Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-08-16
Naval Academy Inquiry
Clears Them of Charges :
of 'Gouging'
VICTORY FOR CARLIN
Result of Proceedings Sustains Alex
andria Congressman in his Charges
Against School.

One Alexandria boy, Chaplin E.
Evans, son of Mr.. and Mrs. George
H. Evans. and another Virginia boy
T. w. Harrison, Jr., son of Judge
Harrison, who were among the seven
+ midshipmen at the Annapolis Naval
Academy charged with "gouglng"
which in plain terms means fraud IN
examinations. were completely exc
nerated by the court of inquiry
whose findings were made publh
yesterday.
Not only were the boys cleared but
the result was a complete victory for
Hon. Charles C. Car!in, of this city,
who represented the accused midshlp-
men in his charges against the met
hods of conducting examinations al
the institution. Since early in June
Mr.. Carlin has been, at work on the
case and he spent number of weeks
at Annapolis where the inquiry was
held.
The court does not sustain the ac-
tion taken by the superintendent OF
the academy in having recommended
for dismissal the seven midshipmen
who, it was charged, had seen mi
meograph copies of examinations
sheets in advance. 1t was the superln'
tendent's recommendation against
these seven midshipmen that stirred
up ali the Juror at the Naval Aca-
denny and in political circles and led
to the appeal to Secretary Daniels
which resulted in the appointment
of court of inquiry.
Five of the original seven midsnip-
men are cleared of the charges OF
fraud, deceit, cheating and other
culpable Irregularities in connection
with the last annual examinations.
These five are C. E. Evans, S. A
Hamilton, ]. E. Moss, D. B. Dun
can, and T. W. Harrison, Jr.
The single :midshipmen of the Or
ieinal seven who is dismissed from
the naval service is R. NJ. Nelson
Jr., who is found, guilty of frauo
and attempting to intimidate wit
ness. One other of the seven recon-
mended for dismissal by the superin-
tendent, Leonard P VESSEL, is puni-
shed by being turned back into the
succeeding class.
The only other midshipman VINO is
dismissed is Charles, M: Reagie, ae-
cused| of having sworn falsely be-
fore the Naval Court. Various repri-
mands and punishment short! of ac'
tual dismissal are imposed on other
midshipmen.
Secretary Daniels has accepted the
findings of the court and: its recon-
mendations as to punishment.
The findings of the court show that
11S members, or GA per cent OF the
first class, and 159 members, or &c
per cent of the second class, had prior
to the examination. in some form
VARYING amounts of the so-callec
dope; which later proved to be
substantial portion of the annual eN
animation.
The court finds further that siXt!
six midshipmen whose names arr
mentioned had surreptitiously ant
without authority visited one or NOR
of the departments of the academ
at unauthorized times for the purpos
of obtaining their marks in advanc
of publication, and that there wer
undoubtedly many other midshipme
who indulged in that practice.
The courts makes these fmportar
recommendation relating to the II
ture management of the naval acs
deny.
"That the practice of giving OIL
dope or advance information shou
he abolished unless heads of depar
ments issue it by memoranda, thu
insuring that all receive it in equ
amounts and. in the same form.
"That uniform system of prep
ration, printing and safeguarding tt
examination papers be adopted.
"That examination papers be nur
bered consecutively, so that should