The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-04-18
THE WEST POINT OUTRAGE.
The Reporter Of the New York Times Is
Placed on the Stand, But He Declines
to Testify Gen. scho6eld
on the Stand.

WEST POINT, N. Y, April 1.-THE New
York Times correspondent was called to the
etand, and was handed @ copy OF the Itnes OF
April 15 BY advice Of counsel, he refused to
answer the questions on the ground that the
Information was impaired to him In his pro-
feaeional capacity. Recorder Sears stated
that the article referred to begins by speaking
of a highly important clue; that clue was
known to the reporter on the fret day the
court convened, and the reporter took every
step to yet evidence to support the clue, but
was unable to get anything to positively JUS
tify him in placing the parties alleged to be
concerned with IL upon the witness stand. On
reading the article ref rred to he found such
positive statements that he deemed 1t i'm
portant to put the reporter on the stand, IN
the hope of getting something to substantlate
the clue.
department of West Point, stated In substance
that he received n message from the cadets
barracks, about o'clock on the morning OF
April G. requesting hin to go there as CADET
Whitaker was seriously injured. lie res
ponded as quickly as possible, and when near
the barracks was told that Whitaker was
not as seriously hurt as was at first reported.
| When he learned the facts, he gave an order
| for an investigation, and members or the
corps came to hin, expressing Indignation
over the occurrence. and also urging an in
| vestigation. m
Gen. Schoiield then thought that the guilty
party could eaeiy be found. An iuvesttga-
tion was pursued by the commandant OF the
corps, which lasted three days, and the re-
suit was reported to hin, when he sent for
Whitaker and informed him of the result as
prpiudcial to him. Whitaker made prompt
/ and earnest denial, and demanded court ot
inquiry, and Gen. Schotield stated that Whit
| takers frankness impressed him that he could
not be guilty. After the investigation there
were reports that the guilty parties were be-
yond West Point, and then the authorities
had to look elsewhere. In the meantime
Whitaker could not rest under the tmputa.
tion cast upon him, and court OF inquiry
was promptly ordered. The hearing OF the
corps of cadets and the hearing OF Whitaker
| impressed the General with the innocence o
both. The clue outside had also failed.
In closing, Gen. Schofield said: The method
pursued In this investigation was adopted
solely in justice to Cadet Whitaker. If the
investigation has pursued any other courseit
la unknown to me. The whole fact bearing
upon Whitaker must have left In the public
mind suspicion until the guilty parties Were
found. Every means known to me, or which
have been suggested to me from any Other
sources, by which the investigation could b.
pursued have been adopted
Other testimony revealed how coloret
cadets have been ostracised and ignored Ii
the past.
The clerk of the quartermaster was sworn
and identified the handkerchief found as th
same style as those issued to cadets, bu
said the points of the necktie are ditferen
from those 10 his possession. No necktte hat
been issued to Whitaker since May 26, 1875
Witness testified that handkerchiefs like tn
one found had not been for sale In tho high
land falls for six months. The court the
adjourned until Monday.