The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-12
Itaztng.

THE wESr-POINT OUTRAGE INVESTIGATION.
WEST POINT, April l0.-Cadet Whitaker,
in his examination, after detailing the cir
cunstances OF the alleged outrage as first told
by him, was asked what had been his per-
sOnal feelings within month rs to the pro-
liability of bis graduatIngp He replied: 81
ALWAYS felt that would get through" He
said that he never had any special cause for
disbursement before this occurred. He
was asked il he had ever written any
gloomy letters to friends or others. lie said
he wrote a gloomy letter to bis mother about
her affairs preventing him from graduating.
lie told her unless he was sure she could
find some way TO pay her rent he would
resign. lie wrote another 'eter to q GER
thin party saying that IL he could not raise
that money for his mother be would resign,
when he received letter in reply rendering
the money as a loan IL he would pay 1t after
he graduated. He accepted the offer, and
the first in>talment came soon after; bat
this was weeks before the outrage &C.
cured An endcavor was made to connect
him iamlliarly with the c0lored b0otblack OF
the Academy, but he testified that bis last
visit TO that persons family was over year
ago. He testified that he bad no reason to
suppose that there were Drciudices in the
minds OF his instructors against him, and
that he has fair chance in getting through
Us far as they are concerned, but felt that
his social isolation has had an effect on him
as far as bis studies are concerned. When
some OF the pieces Of belt " it'll which he had
been tied were shown witness, IL was re-
yealed that one piece contained eyeleis,
which none but officers belts have, and
Whitaker had never been an officer. His
counsel deemed this important. He also
denied the ownership OF the black necktie
found in bis room.
Whitaker was recalled. He said he had
no conversation with bis assailants ctpt
TO say "Please don't cut my ear" He had
been told the gas was found lighted in the
morning, but he had positively eXtingulsh-
ed it before bis retirement. When the
surgeon aroused him he thought his as
salants had returned. The penknife
and scissors found In his room be
identified as his own. He was shown
white handkerchief with corner
cut out that was found in his room, but said
he never saw it before Thursday last.
During the examination he was taken into
the aute-rOom, where the court examined
his ears. ankle, and head, and on his return,
in answer to question, said that in bis
opinion Az oath was binding on his con-
science to tell the whole truth. and that be
firmly believed a false oath involved future
punishment.
The Recorder then spoke to him as fol-
lows 81 want you to put your hand on
that Bible, which you have so often read,
and take oath that you are In no way cog
MINT, in no way free agent, or have
any Knowledge OF or conniyance with your
ASSISTANTS"
Whitaker took the Bible, looked his
questioner squarely in the face, and was
asked: " Do you take that oath ~ lie re-
piled clearly and firmly, 81 do, sir"
His testimony afterwards was short.
When the two BARRIERS attached 10 the
post were sworn in regard to the cutting OF
his hair, their evidence went TO show that
the small pair Of scissors found In his room
could not have cut his hair as 1t is now cut.
When these witnesses finished, at the sug-
gestion of Whittaker's counsel the latter
withdrew, and then Cadet George K. Bur-
nett, OF the first class, was called to the
with ss-stand.
Burnetps testimony showed that he was
the officer. -the-day when Whitaker vas
found. file was the first one to enter the
room, and called him repeatedly, but Whit
taker made no answer. Witness then de-
scribed the position in which he found
Whitaker, his appearance and the condition
OF the room. Witness, by direction, laid
himself on the floor by a blackboard and
showed the position Whitaker was in when
he first saw him. His feet were elevated
and he Law partly on his side, and 1t seemed
almost impossible for Whitaker 10 have
united the cords about his feet from
the position that witness illustrated
he was in, especially II his hands were firm.
Iy bound. He also exhibited how the knots
were tied, showing there was more than
one full knot, and that the knots were OF a
character somewhat difficult to unite.
Afterwards be tied his own wrists as he
said Whittaker's were tied, aud thtn broke
the bonds, though the space between
the hands, after he was tied, was two
inches, whereas he testified that the space
between Whittaker's HANDS was one inch.
and his wrists two inches, which would
make much difference In leverage when
pulling laterally. In breaking the bonds
witness suffered an abrasion OF the skin on
both wrists. In appearance he Is physically
stronger than Whitaker. He was also
bound hand and foot as was Whitaker, and
laid beside the iron bedstead, which had
been brought into court, and his feet tied
10 IL. when he showed he could reach Knots
on his feet with mis- hands.
II Is proper to state that before Cadet
Burnett was called to the witness-stand
Whitaker. at the suggestion Of counsel. re-
,;rod from the room and was not present