“This Department referred to the Department of Justice certain legal questions concerned with your dismissal from the naval service by sentence of court martial for the hazing of Mr. Frank Chappell, a citizen in the town of Annapolis.
“The attorney-general has decided that for a naval court to have cognizance of an offense of hazing the hazing must have been on a person in the naval service. That your offense was committed on a civilian and therefore was not within the legal naval meaning, in your case, as defined by act of Congress, of hazing. Your offense was an assault upon a citizen in the city of Annapolis, and for that offense you are amenable to the municipal laws of that city.
“The attorney-general decides that you were not legally subject to trial for hazing; that the charge, trial, finding and sentence were all illegal. The order of your dismissal is therefore and hereby revoked from the time it went into execution. During the time of your absence from the Academy your status is to be considered as that of a midshipman on leave.
“A copy of the attorney-general’s complete opinion is herewith enclosed.
“You will acknowledge the receipt of this letter, and with it will report immediately to the superintendent of the Naval Academy at Annapolis.
“_Rear Admiral, and Acting Secretary of the Navy_.
NOTE.--A midshipman who had been dismissed for hazing a candidate was reinstated by decision of the attorney-general of the United States on the grounds expressed in the above letter.
Admiral Brown might also have included in his list of titles “and brother-in-law and dear friend of Captain Waddell,” but as Himski read the letter this additional definition of his place in the world did not appear, though wise ones may have a notion, incorrect of course, that these latter unexpressed titles may have had something to do with the alacrity by which Ralph’s case was rushed through the attorney-general’s office.
Judging by the cheers that greeted the reading of the letter it may be safely said they all heartily approved of the attorney-general.
Ralph soon went aft and was directed to enter the captain’s cabin. Here he expected and was prepared to receive a lecture, but was amazed as well as pleased to be most cordially received.
