Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-16
.FULLAM DEFENDS ACTION
BEFORE COURT OF INQUIRY
Naval Academy Superintendent Ex-
plains Advice He Gave to Prospec-
tive NIidshipmen Witnesses.
TELLS OF TALK WITH DANIELS
Denies That He Tried to Influence
Testimony, but Only Wanted to
Save Young Men From Jeopardiz-
ing Their Interests.

ANNAPOLIS. June 15.-Rear-Adm
William F. Fullam. superintendent Of
the Naval Academy. to-day explained
before the court OF inquiry investigat-
ing the examinations scandal the advice
which he had given prospective mid
shipmen witnesses While he was In
the witness chair. Admiral Fullam
said:
Il consider myself in some sense a
defendant. in view OF what the press
or the country has had to say in criti-
cism of the system at the academy"
When Midshipman a. c. Rogers
Joined the seven original defendants,
sad Admiral Fullam. after testimony
mad been given that n paper in Rogers 8
handwriting had been found. on which
answers appeared to questions in the
last Spanish examination, he accepted
the counsel of the other defendants
Admiral Fullam said he sent for
Rogers because he felt that he was
wronging himself and jeopardizing his
interests by placing himself in the
Same category with the seven midship-
men recommended for dismissal.
NO EFFORT TO INFLUENCE
MIDSHIPMEN'S TESTIMONY
I'm no case did try to influence the
midshipmen's testimony or their actions
in this court" said the superintendent.
After others had been drawn into the
proce edings. the superintendent said
counsel came TO him and asked thar
the seven under arrest be freed; that
all the defendants should be given the
same status. He told counsel he con-
sidered the status of the seven diff
ferent, and he could not release them
from confinement aboard the prison
ship.
referring again to Rogers, Admiral
Fullam said that when he considered
that the young mans interests had been
JeopardiZed he wanted to know, as
his commanding officer. If he was salts
hed 1t was his duty. he said, before
putting him on the prison ship to ask
him If he wanted to go into that
category.
Asked by Congressman Carlin. of
counsel for the midshipmen, about his
interview with Secretary of the Navy
Daniels in Washington last Saturday.
the admiral said that he reviewed the
wholc matter with the secretary, who
expressed n desire for "a full and free
investigation of the whole thing by
d court In order that there should be
no complaint that there had not been
n thorough inquiry"
Admiral Fullam said he considered
1t for, the best interests Of the
academy and Of the navy that he
should reiterate to the secretary his
previous views as to the guilt of tho
seven midshipmcn.
HARD TO ESTABLISH
INNOCENCE OF MEN
Unless the court discovers evidence
OF which l cannot conceive and which
L never heard" the admiral said. IT
think 1t hardly possible to establish
the Innocence of these men"
Admiral is 1t your purpose to re-
sign and go to sea in coliicr?" asked
Congressman Carlin.
mot at ALL" was the reply. NV
reason for mentioning that subject at
all was simply this: that. after all I
had said to the midshipmen OF my views
OF gougfng,' had apparently not sue
ceeded in pounding into them the seri-
ousness of 1t. 1 told the. four class
presidents that I considered 1t such n
reflection on this school that IL II con-
Continued on Third Page.)