The sun., 1915-06-23
ONE ACCUSED CADET
HAD BURGLAR TOOLS
Entered Annapolis Buildings
With Flashlight. Pincers
and a Key.
THREAT MADE BY NELSON

| ANNAPOLIS. June 60 M'uS'''p''''"
James Il. 'waddei, and Charles NJ
Reagle, both Of whom admitted that
they entered department buildings Mt
the Naval Academy. testified To-day
that Midshipman Ralph Mex. Nelson.
one of the leading students Of the class
which was graduated this month. had
been seen by them to do the same th'ng.
iwaddell further testified th1t Nelson
had taken some turbine sheets con-
saining the examination questions tn he
asked.
| Reagle, who was equipped witt
sashlight, pincers and key which
would open several doors OF the de-
partments. testified to having entered
mtny different departments, although
ne contended that he had done so merely
20 see his marks or to get smoke He
denied that he had ever taken examina-
ton questions or seen Nelson do so.
This testimony followed revelations
made by Lieut.. w W. Turner and En-
sign ]. NJ. Graham. The latter sid he
had received a message from Nelson
threatening that Nelson would nix him
II he testified against the accused mid
shipman. Graham said that he himself
had written to Nelson giving assurances
that he would forget what he knew
about him"
Nidshipman Waddell testified that he
A9d gone to the engineering building vt
ihS suggestion OF Reagle to see If he
~ getting u fair mark in marine en-
.Ef6eering. II was then. he said. that
IN. had seen. Midshipman Nelson take
shA turbine sheets" Waddeil admitted
that he had once taken some papers, hut
that they proved worthless.
D. Hearsay Is Not CONFIRMED.
The Government failed to obtain from
waddell or Reagle all of the damaging
facts which had been Indicated by
hearsay testimony. Both said that they
had never seen Nelson In any depart
ment except that of marine engineering
and that they had never seen indica-
tions of Nelson and Moss getting eN-
animation papers or other illegitimate
matter. Reagle also denied saying that
he got calculus examination from
Moss, as Ensign Graham had testified.
waddell said that 1t was much harder
for a midshipman in a low section TO
eet a good mark than one In n high
section. citing his own experience as a
"savvy" man in languages and wooden"
in mathematics. In the former. he said.
he got a good mark whether he knew
anything about the lesson or not. and he
had the greatest dificulty In obtaining z
bare passing marks in mathematics. al
though ne gave II nearly all of his atten-
tion. studying in recreation periods and
after tapa-
waddell said that the third class
studied 30 many subjects In one year
that an average student could not pass
the examinations without the use of
"dope' of some kind.
Many Middies In Building.
Reagie said that he had started going
20 the engineering department last year
as a fourth class man and that he had
met as many as forty or fifty midship-
men In there at once. This year, he said,
he had gone to the different departments
In the academic building. where most OF
them are grouped.
He said that he had trouble getting
In, and that often the doors were opened
or the windows could be pushed open
He had never. he said. done more than
look at his mark, get marks for others OF
cit around and smoke. He denied that
Midshipman Nelson had taught him Il
enter the buildings or had sent him
there
Indications that the midshipmen are
not SO solidly behind the original de-
PENDANTS as at the beginning of the in
Quiry were manifest to-day. Cliques are
developing among the midshlpmen and
the members of the last years gradual
ing class, some being disposed TO admit
the force OF damaging evidence which
has been offered this week. However
the inquiry has failed to connect Nelson
or any other defendant with the thief,
Of the examination papers In moderr
languages. which the Government IL
apparently trying to do.
Indications are that because such 0
large number Of midshipmen must b;
called the practice squadron may b,
delayed sufficiently to have to abandon
the proposed cruise to the San Fran
cisco exposition. The defendants indi
Gated to-day that they might have Il
call as many as $50 mldshipmen a.
witnesses.
6upt. Fullam has recommended tha
the stop at the exposition and othe
points be curtailed during the cruis,
and that the midshipmen be deprive,
Of two weeks of their September leave
Representatives Hay and Carlin o
dDunsel for the defendants sent a stroni
Hrotest to Secretary Daniels to-nigh
against the character OF Midshipmal
Vessels confinement. Vessel broke hi
arm over year ago and g he had muc!
trouble with It the member had to b.
broken again and reset. 1t is weak an,
requires treatment and exercise. It 1
Haid that his confinement on the Rein;
Mercedes makes this impossible.
n -