New-York tribune., 1870-10-22
THE VEST POINT OURT-MARTIAI.
BY the President.
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary II STATE.

THE TRIAL OF J. w. SMITH, THE CoL0RED CADET.
WEST POINT, Oct. 21.-The General Court
Martial assembled yesterday in the Philosophical Class
ROOM adjacent to the great gymnasium hall The case
Of Cadet ]. W Smith first called. Tho prisoner. ac
companied by his counsel LeutCol c. c. Parsons then
entered BY inadverence the court had not boon
formally sworn In before the Judge Advocate the
special Department order conyening the court and
the charges the accused Hereupon hs counsel arose,
and quoting the army law, objected TO the entire pro
oeedngs as invalid. The Judge Advocate replied that
nothing OF the kind was Illegal as the mere reading OF
the charges eto not necessarily an official act II the
not organized properly. The President, Gen.
o. O. Howard, and Col. Hanes, thought similarly, and
after little discussion the room was ordered cleared
until the point was decided A., ,,,.,
During all these proceedings the accused manifested
the utmost interest his face indicated forced calm
ness 1pressOn and the quick nervous motion Of the
alone reveaa ns wonS
and with fushes alternately, and the gray white
rshearsed His personal appearance not altogether
unhandsome. The negro stamp OF feature curly hair,
small lps and Elongated side-iace made up very
strange but not unfayorable effect His well rounded.
cadet gsrb was displayed and The only
dienifed pecularity nervous shutting motion Of
Gen Howard announced that Col Psrsons's objection
had been recorded but was not entertained The usual
ADVOCATE SS" A' in W the % most Impressive manner.
The Judge dySeas sn Ssr in BY Se@ HS isn
formally reread 10 the accused who listened in stfy
erect position, and replied Not guilty TO every point
LCG6dqe, graie, god order and military d.phns
Academy did disturbance In carp and did ss,an Cade,
Wilson q al, Asa.H i NTH b. gP .ad s ., ~ IT. @ s At Camp
Augu, wne,es-Csdets H. NJ Arevs II. csbsuuis it
putseomins otter And s5isM,n 70 VOL.
On Of paragraph IN on United States Amy Regulations Military
sossee ei. That Cadet Smith having been reported
s.pseio msnnf At dr m having pos,n fns
ns .pcis 70 DO daring he d @ Corpc,
% AZ R'a & s.'i Poni New q
August ISt Col U A. Comm,pdAn Of Cadet, ptns charge.
Witnesses, Cadets Beacon T.ber Dyer Davies and g Tyler
Of the affair as follows He from the booblacks
place the cewaer tank, t0 get drink there he met
him the dpper Ia onel with which he stopped
down the spiggot and was drawing out water when
With the cmard pail to get water; Smith pushed the
bucket against Wilson and told him TO get out of the
which ne could not do without violating by cross
ing sentry Post No unless he went close by the tank
pass" and Smith would not move, aud
there was % anS pIs the tank Wilson rd to .S%eese on 30
through and ebowed smith away wheeupon the latter
%san SS The head with cocSana ppe the T- % blow
shattered the uensil giving II sharp Irregular edge,
The forehead near the left temple cutting the flesh and
opeping a yen through which the blood nowed cOpOuty,
blindng his sight sltogsher p@Ss % a. dan-
pusbed nm dsarned aud parted the combstants; Wilson
VS. o,trrat.d to 40 the cOmmandant exactly In the
nIigh ne then whs but upon his refusal two comrades
npducted him the hospital the blood continuing to
stream from his wound; the Surgeon attended 10 him,
aud he was enabled 20 report for duty the neIt morning
Witness here showed the scar OF his wound which wac
distinctly marked . - ,-,..c m c.,.. -
The next witness called wac Cadet G. H. Cabahnis IT.,
who corroborated all that Wilson said IN his version OF
he natter. and gave "a more graphic account oi the
tocsltv of the tents tank quarters etc. and the eyOu
lions o the oOnbatnts during the struggle that before
thew sruok each other at the tank smth twice rudely
aud aspfretDgly Kicked tbt gu1d psl "4Nn,I WhAon