The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-26
HAZING STORY MAY
OPEN new INQUIRY
Charges by Midshipman Rea-
gle. Who Admitted He stole
Examination Papers.
CLASS ISSUES DEFENCE
Supt. Fullam Says Honor Sys.
tenn Can't Make DishOnOr-
able Man Honorable.

able Man Honorable.
ANSApoLIs. June -Midshipman
Charles NJ Reagle testified before the
court OF inquiry Mt the Naval academy
to-day that hazing still exists In the
Naval Academy and under the old
forms which were 90 roundly condemned
by the public when the facts were de-
veloped during an Inquiry In 1906.
Reagle's assertion. with the details
which he gave, more than equalled the
sensation caused by his admission that
he had given false testimony on the
stand before and that he had obtained
much improper information during his
wanderings through the departments
with his equipment OF keys. plncers and
electric fashlight.
II is believed that Secretary Daniels
will take cognlzance OF the charges and
will widen the present inquiry so as to
include the hazing allegations in the In
vestigation.
\ chance statement that Reagle went
into an upper class mans room and
saw "plebe" with his face to the
wall gave Representative Carlin. of the
defendants counsel. his opportunity. and
he brought out that this was part OF
the hazing the mldshipmen received
during their first year. The connec-
ton with the present inquiry was. sc-
cording 10 Mr.. Carlin, that they would
prove midshpmen mad been compelled
to get Information for upper class men
through hazing or threats OF hazing
'Why was the plebe standing with his
face to the wall?" asked Mr.. Carlin.
ut has been the custom ever since I
came in," was Reagle's answer.
Cursed by Upper Glass Man.
He explained that he did not do It the
first time that he was in the presence
of an upper class man and that he got
the worst "cussin' out" OF his life This
referred to the old system OF showering
profane abuse on an under class man.
Reagle related a line OF physical evo-
lutions which had been required of him
anu pti'i WHICH fff
exactly the old practices revealed by
the investigation OF 1906.
Reagle said that during his first, or
''plebe' year. he had heen compelled "a
go on his bean while mucilage was
poured down his leg and go on his
bean" under the shower The "stoop
falling" as described 10y Reagle. was
ito stretch out and push yourself IN
and down and let your chest touch tho
deck and push away" In the knee
stoop." lie said. you put your heels
together and reach down with your
hands and push away" These. Roagle
said. he had done AS high as 2OO times
continuously and had seen others do
them until they were exhausted.
In the mess hall. Reagle testified
"plebes" were not allowed to talk. and
were compelled to sit on the front edges
of their chairs. An infraction OF the
rule, he said. brought hazing at once,
the offender being compelled TO do one
Of the physical stunts or ego IN his
bean" behind one OF the pillars in such
way that the officer In the room could
not see him.
stealing advance Information.
ON the matter of procuring advance
information ReagNe's testimony also had
its strong points. He had had numerous
keys. he said. and still had two of them
IN his box. with "A pair of plnccrs with
which he opened windows. lie admitted
that he had taken slips with coming
recitations on them. worked out prob
lens. blue prints and models Rough
sheets of the examination in English.
which afterward proved largely correct,
were part OF his spoil. In fact sew
.ral OF the departments yielded matter
which proved helpful to him or other
mdshipmrn.
Mdshpmen Waddell. Click. Keller
and Whitaker We're among the mid.
shipmen named by Reaglc as companions
on several OF his trips. He said that
Nelson, the honor man of the last grad
uating class. who Ia one of the de-
PENDANTS. had gone with him to the
marine engineering department on scv-
crai occasions, but that he had never
seen him take any matter.
Moss, another OF the defendants, he
said, had been with him once TO try
TO see his mark.
Reagle knew nothing about the leal;
of the examinations In modern Ian
guages, but said that he had seen "A copy
in 7. W. Harrlson's room which ne
thought they all regarded as the coming
examination
Niddies Issue Honor statement.
Feeling that ttelr positions ON the mat.
ter Of standards Or honor has been much
misunderstood the midshipmen have pre-
pareJ "A statement. which they addressed
10 Rear Admiral Fullnm. superintendent
of the Naval Academy. Tdis letter. with
Admiral Fullam's reply, has been posted
ON the ships of the squadron. The letter
ls as follows.
From the moment man enters
the Naval Academy his honesty II
unauestioncd and his fellows do not
spy upon his actions. Approaching
this. We have uied to maintain the
confidence thus rcposcd in US.
We feel that the public has not
had suiii, lent information 10 under
stand clearly our attitude, and that
a grave suspicion Is resting upon us
thai our whOl. code of morals is on
trial These are the causes that inn
pei MS to set forth our attitude In
this matter, as II il now, and as
ii has ever been.
No dishonest practice, where knowl-
edge OF such practice has been had
by the members Of the corps has ever
been tolerated in the regiment ~
midshlpmen. dIouesty and veracity
have been demanded of every individ-
ual
For our mutual protection we have
frowncd upon any l"anlngs toward
u policy less than srrupulously honest
and frank. Far from cuuutenancing
irregularities. where they have been
detected We hayr shown our willing
ii.ss TO aid the authorities IN ridding
the naval service of the undeslra bic
member who may have been found
guilty of misconduct.
In view Of this state Of affairs,