Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-07-15
INQUIRY OF "CR|BB|NG"
SCANDAL ENDS TODAY
Judge Advocate Watts Scores
Original Defendant Midshipmen.
STATEMENTS UNBELIEVABLE.
Holds That Moss and Others Must
Have Suspected the Papers That
Came Through the Mail.

The court of inquiry into the crib
bing" scandal and other irregularities
in examinations at the NavalAcademy
reached a climax this afternoon. Ar
guments in behalf of the remaining
defendants to the proceedings were
heard during the morning, and Lieut.
Com. W. c. Watts. presented the Gov
ernment's side of the case
The Judge Advocate charged among
other things. that the statements OF
some of the original defendants as to
the circumstances surrounding the adj
vance circulation OF examination pa
pers, are unbelievable and should be
so regarded by the court He referr-
red 10 the conflict as to the exact date
that the papers got out, and he ques-
toned whether they were received
through the mail by MidshipmanMoss.
as claimed. saying that this is based
solely on the testimony of Moss.
He said the whole affair is incoo-
ceivable, that Moss and the other de-
PENDANTS must have been suspicious
that the papers were the actual forth
ings and should so report the matter.
1t is also significant, the Judge Advo-
cate argued, that Midshipman Nelson,
the first class n,did not disclose how
he came i'll possession of one of TIE
papers even to his classmate, and that
he, and Midshipman Vessels, a sec
ond classman, who made copy of the
paper, while he was patient at the
hospital, and later found that the in
formation was the examination which
able standards of honor. But, he said,
they took the examination, and sub
mitted their paper, whenthey should
have notified an instructor immediate
ly after they got i'm the class room and
recognized that the advance informa-
tion was the real examination.
The Judge Advocate claimed that
Midshipman Reagle's testimony, re-
gardless of the fact that he falsified
should be accepted as the truth. He
charged that Reagle, who was the
'sleuth" in the escapades of Raging
when he first appeared as a witness,
coming examinations, regardless of
the fact that they contained no head
marks, was under great strain when
he was first examined that he was en-
deavoring to protect his fellows, under
presseure which, he said had been
brought against him by the defend
ants, and that his subsequent testi-
mony was positive.
That politicians were endeavoring to
run the Naval Academy instead of the
officials delegated by the Navy Depart
mont to administer it's affairs was the
assertion of Lieut.. CT Smith, who was
counsel. arguing in behalf of Midship-
men Hopkins and Denny. interested
parties before the court. He said
there were nearly two hundred Off
GERS on duty here and among them
the feeling had been extremely bitter,
and that at one time when some OF The
midshipmen requested naval counsel,
it was felt that the officers should
have nothing to do with matters be-
fore the court
He asserted that the ordering of the
court was the result of activities of
politicians: that the accused midship-
men got themselves in trouble through
policies and the feeling was to let
them get out of it the same way.
Midshipman Reagle, who was made
a defendant by his own testimony, in
which he perjured himself, was hailed
before the court this morning. 81 have
no statment whatever to make" he
said, when asked by President Russell
whether he had any argument to make
in his behalf Reagle, incidentally
had previously asked to be allowed to
resign. and this being refused, he ask.
ed to be dismissed.
Others who made statements to the
court to clear up their connection with
the scandal. were Graduate Midship-
men Nunnaly and Hough, ,Attornel Will
liam B. Burch and Midshipmen f. j
Jones and Keller. Attorney Frederick
G. Faust for Midshipmen Click and
Whitaker; Lieutenant Kenyon for
Midshipman Waddell, and Midshipmer
Holden and Kieffe
The weight of the Judge Advocates
remarks revolved around the sever
original defendants, s,who saw the white
mimeograph sheets that later turned
out TO be the actual examination pa.
pers. and the several other midship-
men who saw like sheets. but in mi.
nor degree, and who became defend
ants before the court through the tes.
timony of other midshipmen Hs
dwelt particularly upon the connect
ion of Nidshipmen Moss and Nelson
with the scandal. With others of the
defendants he frankly admitted ths
benefit of the doubt should favor them
The court. it is understood expects
to complete its work entirely by mex
wednesday. when its report and rec
omendations win have been perparet
for transmission to the Secretary o.
the Navy who is the reviewing author
ity of the proceedings Naturally
there is much speculation at the Nava
Academy and through the city among
those who have followed the inquir,
closely. as to what will be the court.
recommendation in the premises
There are many who are inclined t.
the belief that SuperintendentFullaml