New-York tribune., 1880-04-10
WI1rrrAKBR,s STORY OF THE ATTAC


Ills TESTIMONY BEFORE HE COURT OF INQUIRY
|. THE RfcoRDER REFERS TO MN AS TIIE Ac-
cUsED-A PIECE OF AN OFFICERS BELT FOUND
~ his ROOT.
IrnoH 4 SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNR.l
WEST PoINT. April 9.--The Court of In
qury ordered by the secrctry OF War to investigate the
ouragc uuon the coorrd cadet Whitaker and the I'm
put,tons on his character Incident thereto, convened
here today The order constituting the court was read,
and named following officers the court: Majcr
Alfred Mordecai. president; Captain Charles W. Ray
mond lieutenant; Samuel T. Tilman. lieutenant; Gin.
ton g. Sears Lieut. Dant John q. ID. Knight,
M The request OF Whitaker was appointed 10 advise the
cadet-the accused, II might almost be said; for the
thro,y that whitnker had committed the outrage upon
himself was clearly intiated IN the line Of questioning
pursued and Recorder unthinkney referred TO him
us the accused more than once.
The Court was he'd IN toe Library. Many officers and
lacs Of the post present and also many srnngers
Among those In court The Rev. Justin d. Fulton
who told reporter that he had up to show Whit
fakcr that he hat thr sympathy Of ore white man a
least Professor r. T. Greener. OF Washington, Profes
sot " Shepard OF Cornwall, General SehOeG, the Rev
Dr. Forsyth, post cbap!a n. and Professors Michic
Iarncd aud de Janon Of the Military Academy.
Shortly after the members Of the Court mad taken
their seats cadet whitaker uniform, and wearing
white bldy.bclt and white gloves. entered the
md sauted After Il short talk with his counsel he wns
and wac called nd the first witness His
mann.r cool AMI scPos-esscd Hts answers to the
questions were frank unhestatlngy given He bore
no having been severely beaten out The cuts on
his ears were distinctly ylsbir and when he walled
across the room. IL with decided llup. Thls no
said was caused by The cuts upon his feet ana the stiff
nc-s Of IN. ankles binding Of the co:ds. He is
a very light mulatto, and could hardly be selected rs
the eoored cndet while standing In the ranks with
his winter comrades
In nj, testimony no r-t told the story of the attack
t.t,, IA ~
publ he'd Upon his cross-r1amnaton by the'Recorder
he said that there was dim light only In the roOm less
HIGHT Than glslight-morc like moonlight His room
curtains were down. Ic saw plainly small light like
candle the hand OF one OF the men. who stood nelr
the head OF The Drh Whitaker identified as accurate
Ingram Uf his and the hall adjoining, which had
beer drawn on the blackboard.
TIE STORY OF THE OUTRAGE.
WAS first forced on to the noor," he said after
the man had sprang me. In crouchng position; the
wac thrown over that lay with my head townrd
the back OF the acOve ana alongside O the bed MY feet
were tied to The bed the foot Then was struck,
tinnk with fist afierward hit ON the left side
of tc head with sort OF club. After the men had
gone called for help loud enough have been heard
ncro-s the hail. or the In the room be
low Afttr thn swOOnrd or fll asleep ana knew MOTH
Ing mur. until brought to cOnscolsntss by the surgeon.
Struggled ihrousho the attack wel as could.
si0nld II WIN SCISSORS that my halr wps cut
hut my ears were cut with SINGLE Dhhc Ihcrr were
also two cnts on the lttle toe o. NV ,rnld lrit
iaof. made while tyinE my Icrt MY uauuS WcEe
ned with the palms together. Ihe CORDS hurt, Dut
did not me-. could move my ilngcrs ! tired to
reach down and release nv feet tried 10 pun AOol,
lar lhr cord, cut Tile bel Ia II heavy iron one. and
dld move II q ltlc. Aly feet were numb when tIr
put 4 handkerchief under my ear, hcard no sOuud OI
iip,ug. amy proposa to cut ouf the name rom the
.tndkr rchcf. have seen II since and 10 looks nkc
cmlcI handkerchief. recognized no voices, hut ne
voices seancd Ia he Disguised 90 mol thk ihe MASKS
thr men wor, woud disguise the voices. The mnsks
were such ~ are used for masquerade parties
think my har cut IN the back, on the sue ana OH
Whitaker hero showed the back of his head. on which
light patches, where the hair had Deeh cumsiy
changed my prow-casc." he continued, d" satnrday
mori.lng, The hnt-brms the men wore were not very
broad. / have NJ citizens clothes In my room. have
missed hamdkeiohcfs. The steps OF the men as they
went OUT sounded though they were IN their stock
ing heard steps after the men had PASSED my
door, HOT any talking. They did NOT address each
TSoa[ Too ThnR ny bonDd % S St least three hours
not hear reyee IN the morning. alt1ngn usuaiy I0
came 1 thought my assailnnts had returned My nose
had SeG but am @ mot have SS n IdSn cubs in %y
room, but should not say was struck with one"
no CAUSE FOR DrscoURAGEMEET
Ihaye had no recent trouble with any cadet. have
lately been seotOn.narchcr OF my section, but have
had no occasion TO speak any cadet In other than the
usual manner. I know Of occasion for i-feeIng
against suspect particular person OF this at
tack. From their bearing or setting up could not
say whether my assaants cadets or not. They
bore themselves genteelly. My personal feeling and
the course at the academy, and / haye had had
spoken OF resgning. I got gloomy, news from
my mother, and wrote her that would resign un-
iess could arrange for her rent This have DONE by
a loan which IL TO be repaid upon my graduation. The
arrangement concluded some weeks before this af
fair My failure graduate would certainly disnppoint
my mother aud other friends My mother did not want
me to resign paw her rent have no aequainI-
ances mere except Mr. Simpson, OF Highland Falls, who
has charge OF the Academy bathrooms and bootblack-
do not think there IS any prejudice against on
the part Of my Instructors and think shall have fair