Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-30
CADET WHITAKER.

| The Court of Inquiry Concludes that the
COlored Cadet Whitaker Cut His Own
Hair and Ears and is Liar Whitaker
Placed Under Arrest Until the President
Passes Upon the Findings of the Court.
WEST POINT, May 29.-The court of in
quiry in the case of Cadet Whitaker met in
secret session to-day, and agreed upon final
report, which was signed by all the members
of the court. The conclusions are as fol-
lows:
| First-The court is unable to believe that
such slight wounds as Cadet Whitaker re-
| ceived could have been inflicted by persons
| in the manner and under the circumstances
| described by him.
Second-It does not see why man with
| his surroundings and in his constitution and
frame of mind, as shown by his own evil
| dence, should have submitted to an assault
such as is alleged, without summoning as
sistance during the assault or Immediately
thereafter.
Third-It believes person tied as he was,
and left as he claims to have been, could cas-
lily have released himself had he eXerted him
self to do so.
Fourth-From the testimony of the post
surgeon and others the court is compelled to
believe Cadet Whitaker was neither asleep
nor insensibIe when he was examined on the
morning of April 6, 1880, but that he was
feigning.
Fifth-The court is not able to discover
any motive that any person other than Cadet
Whitaker could have had in making such
an assault, and there is no evidence what
ever to warrant the belief that any other per-
son did it.
Sixth-It believes that the hair clipping,
flesh cutting and binding could all have
been accomplished by CadetSW hittaker him
self.
Seventh-As to the theory that the note
of warning is an imitation of Whitaker
writing, in the opinion of the court, the
severe tests to which the experts in hand
writing were subjected, and their positive
testimony, place it beyond doubt that Cadet
Whitaker himself wrote the note of warning,
and therefore that he is not ignorant of the
person or persons engaged in the affair.
This latter conclusion is strengthened by
the fact that half of the sheet of paper in
which this note is written was found in
Cadet Whittaker's possession.
The opinion of the court is as follows:
From the strong array of circumstantial
evidence, from the testimony of experts in
handwriting, and from the conflicting state
ments of Cadet Whitaker, and the lack of
veraclty eyinced by him in certain cases dur
ing the investigation, as shown
by the evidence, the court is
of opinion that the imputation upon
the character of Cadet Whitaker referred to
in the order converting the court and con-
tanned in the official reports of the COM
mandant of cadets and post surgeon, is
fully sustained.
When the report was sent to Gen. Scho-
field and read by him he caused letters to
be addressed to Col. Lazelle. commandment
of the corps of cadets, directing the arrest
of Whitaker and placing him in confne-
ment in his room. The order was prompt
ly carried out and Whitaker will remain
under arrest until the case is disposed of
and guard will keep him under surveil-
lance.
An officer in high rank being asked what
would be made of him if the
findings of the court are approved by the
war department, replied if he was q com
missioned officer he would be tried by court
martial, but it was probable if the president
he will be dismissed the academy
or turned over to the civil authorities.
Whitaker still protests his innocence.
The findings of the court will be forwarded
to the war department. tonight.