Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-19
CADET WHITAKER.

The Court Still Unable TO Find Out VINO
Abused Him-Gen. SchoHeId's Testimony
"A Brassy Correspondence HandKer-
chief Unidentified.
WEST POINT, N. Y, April lin the Wn"-
taker case to-day correspondent or tne NC"
York Times was called, but he declined, giving
his authority, for the statement three cadets
were heard saying Whitaker would be liked,
etc., and asked the indulgence of the court TILL
Monday when his counsel would be present.
The court held short consultation, and al lts
conclusion the president said: The court desires
to say that as this witness has been sworn to
tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, and now refuses to do 80, ana
proposes to give only such information as is
polite, no Importance will be attached to any
information given to the press by this CORES
pondent. The court will report matter to the
commandant of the post and let the exam1na-
ton of witnesses drop. The recorder stated
the story published had been fully investigat-
ed. and he had been unable 60 find anything to
possibly Justify him in placing the persons
alleged to be connected with 1t on the witness
stand.
Second Lieut.. Coffin testified: Night inspec-
tions of the barracks consist of the inspector
going into the cadets rooms with dark Ian
tern to see if they are in. He did not inspect
on the night Whitaker was assaulted. Refer
ring to hazing in the past, he said colored
cadets were let alone. The correspondent
of the Times asked The court, through the re-
corder, to take his protest against the assump-
tion contained in the statement OF the court
as an entirely unwarrantable and Unjust as
mption of the court. Because he had taken
an oath as a witness and then retired within
his legal rights, as advised to do by eminent
military counsel, was unjust. unwarranted
and in violation of the articles of war. The
court. he said, had no right to base an opinion
concerning him unless specially ordered.
Major General Schofeld, in command of
the department of West Point, testified
that he received message from Cadet
Burricks about o'clock on the morning of
April 6, requesting him to go there as Cadet
Whitaker was seriously injured. He re-
sponded as quickly as possible, and when near
the barracks was told that Whitaker wasn't
as seriously hurt as at first reported. When
he learned the facts he gave an order for an
investigation, and members of the corps came
to him expressing indignation over the occur
renee, and also urging investigation. Gen.
Schofield then thought the guilty party could
easily be detected. The investigation, pur-
sued by the commandant of the corps, lasted
three days, and the result was reported to him.
When he sent for Whitaker and Informed
him of the result as prejudicial to him, Whit
taker made prompt and earnest denial and
demanded a court of inquiry. Whitaker s
frankness impressed the general he couldn't
be guilty. After the investigation there were
reports that the guilty parties were beyond
West Point, and then the authorities had to
| look elsewhere. In the meantime Whitaker
couldn't rest under the imputation cast upon
him and court of inquiry was promptly Or
dered. The bearing of the corps of cadets and
the bearing of Whitaker impressed the general
with the innocence of both and the clue out
side had also failed. In closing, Gen. Schofeld
said the method pursued in this investigation
was adopted solely in justice to Cadet Whit
taker. If the Investigation has pursued any
other course, it is unknown to
me. The whole facts bearing upon
Whitaker must have been left to public sus-
picion until the guilty parties are found.
Every means known to me- or which have been
suggested to me from any other source by
which the investigation could be pursued, have
been adopted.
Other testimony revealed how colored cadets
have been ostracised and ignored in the past.
The clerk of the quartermasters department
identified the handkerchief found as the style
issued to cadets, but the pattern of the necktie
are different from those in his department. No
necktie has been issued to Whitaker since May
26, 1878. and that style of handkerchief hasn't
been for sale in Highland Falls for six months
Adiourua5 till MOudav