Evening star., 1915-06-16
OFFICERS RESENT
"M|DDY" INQUIRY
Investigation Also Is Likened
to a Police Court, Say
Witnesses.
ADMIRAL FULLAM REGRETS
THING CAME OUT THIS WAY
Classmen Told to Put Selves in Same
Category as Culpable Might Be
to Their Disadvantage.

to Their Disadvantage.
ficers at the Naval Academy had cN-
pressed resentment and regret at the
necessity for A court OF inquiry such
as was appointed by Secretary Daniels
to investigate irregularities in Naval
Academy examination papers Was
brought out in today's testimony be-
fore the court.
Lieut.. NJ. E Manly. aid to Supi.
Fullam. and Lieut. Commander j. 7.
Tompkins. head OF the department oe
physics. declared they had heard such
expressions
Lieut.. Manly said he also heard ths
present court likened to a police court.
He might have agreed with the opinion
on some occasions, he said
Advice to MILDLY" Witnesses.
Lieut.. Manly was called to relate tha
circumstances OF the advice given 10
midshipman witnesses who reported al tho
superintendents ONCE last Saturday. He
said the superintendent wished them ad-
vised that II they chose to put themselves
in the same category as the seven mid-
shipmen found culpable by a board OF in-
vestigation 1t might work to their dis
advantage.
No advice as to the nature Of the testi-
mony to be given before the court was
offered oany midshipman. Lieut.. Manly
said, nor was there any discussion of the
nature Of the inquiry now going on.
The only comment Lieut.. Manly had
heard the superintendent make about tho
present investigation at any conference
Of academy officials was that he was dis
appointed that this thing came out this
way"
Examination Unusually Hard.
Midshipmen Hugo Schmidt and N. p.
Earle OF the new first class. both Of
whom had q high rating in French,
testified that the last examination in
modern languages was different In
its general physical aspect from any
previous examination. Earle said that
II the designation at the top OF paper
containing all the questions in an ex-
animation were cut of he would not
know 1t was an Official examination
paper. Schmidt said 1t was the hardest
French examination he had ever seen.
Midshipman J. NJ. Blue Of the new
first class testified that he did not see
how any one could have passed the
last examination In French and Span
ish without having had advanced In
formation.
Rear Admiral Fullam Explains.
Rear Admiral Fullam was given an
opportunity late yesterday to explain the
advice which he had given prospective
midshipmen witnesses. Earlier in tho
day a letter was received from him
acknowledging receipt Of the courts
request that the practice against which
Representative Hay entered a protest
Monday be discontinued.
Admiral FullAm testified: Il consider
myself in some sense defendant In view
NP rVha he
to say in criticism OF the system al tns
academy
When Midshipman A. C. Rogers Joined
mony had been given that a paper in his
handwriting had been found on which
appeared answers to questions in the last
Spanish examination, and which had been
circulated as dope" prior to the examina-
ton. he accepted the counsel Of the other
defendants Admiral Fullam said he sent
for Rogers the next morning because he
felt that Rogers needed advice concerning
that proceeding; that he was wronging
himself and jeopardizing his interests by
placing himself in the same category with
the seven midshipmen wh0, had been
recommended for dismissal His impress
sion was that three or four other mid
what he said, and possibly he had advised
others.
Exerted No influence.
"In no case did try to influence
their testimony or their actions in this
court" said the. superintendent.
After others had been drawn into
the proceedings, the superintendent
said, counsel came to him and asked
that the seven under arrest be freed.
that all the defendants should be given
the Same status. He told counsel he
considered the status OF the seven very
different 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 ofieer. If he was
satisfied 1t was his duty. he said.
before putting him on the prison ship
to ask him IL he wanted to go into
that category.
Asked by Representative Carlin about
his interview with Secretary Daniels
in Washington last Saturday. the ad-
miral said that he reviewed the whole
matter with the Secretary. who ex-
pressed a desire for "a full and free
a court in order that there should bs
no complaint that there had not been
q thorough inquiry.
Admiral Fullam said he considered la
for the best interests of the academy
and of the navy that he should re-
iterate to the Secretary his previous
views as to the guilt OF the seven mid
shipmen.
Considers Men Guilty.
Unless the court discovers evidence
of which l cannot conceive and which
never heard" the admiral added. Il
think 1t hardly possible to esta blish the
innocence Of these men,.
In reply to another question by Rep
rAaentatiye Carlin the admiral said: L
would feel very badly II my judgment
were impugned and they were not
found guilty"
Admiral, is it your purpose to resign
and 20 to sea in q collier?" asked Mr..
Carlin.
mot at ALL" was the reply. MY rea-
son for mentioning that subject at all
was simply this: That after all I had
said to the midshipmsn Of my views on
'gouging' I apparently had not Sue
ceeded in pounding into them the seri-
BUSINESS of 1t. I told the four class
presidents that considered It such a
reflection on this school that II 1t con-
tinued to exist here I would hnd 1t no
honor or satisfaction to remain here as