The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-18
MIDSHIPMEN GAIN
BY COURTS RULING
Findings to Be Made Only on
the Evidence at Present
Inquiry.
PROOF MADE DIFFICULT

ANNAPOLIS, Nd. June l7-seversl
ridshipmen testified to-day before the
court Of Inquiry that they had never
seen a case Of "sousins." or one mid
shipman helping another In examination,
at the Naval Academy.
The testimony was gratifying to the
authorities and friends OF the institution
In view Of the general charges that the
midshipmen have no, been governed by
a high standard OF honor in examina-
lions.
A ruling Of the court that may affect
the defendants advantageously was that
the court would reach its findings en-
,'rely upon the evidence brought directly
before II. and that the record Of the
board Of investigation which had found
guilty Midshipman James Z. Moss and
six other midshipmen. who bad seen the
papers which he received through the
mail, would no, be evidence in the pres
ent inquiry.
Capt. Russell. president OF the court,
said. however, that the Secretary OF tire
Navy would act according to his own
discretion In deciding the cases OF the
accused m!dshipmen.
Dimcuity Of Proof.
Under this ruling Il may be very dim
cult TO bring home TO the defendants the
possession or knowledge OF the papers.
which the authorities declare should have
been known to them as the copy OF the
examination which was 10 be given.
II is understood that the only evidence
on this point before the board OF IN
v~estigation was tho testimony OF the
seven midshipmen themselves. and that
the papers have been destroyed.
One OF the strongest grounds upon
which the action OF he beard and Supt.
Fullam was protested was that the mid.
snipmen were not informed that they
we're on tris! and taat they could de-
cline TO answer questions II the latter
tended 10 s;ultlfy them.
IL the midshipmen take his ground
before the present court. and their OBJ
lection is sustained. there may be an
entire failure 10 get the papers In evi-
dence.
Every effort is being made TO have all
the midsnipInen who are stationed on
the vessels OF the practice squadron
complete their testimony tomorrow and
saturday. so that the squadron can start
Sunday morning on the cruise to the Pa
c!hc via the Panama Canal.
Much OF the testimony given by the
midshipnen to-day was cumulative.
They agreed that a large proportion OF
their class had \ substantial part of the
examination information regarding mod
ern languages in advance.
The number of mtdshipmen so in
formed was placed at from 90 to a5 per
cent. and Il was said that all thought
that IL was the usual dope" some hav-
ING a poor opinion OF t.
The Grouping system.
Light was thrown on the mid.hip-
mems opinion OF the division of the
classes into groups OF m!dsnipmen or
sections according 10 eNamioation marks.
II was harder, they said. 10 get a good
mark in a wooden section than In a
''savvey" section-the sections represent
ing the extremes of scholarship.
Somewhat out OF the usual run was
the testimony Of Midshipmsn II. NJ. Null
link. the leader OF the first class. He
testified that the opinion of the midship-
men was that the seven recommended
for dismissal were the goats and that
they were no more guilty tnan the re-
mainder who had dope"
He told of two midshipmen, j. h.
Davis and W. T.. Mackey. who did not
study the dope" because they suspected
that il was an advance copy OF the ex-
animation paper.
Midshipman Boyd r. Alexander said
tina, he considered the only fair way was
10 do away entirely with dope
Midshipman Chaplin T.. Evans, one OF
the defendants. met with a mishap as
the result of the additional liberty given
by Supt Fullam. While working IN the
gymnasium yesterday afternoon he
sprained his ankle and was absent from
cour to-day. He will be. able to he in
his place in a few DAYS.