Evening star., 1922-11-07
THREE M|DSH|PMEN
TELL OF HAz|NG
Regarded Pie-Race as Fun.
Feel keenIy Over
Situation.
Special Dispa tch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
ANNAPOLIS, Md, November T.
Three members Of the fourth class.
Naval Academy. were on the stand
today at the court martial which is
trying Midshipman John P. Gilmer, jr..
of San Diego. Calf, on charges of
hasing. and each testified as to facts
alleged in the specification, upon
| which the Naval Academy authori-
ties base the charge of hazing.
Midshipman Karl J. Biederman of
Oneonta, N. Y, continued his testi-
| mony at the opening of court. He
stated that he had taken part in the
Gilmer, done the stop fall phys
ical exercise. on two occasions. the
| number each time being fifteen.
Midshipman Neal r. Campbell of
Big Rapids, Mich, stated that he
had taken part in the pie-race. but
did not tell Of any physical hazing
Midshipman Etheldredge Grant of
San Mateo. Calf. stated that he had
performed the stop fall" one one oc-
casion. upon Gilmer's order, the num-
! ber being only five.
Regarded Ms Fun.
All three of the midshipmen stated
that they regarded the pie-race as
fun. This statement was made in
| effect also by Midshipman Joseph G.
Bonifant Of Powha;an. Va who tes-
| titled yesterday, and about whom
more Of the specifications against Gill
mer centered than around any other
fourth classman.
The attitude of all three of the mid
shipmen who testified today indicat-
ed no resentment against the accused
| midshipman or against the haglng
system. Apparently. they felt keenly
\ that they were compelled to give tes-
| timony which may cause the dismls-
[ sal of an upper classman and went
no further than they had to.
Asks Court Instruction.
| While Campbell was testifying
| Judge Advocate Murphy asked the
court to instruct him as to the sane
| tity of his oath and the penalty for
! perjury. The midshipman witness
appeared deeply Kurt at this Incl
| dent. However, there appeared to be
| no want of frankness on the part of
any of them when a direct question
| was placed.
| At the opening of the court it was
| announced that an objection to a
! question of the judge-advocate. ap-
| parently. seeking TO bring out that
| Gilmer had tried to influence the testi-
mony of the midshipmen. had been
-. sustained. The judge-advocaIe did not
| pursue this line of questioning with
! the other midshipmen. except to bring
| out in some instances that they had
! talked with the accused about the
case.
Under Rigid Rule.
! The testimony OF the "plebes'' indi
| Gated that they had been under rather
rigid rule after the upper classmen
returned September 80. but that it had
slackened after Supt Wilson inaugu-
rated his investigation.
For instance. ii was stated that the
| "plebeS" had to sit on the edge Of
their chairs and look straight to the
front during meals: also that they
must not use the backs of their
chairs.
ON the other hand. considerable tes-
timony indicated kindly attitude to-
ward the plebes on the part of upper
| ciaSsmen. 1t was said that the older
men had frequently helped the new
! corners with their studies and had
| also told them to ask for food when
I they wanted it. as they rated enough
| to eat at all times" 1t was also stated
; that a first-claSs man had voluntarily
gone through as many stop falls" as
! the haZed plebeS.