New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-17


Whitaker and in which doubtless were
references to the Court of Inquiry He evidently
had not cared enough about them to open them
In word there was nothing in the room that would
tend 10 give it an air of comfort not to speak OF
attractiveness.
Whitaker talked with THE TRIBUNE corre-
spondent with apparent fraukncss and free.
dom from reserve. He was perfectly cool
and unembarrassed and at times laughed
at some turn of the conversation. Gen.
erally however, he was serious, and spoke appar-
emily with. earnestness and feeling. His reference
TO an interview which he had WITH Neneral 0cuo-
field on Saturday was interesting.
"Last night" he said, " had o sort of a conf
deptlaI talk with General Schofeld. He asked me
to tell him the whole truth about this ahalr de
said that the evidence was quite damaging, L
think he used that word, and he talked to me In n
very kind and friendly way. If l we're
guilty he advised to confess and
told him that in such case he would
be the first man TO whom l should
90 on account of his kindness to me. But was in
nocent told him. He hasn't lost confidence in
me. That know from what he said to me- He
told me that there would probably be bit
ter feeling against me, and wanted me
to do everything could to find out all about the
affair." He especially wanted me to try to
learn if any of my writings had been taken,
so that they could have been initiated
The only way of clearing up the
matter was by getting at all of the facts. Hc said
that he would do all he could for me, and that no
wished to see me get through. He wouldn't have
said this if he had thought that were guilty.
"The cross-examInation yesterday was very Sc
we're, as they wanted me to contradict myself
had no idea 1 should be called up again for
such rakng; for l thought that l was
all through long ago. They seemed to think that
took notes on the night of the outrage. If there are
discrepancies between my evidence yesterday
and at the first time, can't help il.
If had done this thing myself
1 should have fixed the facts consccutvcly in my
mind so that would never forget them. | could
then have told the exact time of everything, and all
of the details of the attack.
wHIT1AKER's EXPLANATION OF SOME OF TIE
TESTIMONY.
eyes, the crcumstantia evidence IS strong-es-
pecialy Mr. Southworth's in regard to the piece of
paper on which the note of warning written. Bu5
used paper similar to that which ali the cadets rse
the paper we get from the cOmmssary. Ibrgan the
letter during drill tune. for drll was omitted on
Monday, and finished it in the evening. In it |
said thar 1 should have to make out
a redusitiOn for some stamps on the next
day. ! don't remember whether began to write
on q whole or n half sheet. My drawer Il full of
half sheets. and if anyone should fake a
half sheet from my drawer there is moth
ing to prevent nv writing letter on
the the other haf sheet. found the note Of warning
in that char beside the table after returned from
supper on Monday, April 3. Here was paper of mine,
was unlocked, and it was known that l was
at supper. Anyone could have come in here
and written the note @ with the greatest ease
writing right in the drawer, If ho had wished
to copy my hand. If the two pieces of paper do fit
into each other am inclined to think that tlls Is
the way in which the note was written"
"Why didneyou observe the fact that the hand |
writing on the n ote was similar to yOursf"
II never thought Of it. II had written
it, do you suppose that / would |
have showed IT to, fonr or Aye expcrtsi
That would have been the most foolish thing Of |
the whole affair." 1t never occurred to me that it
looked like my handwriting"
"Why should friend who would send yon a
note of warning want to get you into trouble |
ait NAV not have been friend 1t may have
been one of those who committed the outrage"
But why would anyone about to do such act
give you an opportunity 10 prepare to meet them =
"They might and might not have done that !
They might have thought that wouldn't think of
that, and perhaps those who made the attack knew
would show the note to some one after found it,
Wouldn't vOu have recognized the voices Of |
Blake and Mcdonald If they had been among your |
II think so for Pve head them often in the Sec
tion room. But all their voices were disguised. and
so did not recognize them. l never shOnd have |
mentioned the names of Blake or Mcdonald, be- |
cause my suspicious not strong enough, If the |
Court had not Insisted upon my answering the |
question whether suspected anyone.
forgery. lie said, furthermore, that he was get
ting along pretty well in his stud es, and didn't |
feel afraid of the examinations. When asked how
he could sit cOolly through the trying ordeal
Saturday, he replied, ANY innocent man would sit
there as did. If had been guilty should have
been altogether mixed np." Atone time during the
talk Whitaker picked up the official order for the
Court of Inquiry, saving, with smiles shall
keep this III my scrap-boOk"
PROFESSOR GREENER NOT DISCOURAGED.
Professor Greener talked yesterday with some
.A.l.z
the revelations of Saturday" said hc "havnq an
cipated all except tho identity of the paper Of the
note of warming and that of Whitakurs letter TO his
mother That even is not very clcar-I mean the
matching-nor conclusive, seeing that no ono
except tho Court, Lieutenant Knight and tho
experts have passed upon 1t. l am still believer
in Whittaker's complete innocence Of any compli-
city in the affair." and advise his friends not TO DO
discouraged nor relax thor zeal his behalf on
this thoroughly ex pirte evidence. There no ono
report, nor all nor the warning note, which, If ex-
amned fairly and mpartally, will not fail to sat
isfy The theory of Colonel LaZclle, announced ut
the beginning of the inquiry, has been followed ont
chcerfuly, and the Court has merely come Out after
five weeks OF tOilsome effort Just where IL started.
1t is not necessary for me to 20 INTO arguments
from Mr.. Whittakcrs pOlnt Of view now. l presume
Lieutenant Knight VIII do that tomorrow. There |
will be an opportunity for me TO be heard on the |
case before less sensitive bar and bench when !
shall speak plainly have only to say now that 50
far from this last evidence being crushing over
wheming' and decisive il will not stand the half
hour examination of practical lawyer. Crcum- |
stantial evidence solely. and expert testimony. /
would have hanged Billings twice In my opinion !
the note Of warning is toTgeT?. bearing vague re-
scmblancc grant, TO Whittaker's hand bat when |
examined clos ,!y beside acknowledged specimens !
evcn !he Herdtfs n,tc) it bears internal marks Of
imitation and not habit"
" But suppose Whitaker attempted to disguise |
his hand z"
" 1t would have been a much moro radical dis
gIise than that, while it is absurd to suppose lac
would have lett any clew, especially TO appar-
cnt, leading to himself don't think his answers 10
Recorder Sears, nor his whole bearing in this case,
have appeared strange. Either ho is innOcent-the |
victim Of cOnspiTacy-Or his reasoning power con-
trary to the opinion of his instructors is vastly |
superior to his memory which is granted TO be more
than Ordinarvn