Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-06
SWEEPING INQUIRY
| AT NAVAL ACADEMY
Secretary of Navy Orders Court
to Investigate Charges of Cheat
ing in Examinations.
THREE STUDENTS DISMISSED
Seven Others Recommended for
Expulsion-Some Instructors
May Be Involved.

WASHINGTON. June 5.-After a con-
ference with President Wilson to-day
Secretary Daniels appointed a court of
Inquiry to Investigate specific charges
that seven midshipmen at the Naval
Academy had secured advance informa-
ton on examinations The court will
make a sweeping inquiry, however. into
reports tina, other midshipmen, and
possibly some instructors. were involved
in the irregularities.
No attempt was made at the Navy
Department Tonight to minimize the
gravity OF the situation Secretary
Daniels authorized the statement that
the court of inquiry would make a
thorough investigation. Tho annual
practice cruise of the midshipmen,
which was to have been begun next
week. has been indefinitely postponed,
in order that students at the academy
may testify before the court of inquiry
which Will be convened at Annapolis
next Monday
During his conference with Secretary
Daniels President Wilson approved
recommendations that three cadets at
the academy charged with irregulari-
tons be dismissed from the service
The secretary refused to make public
the names of the midshipmen, all OF
whom were lower classmen One of
them was charged with having offered
n brihe to a civilian for advance infor-
nation on an examination, while 1t is
understood the other two broke into
professors room to ascertain the
standing they had attained in an exami-
nation.
COURT TO INVESTIGATE
SITUATION AT ANNAPOLIS
The court which will Investigate the
situation Is composed Of Captain r. L.
russell, former Judge acknowledgement
OF the navy: Captain A. T. Long, Com
mander l.. r. De SteIgher and Lieuten-
ant-Commander ". c. Watt. who will
act as Judge advocates
The seven cadets have already been
recommended for dismissal bv the
academy board. but Secretary Daniels
after personal examination. decided
that 1t was best to go thoroughly into
all charges involving others.
The President and Secretary Daniels
are understood TO be exercised over the
situation. because, after the cadets re-
ceived the information, they kept the
Understood
to have led the secretary TO doubt the
claim OF some OF the midshipmen that
they did not know the information thew
had received was in fact the examina-
tons they were to take.
The seven midshipmen under speci6c
charges are:
Ralph NICK. Nelson. Jr., of New York;
Chaplin F.. Evans, OF Virginia: Stuart
hamilton, OF Connecticut: Leonard y
Wessell, OF North Carolina: Donald F.
Duncan. Of Michigan; Thomas w. Har-
rison, Jr.. of Virginia, and James f
Moss, of Maryland. Nelson is the only
hrst-class man among the seven dI
rectly involved. He stood third in his
class, and had achieved a reputation as
mathematician. His diploma was
withheld at the graduation exercises
yesterday
COMPELLED TO UNDERGO
NEW EXAMINATIONS
All OF the classes in the academy ex-
cept the first and second classes were
compelled TO undergo new examina-
lions in French and Spanish. This
fact In itself shows how general the
academy authorities believe the cheat
ing TO have been.
secretary Daniels to-day told how
the authorities learned OF the cheating
1t seems that when the examinations
had been concluded. one of the pro-
1essors noticed that nearly all the
"astepaskets IN the corridors con-
tanned crumpled-up sheets of yellow
paper. This aroused his suspicion, and
he proc eeded to examine some of these
sheets To his Armament, he found
that they contained n full list of the
questions in French and Spanish for
all of the classes. They were all I'm
the same handwriting. The other pro-
tessors were informed of his discovery.
and that evening there was n consul
tatlon. All of the examination papers
submitted were gone over, until one
was round the handwriting of which
was identical with that of the writing
on the discarded sheets found in tho
wastebasket
1hen the young midshipman who had
submitted that paper was sent Cor. and
was accused of having distributed the
examination questions. He admitted II
When asked how he had obtained them
he said they had been sent to him
through the mails He declared TINT
when he got them he did not know that
they were the actual questions that
would ne asked in the examinations.
pu' thoueht merely mat they were good |
dope"
with that idea he passed them around
pretty generally to his friends In all
of the classes.
RECEIVED ORIGINAL
COPIES OF PAPERS
The seven midshipmen whose dis
missal has been recommended by the
board which made the preliminary ey
animation were those who had received
original copies. AS these copies had |
on them the date and time of the ex-
animation. the board held that the mid
shipmen ought to have known, and |
probably did know, that they were not
mere dope" as to what the real ques-
tions OF the examination would be, but