The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-06-12
the ANNAPOLIS INVESTIGATION
FIRST DAYS SESSION SHOWS
DETERMINED PURPOSE.
Admiral I'm Command OF Naval Acad-
smy Witness in Hearing ON Exami-
nation Irregularities.

at the first days session of the court
Of inquiry appointed by Secretary
Daniels.
The reading OF the record OF tes-
timony taken before the board OF i'm
vestigation appointed by Rear Ad-
mirsl Fullam. superintendent of the
academy. occupied the court most OF
the day. Admiral Fullam was on the
witness stand late In the afternoon,
but did not finish his direct testi-
mony and will resume tomorrow.
That thore was reason to believe
attempts had been made to enter the
desks OF the heads OF at least four
naval academy departments to obtain
examinations In advance was the tes-
timony given by Admiral Fullam.
The authorities believe. however. that
only one attempt succeeded. This
was In the department OF modern
languages.
The testimony read from the record
showed that the examination papers
for the first. second. third and fourth
classes In Spanish TO all appearances
were stolen. and that after this there
was general dissemination from the
hands Of the friends OF Midshipman
James Moss OF the third class OF
good dope" for all these classes.
The main poin, brought out was
that the superintendent OF the acad-
emy and the board of inquiry held
that the youths who used copies of
these papers which Midshipman
Moss had. and which. II is claimed.
he received anonymously in plain
envelope. were more culpable than
the youths who actually issued the
originals.
Six members OF the graduating
class. who on last Friday received
their diplomas and became ensigns.
were ordered called for examination
as n result OF mention OF their names.
Prof. Carlos v. Cusach OF the depart
ment OF modern languages. who was
named In the previous record, also
will be called.
The record publicly developed for
the FIRST time that two of the seven
men regarded as most seriously in
volved by the disclosures before the
previous investigating board had not
been received for dismissal by the
board. These were T. w. Harrison.
Jr. Virginia, and ID. 4. Duncan.
Michigan. whose designations. how
ever were asked for.
custom has grown up at the
academy OF receiving from professors
advice concerning the most import
ant part OF the terms work. This
is called dope"
Many midshipmen testified that
they thought the information which
Was 80 generally disseminated was
only this socalled dope" However.
others admitted that when they got
Into the examination rooms they felt
sure they had advance copies of the
examination. Many said they had not
reported II because they thought some
one OF the upper classes should look
TO that
The record also brought out the
replies Of the midshipmen directly ac-
cused when they were asked To- give
reasons why they should not be dis
missed from the service. One was that
they did not know they were on trial.
and had. indeed. at least in one case.
been told by Lieut.. Albert Cohen. de-
tailed to represent them as counsel
that they were not on trial.
They also stated as reason for not
being dismissed that they were con-
victed on their own evidence and did
not have an opportunity to cross
examine witnesses and that they did
not even hear this testimony.
Prior TO the opening OF tho court
there was obtained from Judge Har-
rlson Of Virginia. father Of one of the
accused midshipmen. q set of resolu-
tons which, he said. were adopted by
the hrst class OF the academy on grad
uauon day. Mr.. Carlin of counsel for
ths midshipmen stated that IN pro-
test was to have gone to the sec. etary
OF tho navy on the night of the June
ball at the academy last Thursday
night. but that II was found impos-
sible for some reason to deliver 1t.
The resolutions refer to Midshlp-
man Ralph Nick. Nelson. Jr.. of New
York. who stood third In the gradua-
ting class. He was not accused of
cheating but II was charged ne knew
unfair methods were being used.
The resolutions. In part. are as fol-