Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-06-09
MORE TESTIMONY
Of CROOKEDNESS
At ANNAP 0L|S
MidShipmen Dismissed for
Conduct Unbecoming Off
GERS and Gentlemen At
tempted Theft and Bribery
icy noasrse JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WIRE


Annapolis, Md, June S,-Comman
der f. A. Traut, head of the depart
ment of modern languages at the ma
val academy, testifying late today be-
fore the naval court OF inquiry which
is investigating charges of Irregular
titles in examinations at the academy,
told of suspicious circumstances sur
rounding the first examination in his
office Testimony previously had
been given to show that the papers
Midshipman j. ID. Moss claimed 10
have received by mail from an an
onymous source, and the contents of
which We're distributed as dope
were papers that had been prepared
by the instructors for the examination
in modern languages.
One morning, according to the tes-
timony, after the examination papers
had been prepared, as Commander
Traut and Professor Fernandez, one
Of the instructors in the commanders
department, were about to look over
the papers, Professor Fernandez told
the commander he thought he had
placed a paper with a distinguishing
sentence on it on top of a certain
package of papers. When this
package was examined by the two this
particular paper was not on top.
There were a few other papers con-
tanning the same sentence In the
package. and although Professor Fer
nandez was somewhat disturbed over
the incident, the commander suggest
ed to him that perhaps the particular
paper had gotten in among the other
papers. In the light of subsequent
events. however, the incident was re-
garded as significant.
Tried to Break Into Deck.
Another suspicious circumstance,
related by Commander Traut, occur
red about week later. One of the
instructors reported to the command
er that someone evidently had tried
TO get into his desk as there were
marks as though tools had been in
serted to spring the lock of a drawer.
The commander did not think, how
ever, that this had been accomplished.
But owing to the fact that the drawer
contained duplicate keys TO various
other drawers, the commander decid
cd to remove the examination papers
to his home.
On the morning of Nav 20. the
commander testified, an hour after
the first and second class examina-
tons in modern languages had taken
place there was found q large pile of
pieces Of papers torn up, They had
on them answers to examination ques-
tons and when they were pieced to- |
gether it was found they were sheets
used by midshipmen. Later
two sheets We're found containing |
answers completely worked out One
was labelled, this is the third part !
Of the first question" The scraps OF
paper were compared with examina- |
ton papers and the writing finally |
identified. The matter was reported !
10 the superintendent, who ordered an |
After the first exam
nation it was noticed that a number |
Of the midshipman had passed exam |
nations out of proportion TO their
work during the year.
Charges Against Men Dismissed.
The nature of the charges against |
the three midshipmen dismissed was
made known today for the first time. |
r. Byers and J. w. Cronan, of the |
Lhird class, were caught in an attemptI
10 steal examination papers from the
rooms of the department Of mathema-
tics, while c. c. Gill of the second |
class was adjudged guilty by an in
board. of attempting to
bride a civilian employe to secure for
the examination in electrical ensl-
neering.