saw such a sheet before the
| examination, and furthermore, that its
general form was not the same as pre-
vious examinations. Kenworthy then
testified favorably to the honesty and
| integrity of Vessels, Hamilton and
| Evans all OF whom are classmates.
Several other midshipmen, as char
| acter witnesses in behalf of the accus-
ed midshipmen. were heard during this
mornings session of the court. and all
/ testified that their classmates main
| tanned absolute confidence in them.
| and that the prevailing sentiment is
that they are not guilty of any inten-
| tiOnal wrong In course Of the exam
ination OF r. C. Swing. member of the
first class, the court admitted as evil
dence number Of papers, some of
which were dope" sheets, and others
sheets of actual examinations given in
the past, the idea of the defense be-
ing to show the similarity in appear
ance of these papers. and in support OF
the contention that a midshipman
might not recognize an examination
sheet, as compared to some other
sheets circulated in advance of an ex-
animation
| Like other witnesses who preceded
him. Swink stated that he did not see
a sheet containing questions on an ex-
animation in advance of the test, but
added there was a large amount oi
dope" in general circulation. much Of
which appeared in the examination
When the ships Of the practice
cruise is still an indefinite question
cruise is still an indefinite question
although reports now are that matters
will be sufficiently cleared up to per
NIT them to get under way by Thurs
day or Friday Of this week. In other
quarters, however. this is considered
doubtful, as the defense has a number
Of witnesses 70 examine.
In the light of things it is reported
as unlikely that the contemplated triI
to the San Francisco Exposition vii
be maze. owing to the great loss ot
time In this connection. however, il
has also been reported that the usual
September leave will be curtailed, In
order that he trip can be made. The
Imiddies are extremely anxious to get tc
1.-THE Exposition, yet they do not look