Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-15
CHARGE AGAINST FULLAM
BEFORE INQUIRY COURT
HAY Virtually Accuses Naval Acad-
emy Head Of Tampering With
Evidence of Witnesses.
LETTER ASKS HIM TO DEsIsT
Sent to superintendent After Con-
sideration of Nearly an Hour Be-
hind Closed Doors-Further Tes-
timony Concerning Irregularities.

ANNAPOLIS. ND. June IA vir-
tual charge with tampering with the
evidence of witnesses before the court
of inquiry investigating the irregulari-
ties in examination papers at the Naval
Academy was made to-day against Adj
miral Fullam. superintendent of the
academy. by Congressman James Hay,
counsel for seven of the midshipmen
defendants.
Hay said that the evidence of mid
shipmen that they have been taken
to the office of the superintendent of
the academy and there that either the
superintendent or his aide had told
them If they took n certain position
in this case what would happen to
them" indicated tampering with the
evidence of the witnesses
1T may be proper Hay continued,
when these young men are ordered
up here from the ship that they should
report to the superintendent. But it
is not proper, in my Judgment, that
the superintendent should be allowed
to give them his opinion Of what thew
ought to say. or what they ought to
do, or in what category they are to
place themselves
DECENCY OF WHOLE
COUNTRY IS SHOCKED
L say 1t shocks the decency of the
whole country that these young men
should nave to undergo a lecture by
the man who Is over them, and in
whose hands rests their fortune as long
MS he occupies tho position that he
does. 1t seems to me that the court
In order to protect the witnesses and
in order to protect itself, will take
some step to prevent that sort of thing
going on"
After considering Hays request he
nind ciosed doors for nearly an hour.
Captain Robert l.. Russell. president
OF the court. announced that he had
decided that the following letter be
sent to the superintendent of the
academy:
THE question has been raised in
this court In regard TO persons already
summoned for appearance rs witnesses
before the court being seen at the
superintcndents office, either by him
self or by his aide. and instructed as
10 their status as witnesses or nos
slole defendants. This might inhu-
ence their testimony.
Therefore, it is requested that prior
to the completion of their testimony
before the court and prior to their
being regularly designated as defen-
dants, witnesses and possible defen-
dants summoned through the superin-
tendents office. be not instructed at
any time or place as to the possible
status in which they will be placed
by virtue of any action they might
take as witnesses or defendants"
FURTHER TESTIMONY
on CHEATING CHARGES
Further testimony was offered to-
day tending to support suspicious of
the Naval Academy authorities that
the Offices of three departments had
been entered just prior to the last an
nual examinations Instructor Four
non. OF the department of modern lam
gungcs, testified that on May IA he
found both doors leading to the office
OF the head OF modern languages
locked, which was unusual
Commander C. f. Preston. head of
the English department. said that
week prior to the last examinations n
key was missing from his office
Examination papers we're stolen
from the department. OF electrical en-
gineering and physics, according to
the testimony Of Commander ]. T.
Tompkins. Another examination WAS
prepared, he said.