The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-17
THE wEsr POINT OUTRAGE.
E1amlnatlon 40 tle case Yeslerday.

I
wRsr PoIsT, April 16.-In the opening
OF the Whitaker case to-day, the recorder
read an official letter, defining Martin !.
Townsend's position before the court as
adviser and counsel for the recorder. The
first witness called was Commandapt La
zelle, Of the corps Of cadets. He testified
to an order he received to investigate the
Whitaker case, and how heproceeded.
He called each Of the cadets before him,
put each on his honor and each one de-
MED all knowledge Of the affair. He ex.
amined pieces Of the belt with which
Whitaker was bound, but found no marks
on them which would give any clue TO the
perpetrators. He went to Whittaker's 3
room, and with free consent OF Whitaker,
examined his correspondence aud also
compared the handkerchiefs In his pos
session, but found none to correspond
with the one found in Whittaker's room.
He bad the building searched, to see ifany
citizens clothing could be found. In the
package brought to Whitaker from the
laundry, he found two handkerchieis
which corresponded with the bloody
handkerchief. lie was at the hospital
when Whitaker was examined, and saw
no bruises on him as the result OF the In.
vestigation. He made a written report,
based upon such thorough investigation
as would permit. When asked to state what
he saw and heard when he entered Whit.
takers room, he detailed the story already
told by the previous dispatch. Whitaker
said he did not recognize any OF his as.
sailants as cadets, but they seemed to be
familiar with things in his room. Whit
taker said 90 far as known, he hadn't an
enemy in the corps. It was by order OF
cleansed after the affair occurred.
At the afternoon session Col. LaZelle
gave reasons why he thought Whitaker
was shAmming. he was strongly impress.
ed with the idea that the handwriting OF
Whitaker compares closely with the hand.
writing in the note OF warning. The fld'
ing OF the necktie, was, he thought, against
Whitaker, because no person In civilians
dress would have brought it there.
Whittaker's manner since the occur
renee has been OF uniform frankness
and the candor Ia extremely so, and so
have all the cadets been frank and candid. |
He thought Whitaker could have freed
himself. All the peculiarities Of his case
could have been the result Of practice.
He had no reason TO doubt Whittakers
yeracity. Outside Of this affair he be.
lieyed II civilians done the deed they
would have brought cords to bind Whit
taker with, instead Of using strips OF belts.
de did not think the belts used were
brought into the room.
Mr.. Townsend questioned the witness,
who in reply said he thought that
vigorous kick would have broken the
on Whittaker's feet. A man
who would do such q deed would not
hesitate to deny it. He thought it i'm.
probable that one cadet would do 1t, and
lie still more improbable that two cadets
would do 1t, and lie still that three would
do it and lie, and yet he thought a
cadet bad enough TO do It would not hesi-
tate to lie. He said that il there were
reasons why others should have commit
ted the outrage to drive Whitaker away,
there were equally as strong reasons why
he should have done 1t himself to. stay, as
witness understood he was steadily going
back In his studies.
Adjourned.