The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-19
GENERAL DOMESTIC NEWS.
The Examination In the West Point
Outrage.
camsrun's Grip on the Pennsylvania Dele
uatlon-crlmss and crlmlnals-A Mur.
tsrer Being Cornsred Kills One
0ficer and Fatally Wounds
Anothsr-A Furry Ia Wall
Street - General
News, 60.


WEST POINT, N. Y, April 17.-1n the
Whitaker case to-day correspondent OF
the New York 7Tms was called, but he
declined giving his authority for the state
ment that three cadets were heard saying
Whitaker would be fixed, &c., and asked
the Court till Monday, when his counsel
would be present. The Court held short
consultation, and at It's conclusion the
President said: 1.-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 SO,
and proposes to give only such informa-
ton as Is polite, no Importance will be
attached to any information given 70 The
press by this correspondent. The Court
will report the matter to the commandant
OF the post, and let the examination OF
the witness drop. The Recorder states
that the story published has been fully in
yestigated, and he had been unable TO get
anything TO possibly justify him in placing
the persons alleged to be connected with
1t upon the witness stand"
Second Lieutenant Wm. 81. Coffin testi-
fed that night inspections OF the barracks
consist Of the inspectors going into the
cadets rooms with dark lantern to see
II they arein. He did not inspect on the
night Whitaker was assaulted. He re-
ferred 10 hazing in the past, and said col.
ored cadets were let alone. Hazed cadets
were made fly, crow K sometimes smoked
out, made to walk beams, &c.
The correspondent OF the Times asked
the Court, through the Recorder, to take |
his protest against the assumption con-
tanned In the statement OF the Court as en-
tirely uuwarranted and unjust. The as
sumption Of the Court, because he had |
taken an oath as witness and then re-
tired within his legal rights as advised 10
do by eminent military counsel, was un-
Just, unwarrranted 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 Schofield, in command |
OF the department at West Point, testified |
that he received message from the ca
dets' barracks about 8 o'clock on the
morning of April 6, requesting him to go
there, as Cadet Whitaker was seriously |
injured. He responded as quickly as pos
sible, and when near the barracks was
told that Whitaker was not as seriously |
hurt as at first reported. When he learn
ed the facts he gave an order for an inves-
tigation, and members OF the corps came
TO him expressing indignation over the
occurrence, and also urging an investiga.
ton. General Schofeld then thought |
the guilty party could easily be detected.
The Investigation pursued by the COM
mandant of the corps lasted three days,
and the result was reported to him,
when he sent for Whitaker and
prejudicial TO him. Whitaker made q
prompt and earnest denial, and demand.
ed Court Of Inquiry. Whittaker's frank
ness impressed the General that he could |
not 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 could not rest under
the imputation cast upon him, and q
Court OF Inquiry was promptly ordered.
The bearing OF the corps OF cadets and the |
bearing Of Whitaker impressed the Gem
eral with the innocence OF both, and the |
clew outside had also failed. In closing,
General Schofield said: 1.-THE method |
pursued in this investigation was adopted
solely in justice to Cadet Whitaker. II
the investigation has pursued any other
course, 1t Is unknown 10 me-"
"The whole facts bearing upon Whitta.
ker must be left to public suspicion until
the guilty parties are found. Every |
means known 70 me, or which has been
suggested to me from any other source,
by which the investigation could be pur-
sued, has been adopted"
Other testimony revealed how colored
cadets have been ostracized and ignored
The clerk of the Quartermaster's De-
partment identified the handkerchief
found as the style issued to cadets, but
the points OF the necktie are different
from those in his department. No neck
tie has been issued to Whitaker since
May 26, 1878. Witness testified that that
style Of handkerchief has not been for
sale in Highland Falls for six months.
Adjourned till Monday.