New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-06
VEST POINT.

THE TRIAL OF THE C0L0EBD CADBr-TliB WIN
TER EXAMINATIONS--sTRAEGE DISAPPEAR
ANCE OF THREE CADETS.
The General Court Martial appointed to try
Cadet J. W Smith, and others, convened yesterday anc
disposed of several cases of minor Importance but post
pOned the Of the colored cadet until today The
charge against him is as follows,
CHAaGx--Corduet unbecouing cadet and gentleman. -
SPECIFICATION Fst In this that he Csde. James W Smith,
M n a s's Ss1 s Sss na % proper
ton while tho guard Is being dressed Submitted stes stPan,,o1
to deceive The and ths ea,urs the TsrsIt
o ss- on u. i 81 psoSSr oIPS 49, sS the Co%%sst'n
ca & Ss Fsa S% 5 H. P i ID o out
way .ta sA 1S va, i AIS ,s at, s,,, e.,
es si.s- o. he 1S q 6.scS iO With the
Cadets had stated hst when In the nts aother cadet had usd n
Cadet SMITH talking to Nv Anderson The ,psi
Of that n.taro, anything Liz. II, hal been n,de
Cadet Smith will rest his with the
Which he was portcS We're SU OF an ordinary characcr
as s shown by the fact that on the very day Dec T. in
which no failed to keep his eyes turned In the right drec
ton while In the ranks % other cadets similarly
insos against good orti% and military discipline arc
el duly recorded In the "euardbook OF the Post and
eud many Others to have been repored Gazing about
in ranks - 1.-Two buttons OF coat unbutoned In area OF
barracks;' Shoes at foot Of bed, and not dusted :"
airy drill; :" "Odor OF tobacco smoke in room %
Wearing hat-band at back Of the head" "Lste at
These reports are filed In almost all cases by the cadets
In charge Of squads The offenders ere called upon for
Cadet Smiths last cxplanation-he has several times
been reported "a well "a OF those
who are unquestionably among the best men-has
brought him into trouble from the raising OF queston
of yeracity between himself and sundry other cadets.
"Ihe cOOred cadet question" Is in fnct just now mar
rowed down TO these nsi odd did not one or more
cadets williny so annoy Cadet Smith while IN ranl
that he was Provoked TO an involuntary and very rai
breach OF 6itcipneH
II Is The province Of tho Court to determine under
Oaf I'm ri n OF yeracty
free expression ON the part OF all the officers concerned
of their determination that the examination OF the Wiz
nesses shall be thorough and searching The cadet Mr
is In the class with tho latter v3s appointed from
Wisconsin and Is stated to have expressed early In his
course decided sympathy for Smith, and deteima,
ton to stand by him. Cadet Smith has doubtless needed
sympathy.
he, as has often been stated ia nearly white. and
his features have q Monaghan rather than African east.
His department in his present troubles is firm. His
standing In his class Is midway in grade.
Lieut.. Gardiner, the Judge Advocate Of tho Court,
upon whose ectiOn I'm prosecution and defense the
decision of the Court IS largely dependent Is an ohccr
Of Gen McDOwes staff, graduate OF the University ~
freely and kindly with Cadet Smith in regard to his de-
tense. The trial will undoubtedly be very brief.
Tire sem-annual examination OF the cadets began on
Tuesday and win continue during several days.
The subject OF whispered comment at the Academy,
which, 10 the cadets, rises IN interest even above the
Smith case, Ia the sudden and mysterious disappear
anCs Wednesday night OF Cadets Barnes, t1ha,
and Flcsenger. There was night AFFAIR OF running
the guard a reporting Of the three men named for
Che mSdoineanor, and an absentlng Oh .hesePes ron
It TO be understood that they w0uld ho %,
only not return, but would he promptly dropped
WeTa { 5sc ES H Gnf to give
upon the subject IL rumored tlat IN TT OF Vlitu
Gus Indignation, large informal meeting OF cadets hha
code q penalty o. Punishment had been Imposed upon
the young men who arc now missing.