Evening star., 1915-06-10
Commander Traut Relates
Story Told Him by Acad-
emy Instructor.
RESUMES HIS TESTIMONY
BEFORE COURT OF INQUIRY
Believed at Annapolis Investigation
of "Gouging" May Last
i Month Longer.

ANNAPOLIS. Md, June l0.-Wher
Commander F. A. Traut. head of the
department of modern languages at the
Naval Academy, resumed his testimony
today before the court of inquiry in
vestigating recent Irregularities in ex-
anlinations. he related a story which
he said had been told him by Instruct
or Washburn of the English depart
ment of the suspicious actions of three
n1idshipmen. Mr.. Washburn said he
had occasion Christmas eve to go to
his office. On entering the building he
saw three midshipmen. one of whom
was in the act of closing the door OF
the office of the department of mod
ern languages.
He hailed them, he said. but they ran
away.
Men Escaped, Identity Unknown.
The instructor reported the incident,
but the men were not caught, and their
identity is not known
Commander Traut said he learned
only indefinitely a few weeks ago of
the reported incident The actual
story was told him yesterday by Mr..
Washburn.
the system of preparing questions from
Secretary Daniels, and the slow prog
resS the inquiry has made thus far, it
was thought today that the investiga-
tion might last a month longer
Hope to Find Sender of Questions.
There will be many more witnesses
for the government. and it is known
that the defense will have a large
number
Counsel for the defendants have sub
mitted the names of number of per
sons they desired to be called as wit
nesses.
1t was stated that it was hoped,
through some of these, to develop the
name of the sender of the questions to
Midshpman Moss and his motive in
doing so.
Commander Traut's Opinion.
Commander Traut, under cross-exam
ination yesterday, expressed the opin-
ion that Ensign II. Fl. Harrison. who
graduated last week was guilty of
irregular practice" in not notifying the
authorities after learning that what he
had received as innocent dope" in re-
ality was copy of the examination
paper which Midshipman Moss is
charged with circulating. Also under
eross-eXamination he said that it was
suspicious circumstance that the
handwriting cf Ensign A. d. Struble
was on the copy of the examination
paper in question found inside the
classroom after the last examination
In modern languages
Commander Trauts testimony as TO
the course of procedure by the board
OF investiga tion. of which he was pres
ident. was to the effect that only those
nidshipnen were called in who were
EIfG
session the original papers received by
Moss or to have seen them. There un-
doubtedly were number, he said, who
mad fragments and recognized some
questions as identical with the actual
examination questions But il would
nave been a difficult matter to prove
that this was aot merely a coincidence
He explained that Admiral FuIlam
had been Informed of all the circum-
stances in connection with the matter
Cross-Examine Officer,
For the greater part of the afternoon
up 10 the adjournment of court at !
O'Clock. Commander Traut underwear,
q severe cross=examination by all three
members OF midshipmens counsel in
an effort TO show that the authorize,
had drawn an unfair distinction be.
tween degrees OF guilt
they repeatedly contended that mid.
sbipmen who had seen the papers tina,
M'dshlpnan Moss had received, and
which are alleged TO have been orig
mo! examination papers, and did not
themselves make use of them should
not be considered more guilty THAN
those VINO had copies o. fra agments OF
"hich ne made use in the examinations
aHd which they might have knovr
were improper.
70 the indications that a large mum.
Der Of officers and rnidshipnen wou1e
pe involved in the proceedings the pro.
ceedlngS would not be retraced EacI
.ouin be given opportunities Of seeint
the whole record and recalling suci
VI nesses as NAV be necessarN