The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-09
Mildly Tried Bribery TO
Get Examination Paper
Rear Admiral Fullam Tells Court of Inquiry That Two
Others Tried to Enter the Office
of an Instructor.


Of the departments and each chose and
pursued his own methods.
Three other officers. all Of whom are
now or recently have been heads OF de-
pa rtnlents, answered questions along the
same line and indicated that their meth
DDS were different.
Capt. g. II. Burrage. previous TO the
present year head Of the department
OF seamanship and ~commandant OF mid
shipmen during the academic year Just
closed, told how the midshipmen now
under charges were first connected with
the affair. lie said that upon hearing
a rumor that certain papers had been
secured By the midshipmen he asked
Midshipman r.. r. Adams. president OF
the first class. to trace the matter out
for him. telling him that 4; was his
duty to do this In order to uphold the
standards OF the academy.
Midshipman Adams. said Capt. Bur
rage, gave him the names OF three mid
stipmen who were known to have had
the papers. One OF these was Midship-
man l.. +. VESSEL. now under arrest.
Mldshipman VESSEL stated TO Capt. Bur
rage that Midshlpman j. Il. Moss had
given him the papers and the latter
stated that he had received them through
the mail from an unknown sender.
Capt. BurraGe said that all the mid
shipmen made frank statements TO him
and he believed their avowal that they
did not know the paper contained ques-
tons that were to he asked on exami-
nation.
Capt. Burrage said that he did not
pursue the matter any further. or In
terview the two other midshipmen
named by Midshipman Adams because
an official board OF investigation was
appointed next day BY Admiral Fullam
and took up the whole matter.
Capt. l.. II. Chandler. head Of the
department OF ordnance and gunnery.
stated that he prepared the examination
questions for his department two or
/ three weeks in advance OF the exami-
! nation and furnished to each of the
nine officers or instructors Of his de-
partmont a copy. directing them to 20
over the general subject matter with
their sections. His department. he said.
gave out no dope and there had never
been a leak so far as he was concerned.
Capt. Chandler also stated that any
leak through those who helped him
print the papers was most unlikely. as
he supervised the whole operation.
Papers Gave Evidence.
Co~mmandant +. A. Traut. head OF
the department OF modern languages
and also n member OF the original board
OF investigation. asserted hat more than
half OF the papers carried evidence that
their makers had access TO unfair helps.
He said that an answer to a question
made by Ensign Walter J. Confer. then
a membe OF the first class, was iden-
teal with an answer written out on one
OF the papers found near the examina-
ton room and pieced together, IVY TO
a slight grammatical error. He also
said the copy OF questions and answers
was In the handwriting OF Midshipman
4. G. Rogers.
II IL understood that Prof. II. r.
Smith. read OF the department Of math-
ematics and mechanics. will he the nrst
witness called In the morning.
SO far AZ least twenty others have
been mentioned In such a way as their
being called as witnesses IL almost GER
tain, and there still remain the many
midshipmen whose testimony II neces-
sary TO explain some phase OF the mat
ter. Altogether. the likelihood OF a
lengthy session OF the court 10 most
apparent.
Counsel for the seven accused mid
| shipmen received a telegram from Secre-
tary Daniels this morning in which he
states that he will not release the young
men from arrest. He stated that he had
examined presidents. and they indicated
that such an arrest was usual while
under charges. The midshlpmen. how
ever. are allowed reasonable latitude and
may consult with counsel at will. They
are marched in n squad to and from the
court room by other midshipmen.
With the announcement that the
sessions OF the court would be open, a
large audience assembled to-day. II IN
Guided a number Of the ONE OF the
ANY contingent.