| Show testimony given in the meriwether case Anna aid NOT 23 the second day of the court ings in the case of minor meriwether jr was not nearly so eventful as the first day nor was so much ground covered the principal witness called was surgeon E P stone of the naval academy staff he gave a detailed account of brances Branc hs symptoms his treatment and the changes la his condition leading up to hla death the death he was primarily due to doedema oedema ot the vessels 0 the brain though this was not disclosed toy the operation and no autopsy was performed as brances Branc hs parents would not consent the cross examination of dr stone by lieutenant commander Rob lson counsel for the defense was very searching and several members of the court asked questions on different phases of dr stones testimony the defense evidently wished to raise a doubt aa to the of the proof that brances Branc hs death was necessarily caused by the blows received from meriwether and asked many questions of the medical officer as to the of soma unhealthful condition of branch bringing about the death he was also examined asto as to the effect of the absence of an autopsy ani his ability under tha to testify positively as to the cause of death midshipman A M pitch the of the branch fight who admits to acting as referee in 19 similar encounters was questioned as to the use of the gloves which were used in the fight at the academy these gloves are used to protect the hands when punching the bag but fitch said that there was no regulation aa far as he knew against tbell use in the friendly boxing matches at the academy gymnasium he also said that he had never seen them so used jn answer to a question by a member of the court pitch said that he believed gloves used at regular prize fights weighed about a halt or three of nn ounce the only s called during the morning session besides surgeon stone were lieutenant commander II 11 J and his steward john F Wah akee the former was called to prove that the articles for the government of the navy which contain the prohibitions against fighting were read to all midshipmen during the summer cruise during which the witness commanded the hartford on which meriwether was stationed hospital steward mahafee was summoned to have his testimony fill tha gap between the testimony of pritchard as to the developments of brances Branc hs unfavorable symptom and his reception iby the hospital authorities he told of being summoned to bancroft hall seeing branch and recognizing bis serious condition this he reported to dr stone and was ordered to bring branch to the hospital he had him carried in an electric carriage to the hospital and delivered him to surgeon stone the transfer he testified was accomplished without anything to disturb branch dr stone bald in his testimony that branch came under his care at the hospital about half past eight monday morning he was absolutely unconscious he said the left ald of his head left temple hia forearm right were swollen and discolored evo and lips aad both eves were closed when the evalide were opened with tiro hand the lolled and ne rally set towards tho left he left arm aal ie paralyzed and thero was a convulsive were movement in tho right aroi and leg there was slight fever but abd tbd pulse was normal the fai call zed that dewatha condition vios very beri j ous and called dr byrnes chiel eur scon at the academy into consultation doctors finacey and thomson of baltimore arrived during the day and with the consent of brances Branc hs father an exploratory operation was determined upon from the symptoms and what was disclosed djs closed during the operation dr stone was confident that the condition had been brought about by external injuries to the head such as might have been caused by blows ot the flat these blows could have been inflicted on either side of tho head much ot the remainder ot the direct testimony was on the technical points connected with brances Branc hs injury |
