Ogden Sun | 1905-12-12 | Page 1 | Louisiana Fighting for Him

j merriwether slayer of branchy is to be aided chicago dec 11 A dispatch di patch from washington D C says if midshipman minor merriwether jr is dismissed from the navy as a or ills court martial on the charges growing out of his fight with M id silly man branch early in november and from the effects of which branch died he will he re appointed by one of diio members from louisiana and a special bill presented which it passed will reinstate the midshipman as an officer of the navy it has become known that merriwether was acquitted on the charge 0 manslaughter but was found guilty of infringements of the rules and regulations of the naval academy which are of sufficient seriousness to warrant his dismissal the case now ig in the hands of the secretary of the navy who probably will reach hla conclusions within a few days it h quite possible that merrl wether may bo allowed to stay at annapolis but if that course of action followed rs by the authorities he undoubtedly will b given same severe punishment possibly by being dropped back a year whether he be punished or sot in this manner it is likely merriwether will lop a year provided he is permitted 0 o stay at all he has lost over a month from his work and would have considerable difficulty in making it up itt has written the secretary of the navy tor permission to reenter re enter his class hut this has not been granted the entire congressional delegation from louisiana Is in favor 0 0 retention in the service and the members arft d to make fight tor him tiby think the court martial has out facas enough to show that would make a splendid officer