The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-06-03
Distinguishing the CoIored Ca
Diet,

The investigation of the case of
Whitaker, the colored cadet at West
Point. who claimed that he was set
upon in his room last winter by Il
party OF masked men and mutilated
in various ways, has eliminated in
the following report, which we COM
mend to certain persons in the
north who endeavored to make it
appear that the perpetrators of the
alleged outrage were southern ca
diets, who adopted that method OF
showing their hatred for the "man
and brother"
WEST POINT, N. Y, May %
The Court of Inquiry. in the case
of Cadet Whitaker met in secret
session to-day and agreed upon a
final report, which was signed by
the members of the court. The
conclusions are as follows:
l. The court is unable to believe
that such slight wounds as Cadet
Whitaker received could have
been inflicted by persons in the
manner and under the circumstances
described by him.
2. 1t does not see why a man,
with his surroundings and in his
condition and frame of mind, as
shown by his own evidence, should
have submitted TO an assault such
as is alleged without summoning
assistance during the assault, or I'M
mediately thereafter.
3. 1t believes that a person tied
as he was, and left as he claims to
have been, could have released him
self, had he eXerted himself to DO
so.
A. From the testimony of the
Post Surgeon and others the court
is compelled to believe Cadet Whit
taker was neither asleep nor insen
sible when he was examined on the
morning of April 6, 1880, but that
he was feigning.
D The court is not able to dis
cover any motive that any person.
other than Cadet Whitaker, could
have had in making the assault,
and there is no evidence whatever
to warrant the belief that any per
son did make 1t.
e. 1t believes that the hair clip
ping, flesh cutting and binding
could all have been accomplished
by Cadet Whitaker himself.
The theory that the note of warn
ing is an imitation of Cadet Whit
takers writing is, in the opinion of
the court, untenable. The severe
tests to which the experts in hand
writing were subjected, and their
positive testimony place it beyond
doubt that Cadet Whitaker him
self wrote the note .! warming, and
therefore, he is not ignorant of the
person or persons engaged in the
affair. This latter decision is
strengthened by tue fact that one
half of the sheet of paper on which
this note was written was found in
Cadet Whittaker's possession.
The opinion of the court is as
follows:
From the strong array of circum-
stantial evidence; from the testimo-
ny of experts in hand writing, and |
from the conflicting statements of
Cadet Whitaker, and the lack of
evinced by him in certain
cases during the investigation, as
shown by the evidence, the court is
Of the opinion that the imputation
upon the character of Cadet Whit
-aker referred to in the order con-
veniug the court and contained in
.he official reports of the Com
nandant of Cadets and Post Sur
yeon, is fully sustained.
When the report was sent TO
Sen. Scofeld and read by him, he
caused letter to be addressed. to
Col. Lazelle, commandant of the
,OIps Of cadets, directing the arrest
If Whitaker and placing him in
in his room. The or
Ter was promptly carried out, and
W Whitaker will remain under arrest
until the case is disposed of, and
guard will keep him under surveil-
ance. An officer of high rank be-
ng asked what disposition would
be made of him if the findings of
-he court are approved, replied that
f he was a non commissioned off
GER he would be tried by a court,
out it is probable if the President
approves, he will be dismissed from
.he academy or turned over to the
;ivil authorities. Whitaker still {
protests his innocence. The find
ngs of the court will be forwarded
20 the War Department tonight.