South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-06-04
The West Point Case Report Of
the Court Of Inquiry.

- ~ "SSe OlAt SecO- lOkOAt Va
the Court Of Inquiry.
WEST PorSr, n. Y, May 29.-The
Whitaker court Of Inquiry met in secret
session at 3 T. N. to-day, 70 make
up is final report which was agreed up
on and signed by all OF the members Of
the court, as follows:
The court OF inquiry appointed by spe-
ciai order No. 55. Headquarters Depart
ment OF West Point, United States Mil
itary Academy. West Point, n. j., April
8, 1880, TO examine into andinvestigate
the facts and circumstances connected
with tie recent assault made upon Ca
dct Whitaker. and. the iinpu.ation cast
upon his character in relation thereto,
has the honor to submit the following
report rs the result or its investigation"
The court here reviews the testimony
and proceedings In the case, and arrives
ut tue following conclusion
First. The court is unable to believe
that sach slight wounds as Cadet Whit
taker received could have been inflicted
by the persons in the manner and un-
der the circumstances described By him.
Second. Ii does not SEQ why q man
with his surroundings and in his condi.
ton aud frame of mind, as shown by
his own evidence, should havc submit
ted to an assault such as is alleged with
out s1mmcn;ng assistance during the
assault or Immediately thereafter.
Third. Il believes q person tied as
he was, and LEI, as he claims to have
been, could really have released him
self had he cxerted himself to do so.
Fourth. From the testimony of the
post surgeon and others, the court is
compelled 20 believe tina, Cadet Whitta.
ker was neither asleep nor insensiblc
| when he was examined on the morning
of April 6, 1880, but that he was feign-
ing.
Fifth. The court is not able to die
cover any motive that any person other
than Cadet Whitaker could have had
in making such an assault, and there Is
no evidence whatever TO warrant the be-
Lief that any other person did make it.
Sixth. 1t believes that the hair clip
ping, the flesh cutting and the binding
could all have been accomplished by
Cadet Whitaker himself
Seventh The theory that the note
Of warning 10 in imitation OF Cadet Whit
takers writing is in the opinion Of the
court, untenable, The severe tests to
which the experts in handwriting were
subjected, and their positive testimony,
| placed it beyond doubt that Cadet Whit
tSker himself wrote the note OF warming.
and, therefore, that ho is not ignorant
OF the person or persons engaged in the
affair. This latter conclusion is strength
encd by the fact that one-half of the
sheet OF paper on which this note is
| written was found il Cadet Whittakcr's
| possession.
'Opiniop. From the strong array of
circumstantial evidence, from tho test
ing Of the experts in hand~ riting,. and
from the conflicting statements or Cadet
whitaker, and lack OF veracity evinced
by him in certain cases during the in
vestigation, rs shown BY the evidence,
the court is OF the opinion that the i'm
putation upon The character Of Cadet
Whitaker, referred To in the order con-
vening the court, in tho official reports
OF the commandment OF cadets and post
surgeon, is fully sustained"
| hen the report was sent to General
Schoticld and carefully read by him, he
caused letter TO be addressed to Col.
Lazelle, commandant Of the corps of
cadets, directing tie arrest OF Whitaker
and placing him in confinement in his
room. The order was promptly carried
out. and Whitaker will remain under
arrest until this case is disposed OF, and
Q guard will keep him under surveillance.
An officer in high rank. being asked
what disposition would be made of him
II thc findings Of The court are approved
by the War Department. replied il he
was non-comm issioned officer he would
be tried by court-martial, as urged by
Recorder Sears, in his address to the
court, but it is probable, if the President
approves, that hc will be dismissed fro m
Tho Academy or DO turned over to the
ciYil authorities.
Whitaker still protests bis innocence
The findings OF the court will lie for
warded to the War Department tonight
by mail.