The superintendent, who was writing at his desk, looked up as Ralph and
Bollup were brought into his office by the marine orderly.
“I am Midshipman Osborn; I have been directed to report to you, sir,”
said Ralph.
“I am Midshipman Bollup,” announced the other.
The superintendent looked keenly at them under his bushy eyebrows, and
then said: “I shall read you a letter I received this morning from the
Secretary of the Navy.”
“The Navy Department is just in receipt of a letter from Annapolis
signed by Harry Bucknell, stating that on Monday night, June first,
Midshipman Osborn, of the second class, in the presence of his
classmate, Midshipman Thomas L. Bollup, hazed a candidate for the
Naval Academy named Frank Chappell. You will investigate immediately
and report by telephone. If this report is borne out by your
investigation, a general court martial will be instantly convened for
the trial of the guilty parties.”
“What have you to say, Mr. Osborn?” demanded the superintendent looking
up.
The blood seemed to congeal in Ralph’s veins. His breath came quickly,
and overwhelming despair entered his heart. This, then, was the end;
his work, his success, his ambitions, his hopes were all for naught,
all hopelessly destroyed by a moment of thoughtless folly. He was
undeniably guilty of the charge, and a law of Congress required that a
midshipman found guilty by court martial of hazing should be dismissed
from the Naval Academy.
“What have you to say, Mr. Osborn?” again demanded the superintendent
sharply.
Ralph did not, could not reply. He was bereft of speech. A look of
appealing helplessness, the expression of a man who has lost his all,
was in his face.
“What have you to say, Mr. Bollup?” asked the superintendent.
“Nothing, sir,” replied Bollup, with troubled expression.
“Did you see Mr. Osborn haze a candidate last Monday night?”
“Must I answer that question, sir?”
“You must, unless your answer would tend to incriminate you.”
“Then I decline to answer, sir.”
“On what ground, sir? No charges are made against you.”
“Charges may develop against me, sir; I decline to answer on the ground
that I might incriminate myself.”
“Very well, you are within your rights; now----”
“Sorr,” interrupted the marine orderly, entering and saluting, “a young
gintleman, name o’ Chappell, is here to see the superintindint.”
“Show him in.”
In hopeless despair Ralph recognized the young man who entered as the
one he had hazed.
“Are you Mr. Frank Chappell, a candidate?” demanded the superintendent.
“Yes, sir; I was told you wished to see me.” Chappell glanced uneasily
at Ralph.
“Do you know who this midshipman is?” inquired the superintendent,
indicating Ralph.
“He has been pointed out to me as number one man in the second class,
sir.”
“Do you know his name?”
“I have heard it was Osborn, sir.”
“When did you last see him?”
“I caught a glimpse of him the other evening, sir,” replied Chappell in
a hesitating way.
“Be very careful in your answers, Mr. Chappell; no candidate is ever
admitted as a midshipman whose truthfulness is questioned.”
Mr. Chappell fidgeted nervously, twirling his hat in his hand.
“Did Mr. Osborn stand you on your head Monday night, last?”
“It was just a joke, sir; I met another midshipman a few minutes before
who----”
“Never mind about the other midshipman; answer the question.”
“It was only a joke, sir; the other midshipman----”
“Never mind the other midshipman; answer my question,” thundered the
superintendent.
In a helpless, reluctant way Mr. Chappell replied: “Yes, sir, but I
provoked it.”
“That will do, sir. Mr. Osborn, you are under arrest awaiting trial by
general court martial. I shall immediately prefer charges by telephone.
Return to your quarters and report to the commandant.”
Poor Ralph! Well might he be pitied. He returned to his room stunned
with his misfortune. He threw himself on his bed, face to the wall, and
lay there dazed. All was over except the public announcement of his
dismissal. He lay there for hours, in helpless, hopeless grief, almost
in a stupor. The hopes and ambition of his life were killed, and stony
despair entered his heart. Not for him was the glorious day outside,
nor the companionship of midshipmen, happy that the end of the year had
come. The pretty girls that wandered here and there through Lover’s
Lane and the shady walks had no interest for the heart-sick youth whose
hopes in life were suddenly destroyed.
Himski learned of all the circumstances from Bollup, and that sagacious
youth learned of further facts from Mr. Chappell. He went to see the
commandant and vainly endeavored to represent his roommate, guilty
technically though perhaps he was, in reality the victim of the plot of
a wicked person. But he was utterly refused permission to discuss the
matter. Getting desperate he grew importunate and made several attempts
to see the superintendent, taking Mr. Chappell with him; and finally he
was reported by the superintendent for disobedience of orders because
of his persistence.
Late the next morning, Ralph received a copy of the charges and
specifications on which he was to be tried and was told to be in
readiness for trial in twenty-four hours. He received these orders
without comment, but with mute hopelessness.
“Os, for heaven’s sake get a counsel,” implored Himski. “Brace up, man,
don’t lie down in this way; have some spirit in you, show a little
fight.”
“It’s no use, Himski; I’m guilty and beyond help. I have no defense to
make; I have no occasion for a counsel. There’s nothing for me to do
except to take what’s coming to me.”
“I’ll swear you didn’t do it, Os,” cried Bollup, impulsively, “and
we’ll fix up young Chappell; he’ll swear the same thing; he’s a well
meaning young fellow and feels dreadfully.”
“You’ll do nothing of the kind, Bollup,” indignantly exclaimed Ralph;
“you’re not aware of what you’re saying. You must have a contemptible
opinion of me if you think I’d allow such a thing as that. I’m in
tough luck but I want no friend of mine to think I’m low down.”
“I’m all broken up, Os,” said Bollup huskily; “I feel I’d do anything
to serve you, even to telling an untruth.”
“You’d lie to save me, old man,” replied Ralph, much affected, pressing
Bollup’s hand, “but you’d die before you’d lie to save yourself. No,
there’s no use; I’m up against it. But I’d like to know what part
Creelton had in this, and who the midshipman was that put Mr. Chappell
up to this job. It was Short, of course, who planned it. But who was
the man with whiskers, and who was the midshipman? By George, Bollup,
we passed them ourselves.”
“Yes, what a pity we didn’t notice who the midshipman was.”
“I pointed out Creelton to Mr. Chappell this afternoon, and Chappell is
positive it wasn’t Creelton.”
And so they talked, Bollup commiserating with Ralph, and going over the
same ground over and over again.
* * * * *
The court met at one o’clock the next day. Five lieutenant-commanders
and four lieutenants, all officers on duty at Annapolis, impressive
in their brass buttoned frock coats and swords, with stern demeanor
gathered around a long table. A few minutes after they had assembled
Ralph was brought in before them. His heart sank as he glanced at the
faces about him; he knew no other verdict than that of guilty would be
forthcoming.
“Do you desire counsel?” he was asked by Lieutenant Colton, who was the
judge-advocate of the court and as such the prosecuting officer.
“Yes, sir; I would ask for Midshipman Himskihumskonski.”
“Mr.--ahem, Mr.--would you mind writing that name down; it’s altogether
too much for me, and I must have it correct for the record.”
The sedate members of the court smiled as Lieutenant Colton struggled
with the long name.
Himski soon came in and took his place. Ralph had not intended to ask
for counsel but his roommate had insisted, and so Ralph asked for him.
“Do you object to any member present?” demanded Lieutenant Colton.
“I do not,” replied Ralph.
Oaths were now administered to the judge-advocate and to the members;
other necessary formalities were gone through with, and soon the trial
commenced in earnest.
“I’ll read the charge and specification,” announced Lieutenant Colton.
“_Charge_:
“Hazing, in violation of the laws of Congress and the articles for
the government of the Navy.
“_Specification_:
“In that the said Ralph Osborn, a midshipman of the second class in
the Navy, attached to and serving at the Naval Academy at Annapolis,
did on or about eight hours post meridian of the first day of June,
eighteen hundred and ninety ---- haze a citizen, Frank Chappell by
name, by ordering and compelling the aforesaid Chappell, at the time
in the state capitol grounds, in Annapolis, Maryland, to stand upon
his head.”
“Midshipman Ralph Osborn,” continued Lieutenant Colton, “you have heard
the charge and specification of charge preferred against you; how say
you to the specification of the charge, guilty or not guilty?”
Ralph made no reply.
“How say you to the charge, guilty or not guilty?”
Ralph maintained his silence, and after a moment’s delay Lieutenant
Colton announced: “The accused stands mute.”
“Proceed,” ordered the court’s president.
The first witness for the prosecution, and evidently a reluctant one,
was young Chappell. He was asked direct questions by Lieutenant Colton,
and in vain did Mr. Chappell try to tell of his previous meeting
with an unknown midshipman who was accompanied by a be-whiskered and
spectacled civilian. He was ruthlessly prevented from referring in
any way to what had occurred with the unknown midshipman before Ralph
had hazed him. In the cross-examination Himski in vain endeavored to
bring out the fact that he had been acting under the order of another
midshipman.
“Why did you sit down between the accused and Midshipman Bollup?” he
asked.
“To play a joke, sir,” Mr. Chappell replied. “The other midshipman told
me----”
“I object,” snapped out Lieutenant Colton. “I object to bring in any
case of hazing except the one here being tried. The court is here to
try Midshipman Osborn on a specific charge, not an unknown midshipman
who was not present when this offense occurred, and against whom no
charges have been made. If the witness has any charges to prefer
against any other midshipman let him do so at the proper place, but not
before this court, or incidentally in his testimony.”
The court took this view and Mr. Chappell was admonished to confine his
testimony to Ralph’s actions. Twist and turn as Himski tried he was
completely prevented from bringing out any testimony whatever regarding
the unknown midshipman. The most he developed was that Chappell had
deliberately and intentionally provoked Ralph. But the fact was
nevertheless brought out in damning clearness that Ralph had stood Mr.
Chappell on his head.
Bollup was the next witness and a most unwilling one, and thus doubly
injurious to Ralph. He laid great stress on Ralph’s provocation but had
to testify that Ralph had hazed Mr. Chappell. The prosecution had but
these two witnesses to call and then rested.
Himski then recalled Mr. Chappell to the stand as a witness for the
defense and was so persistent in endeavoring to bring in testimony
showing that Mr. Chappell was acting under an unknown midshipman’s
orders that finally he was severely admonished by the court to abide by
its rulings.
“May it please the court,” said Himski, rising to his feet, and
borrowing the verbiage of the judge-advocate, “I am prepared to prove
that the action of the accused was not, in reality or fairness, hazing.
I ask for but a chance to prove that Mr. Chappell was but a tool in
the hands of a most vicious person, and if the court does not grant
me this permission I can but say that it also is but a tool in the
consummation of a wicked crime against Midshipman Osborn; I will prove
that Mr. Chappell was acting under orders, and thinking it but a joke,
deliberately incited and provoked this so-called hazing. Mr. Osborn
was, in fact, the injured, the assaulted party; and I can prove by
the commandant of midshipmen that Mr. Osborn has been the victim of a
relentless enmity that for three years has pursued him with plots so
nefarious as to be almost inconceivable.”
“May it please the court,” said Lieutenant Colton, in sonorous tones,
“this court is not ordered to investigate the Naval Academy nor to go
into Mr. Osborn’s past troubles, nor to inquire into anything except
a certain specified act. I most strenuously object to the accused’s
counsel bringing into this case any irrelevant matter whatever. The
Naval Academy is not on trial, nor is any midshipman except Mr. Osborn.
The question before this court is not whether Mr. Osborn is the
victim of one plot or a series of plots, not whether he has enemies
or has received injuries from them. Nor are his motives on trial. The
question before this court is a very simple one; it is to determine
whether or no Mr. Osborn stood Mr. Chappell on his head. There is no
other question. Nor is this court a proper place for Mr. Osborn to lay
his grievances. We may be sure of one thing, gentlemen of the court,
and that is that there is a proper place for Mr. Osborn to lay his
grievances and to ask for protection, and we may be sure, gentlemen
of the court, that full protection and justice will be accorded Mr.
Osborn by the authorities. But I most earnestly protest against the
introduction of the irrelevant testimony that counsel for the accused
is so persistent in trying to inject into this case.”
Everybody was sent out of the room while the members deliberated over
this point. In a few minutes Ralph, Himski, Lieutenant Colton and Mr.
Chappell were all recalled.
“Mr. Him--ah, counsel for the accused, the objection of the
judge-advocate is sustained. You will confine yourself entirely to the
matter of the specification.”
Himski was thunderstruck and dismayed. His one hope was now destroyed.
He had expected to get the whole story of that Monday night’s
events, believing that if the entire circumstance were known a court
of just men would not convict his friend. But it now seemed as if
the judge-advocate and the court were actually in league with the
villainous Short.
“There’s no use, Os,” he said sorrowfully. “I can’t understand the
influence that is working against us.”
Ralph, pale and interested in what had gone on, albeit hopeless though
he had been through it all, smiled wanly, and said: “Don’t take it too
hard, old fellow. But I thank God he has given me such a friend as you
are to me.”
There was an influence working against Ralph though neither he nor
Himski knew what it was. At this time of the year the Academy was
on exhibition before the whole country, it being “June week,” and
every day columns were published in the newspapers. Hazing troubles
at Annapolis have always been as greatly exaggerated as they have
been widely advertised; and this graduating time was the worst time
imaginable for a hazing scandal. If hazing had been going on the
authorities preferred to know nothing about it; it would work to the
great harm of the famous school, and it was feared that the testimony
given in Ralph’s trial might lead to many other trials and consequent
newspaper scandal. So the court confined itself entirely to the case on
trial and excluded, as was its clear right, all outside testimony.
And so Himski failed completely in having any testimony given by Mr.
Chappell concerning his encounter with the midshipman and civilian
previous to the time Ralph had hazed him.
The trial did not last very late in the afternoon, as Bollup and Mr.
Chappell were the only witnesses that appeared before it.
That night in their room Himski for the first time was utterly dejected.
“The injustice of it!” he cried. “Oh, Os, my very heart and soul rebel!”
Ralph, sad and hopeless though he was, now tried to cheer up his
friend; neither had the faintest hope for any other verdict than
guilty, and Ralph tried to form some plans for the future. “I’ll go
back to Toledo,” he said. “It’s an awful blow, my dismissal; there’s
only one comfort in it all, no dishonor is attached to my name.”
“No, Os, nothing but good-will and affection from midshipmen and the
respect of officers. But this will hurt Captain Waddell; he took such a
keen interest in you.”
“Captain Waddell!” exclaimed Ralph. “I hadn’t thought of him. He told
me to write to him if I ever needed a friend. Here, Himski, let me
have paper and ink; and find his address for me, will you?”
“He’s in command of the receiving ship at the New York Navy Yard,” said
Himski. “I happened to run across that fact the other day.”
“Good. He can’t help me--I’m beyond all help, but I’ll write him about
everything that has happened to me since I left the _Puritan_.”
Ralph wrote a long letter and poured out his heart to Captain Waddell
as he might have to a father. And somehow, when he had posted the
letter, he felt easier in mind. Bitter though he was, yet he accepted
the inevitable, and that night as he tossed about on his sleepless bed
he formed resolutions as to what his future life in Toledo was to be.
He felt that as he had done nothing dishonest he would face the people
he had known all his life, rather than by going to some other place,
tacitly admit he had done something to be ashamed of. “That’s where
Uncle George made his great mistake,” he thought. “Uncle George,” he
mused; “I wonder if I shall ever see him and know him.” And with this
thought in his mind he dropped into uneasy slumber.