The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-28
Cadet WIiiffnkcr's Trousers.

SINGULAR DISCOVERY MADE IN HIS ROOM
FOR WHICH HE HAS BEEN CALLED TO AC-
COUNT.
WEST POINT, May 2j.-The court Of in
CURRY will meet again. and probably for the
last time, on Friday at 10 A. NJ, when Cap
tain Sears will sum up, il that term may be
used, in a written speech. Lieutenant
Knight will then speak for Whitaker, also
from manuscript. According to the mill
tary code Of procedure the Recorder Ill be
allowed il he chooses to answer the cOun-
sci for accused. Several days will prOba-
bly, elapse after this before the record Of
he court will he ready to be submitted, but
it is thought that the court will forward its
report to General Schofield without waiting
for the completion OF the record, and that
it will probably be made public at once.
This summing-up would doubtless have
ben the sole business of Fridays session
but for the discovery since the court last
met OF a little matter which will give Cadet
Whitaker an opportunity to do some more
testifying. Naturally the members Of the
court, Dunc.ilious rs they have been from
the first, are opposed TO making known in
advance Of the session Just what this matter
Is, but something Of ii has leaked out. II
is one OF the most stringent laws OF the post
in their rooms. and it is the duty OF an in
spectOr from time to time TO examine cadet
barracks for the purpose Of detecting any
arrangements OF this rule. While per-
forming this duty yesterday or the day be-
foIe the inspector or such is the story-
found tightly rolled up In the sleeve of
Cadet Whittaker's Overcoat & pair of citi-
zen's trousers. Whitaker has declared that
there was no citizens clothing in his apart.
ment. He was reported to the Superin.
tendent and was summoned at once to the
superintendent office. There The trousers
were exhibited to him and he was asked il
they were his property. He failed upon in.
spcction to recognize them, and was not
able to do so until his name, written upon
the inside Of the watch-pocket, was pointed
out TO him.
This is the story as it is related around
the post. General Schotield declined to say
or to permit the commandant Of cadets 10
say whether this version was the correct
one or not. He admitted that citizens trou-
sers had been found in Whittaker's room.
but took pains TO add that he regarded il as
manifestly unfair to express any opinion or
jump TO any conclusion in regard TO the
matter until it had been thoroughly
investigated. Whether this discovery shall
turn out TO the damage or to the
benefit OF the colOred cadet it has I'M
quest'Orably created stir here. The con-
traband article could hardly have been
in Whittaker's room at the time OF the |
" assault" for it will be remembered that
a most thorough search and ransacking Of |
the premises followed that now historic |
event. And there is much speculation why |
III the trousers shall appear to be his) he |
should recently have provided himself Sc
cretIy with citizens clothing. One surmise |
is that he may have entertained some idea |
OF throwing himself on the country. 1t is |
probable that the matter will be sifted to |
the bottom, as the first part OF FRIDAYS |
work. / understand also that the session |
OF that day is to be rendered still further |
by an exhibition with the aid OF |
a magic lantern OF Expert Southworth's |
important discovery, and that the fact set |
forth by this expert, that the anonymous
note and portion OF Whittaker's note to |
bis mother were written upon portions OF |
The same sheet Of paper, will be made ap-
parent to the court beyond question when |
he magnifed images are thrown OH the
screen.