The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-11
WEST POINT TROUBLES.
The Trial OF the OOiOred Cadet-The lIiIItar!
Academy also on TriaI-OharRes and COuu
ter-Obaraes-The Cadet Hlob.

The question whether or not the colored Cadet
Smith had lied, In q certain manner, was the
small cloud no larger than mans hand out OF
which has grown a court contest aud an outside
controversy which fully makes up in dramatic
interest all that it lacks on account of the alb
sence of renowned advocates and the imposing
scenes usually incident to great trials. Many of
the cadets have vented their spite in jeerlng and
annoying the colored cadet.
Within few weeks, party entered his
room, in his absence, and shamefully desecrated
IT. Within the same period, stalwart Ken
tuckian cadet, of the next class above that of
Smith, aud the heaviest and taest man in it,
visited him at his quarters and "took satisfac
tion of him" by blows with the fist simply be-
cause 1.-THE niger" had not deferred to him at
mess as he might have done.
The kentuckan was placed in arrest, and 1t
was expected he would be severely punished;
but the next day 1t was stated that the colored
cadet had acknowledged that he had ''exasper-
ated" the cadet who beat him, and the latter
was released. The COmmaudaut referred to
the affair at parade, that evening; announced
the release of the offender, and said that cadet
Smith had acted magnanimously.
All cadets in their ''plebeian" state suffer what
they at the tine regard as indignities, but what
they subsequently profess to regard as very
essential parts of military training. Cadet
Smith was from the first doubly "plebean"-on
account of both class and color. Lacking the
sympathy and society of fellow-cadets, who
might have advised him how to treat real
or imaginary indignites, he had presented
to him the alternative of trying to fight
his way through or to submit to everything.
He certainly demonstrated readiness to
fight becoming in soldier, but he
appears to have sometimes resented apparent
insults where he had not sufficient cause. The
class which graduates next summer, last week,
with mob violence expelled three cadets,
expressly because they had practised a petty
lying fraud to obtain an indulgence. The Offend
ing cadets were expelled" and it was hoped
that this action would help to justify the hatred
of the colored cadet, aud his expected election
from the Academy.
Cadet Smith appears TO have determined. of
his own motion, to employ no counsel in his
trial. 1t is stated that in his previous trial, he
was go tenacious in his opinions as to the
proper conduct of his defense that his counsel,
Colonel Parsons, finally threatened to withdraw
from the case unless his client would pay more
Difference to his advice. In the present trial
Smith ie distinctly understood to be guided
entirely by his own judgment as to the manner
of his defense.
The Judge-Advocate, Lieutenant Gardner is
very conslderate in dealing with the accused,
and, as was his prerogative, has now and Ithen
advised him against pressing certain questions.
Smith, however, generally insists, and the
Judge-Advocate can but receive the written
questions PROFOUND them, and then paste
them in the record. Yesterday Cadet Smith
persisted in calling up the evidence in a former
affair with Cadet Anderson, which when it was
presented, operated much to his disadvantage
before the court, as he was hown by the report
of Cadet Lieutenant to ha ;maliciOusly kicked
fellow cadet. The prose ution will close this
morning. The defense " n then begin, and
will probably be continued through two or three
days.
General Upton after the recess of the Court,
produced the general delinquency book, and
said that in referring back TO the delinquencies
for September 8, 1870, this report is entered
against Cadet 7. w. Smith: Malicious conduct
in ranks at drill P. NJ; willnlly kicking fe."
The report is entered in the name of Cadet
Lieut. White For this offense accused sub
| mitted written explanation.
WEST POINT, n. Y, Sept. 25.-OfeaSe malicious
conduct in ranks In drill wfuly Kicking at ile,"
ETpeGndttOf.--"rhe cadet referred TO as having
been kicked has been in the habit OF trying TO trip
me at every chance. especially In ranks, and also
In owding me out Of ranks. Daring ths drill he
had stepped my toes several times, and when we
were obquiDg TO the left in this particular instance,
he came near tripping me twice, as he being on my
right could place his left foot in front Of my right
and thus throw forward. so took p4rticuOr
pains 10 watch his movements, and when he placed
his feet IN position, which l am confident he pur-
posely done. Ins cad of stumbling over it kicked
it ont OF the way. had sire TO any trouble
| with the cade, but when found that he continued
40 show his l-Iaiure, considered myself justified
in putting stop iC. There was no malice shown
J. W. SMITH, Cadet Private.
This explanation was returned by Colonel
Upton to Cadet Smith, for the name of the
cadet referred to as stepping on his feet. Cadet
| Smith returned IL with the Endorsement that
| Cadet Anderson was the one he meant. The
explanation was next sent to Cadet-Lieutenant
White, to be indorsed by his explanation, which
was as follows:-
81 saw Mr.. Smith kick Mr.. Anderson, and at the
! time he fell back slightly and reached around with
! his foot to do SO. There was considerable crowdng
In the company at the time, and the tripping up OF
Mr. Smith was unavoidable. The same thing hap
pened to other files. That he kicked Mr.. Anderson
| with malicious intent l have no doubt. 1t was
shown plainly in every feature Of IN his 4 face f,u
''Cadet Lieutenant "a Company"
THE CADET MOB.
General Pitcher, the Superintendent of the
| Military Academy, has issued the appended
| order In relation to the recent mob. The SEN
tence 10 regarded as very severe one and
amounts to close confinement for several
HEADQUARTERS U. S. MILITARY ACADEMY, WEST
POINT, N. Y, Jan. 10, 1sTl.-Specia Orders, No. g.
!. In the hope that time and sober reelection would
impe the first class concerned In the recent unwar-
Tanable outrage on certain members of the fourth
GLASS; 10 disayow and regret their hasty action, the
Superintendent withheld his dsapproval OF theI
moO-law violence until all the circumstances were
fully made known
From these 1t appears that certain cadets OF the
fourth cafs were guilty OF violation OF the regula
tions, and OF the law concerning veracity, which
considered In relation to recent similar circum
stances are calculated to destroy the welldeserved
and, until now, the we-pfeserved good name OF the
COTps OF Cadets. While cOncedng that the motives
which animated the members OF the first class origi
mated from pTaisewofthY source, no words can eX
Dress too forciby the disapprovai by the sunerin
tendent OF the assumption OF power by cadets unit
now unknown to those who organized, and for G.
wears have governed, the Military Academy.
Well may the enemies of the institution pom
sneeringly at its military teachings which, afte
nearly four years, have produced ln Its graduatn
class no better fruit than this. While expressing
his bitter and profound regret at the cause and con
sequences OF this most discredttable aflair, tn
superintendent is OF the firm conviction that 6u
few OF the entire body OF cadets hold the reputation
OF the Military Academy IN so little esteem as not
feel the deepest modification at this exhibition
mob law among its members.
| III. Until further orders the members OF the frs
class will be confined to the limits OF the plai