National Republican., 1880-05-05
The Outrage on Cadet whitaker.

WEST POINT N. Y, May i.-The examination in
the Whitaker case was resumed this morning.
Daniel T. Ames, editor ofthe pcumGns Art Journal
and an expert In handwriting was sworn. He
had compared large numbers Of papers in his
hands, including the note Of warning together
with 3J7 other pieces Of handwriting consisting Of
five pieces marked A, B, c, D and +, nny-seven
pages in ink, apparently taken from exercise
books and ZIG slips written in pencil, the sentence
written By the corps OF cadets and other samples.
The witness said that he had had no conversa.
tion with any OF the other experts, and knew
nothing Us TO who were the authors of the writings
submitted TO him.
Mr. Ames then presented his report of his in
vcstigation. II was very vouminous and exhaust
i've. discussing the writings in great detail. Ho
said that his examination had been vexaiious be-
cause of the great number OF the writings and tho
limited amount OF writing IN the note Of warming
At first his investigation was limited TO but two
writings besides the note OF warning Between
these writings and the anonymous note he found
many and close rCScmbanccs, and asked for nd
ditiOnal specimens. which were examined closely
lie found efforts at disguise in the note OF warning
Mr.. Ames the expert gave his CONCLUSIONS as 10
intimate relations existed between the writing of
the note OF warning and one OF the other pieces of
writing, that designated as No. % and It's dupli-
Gates, and that they are the writing OF one and The
same person. SeCond-rhnt the writing of the
person who wrote No % has been used as n copy
and that the note OF warning Is a very Skillfuily
executed simulition OF The same. Mr. Amcs said
the rst was his general conclusion after cornplet-
ing and comparing of the writings in question.
Continuing he said: The second | arrived Mt
while writing up from my notes and By comparing
not only letter by letter but habit from practice
with habit from analysis, by which discovered in
the note Of warning n degree of care aud deibcra-
ton exercised not found In any of my standards
and which appeared to indicate that the writer
had greater knowledge of analytical writing than
is manifested IN the writing Of No. % This ap-
pearancc however, might have resulted from tho
fact that more than usual care was exercised In
writing the note of warning Carefully executed
writing VIII always present more Ofa writer's ana
lytical knowledge than his ordinary ana hastily
executed Writing. would here remark that
but for one lacI my opinion would Lave
been absolute that the writing in the note
of warning was identical with the writ
ing of No %, aud none other of the writings ex-
amincd by me. After completing my examination
and liking on NO q amd the number Withheld
from INC court ahd the reporters as being identi-
cal with each other and the note of warning | re-
questcd the recorder to furnish me with more
writing OF the same person who wrote No 23 Al
the same time called his attention to two other
sheets OF pencil writing marked A and b. alluded
TO IN my report rs as and AZ, as being IN my opin-
ION written by the same person who wro:e
No. %, but understood him TO suy positively that
they were not and, although these sheets present
being much more carefully written IN fine def
cate hand and with II hard pointed pcncil, tho
| writing having the direct slope while No % is u
| large, bold hand written carclessy with ink and
| back slOpe-l am still of the opinion that these
were written by the same writer who penncd No
2 utfnot the writing Of these two sheets deserves
write them might easily have simulated the witt
ing ofNo, y IN the note OF warning. trace very
Intimate relation between the case and analytical
| knowledge of writing displayed in the pieces of
| writing ANA tie note of warning
| The next witness was Samuel r. Starr dealer
| In secondhand firearms He was called 10
show what occasoned Philip Ryans statement
| that two strangers visited his place on the morn
| Ing after Whitaker was discovered whom RYAN
| took TO belong 70 the ordnance department. Mr..
starr said he was at West Point on the morning of
| the 9Th in company with MIR. Brown 70 make
purchases of the ordnance department. They
could not see the ordnance officer, ana he walked
! down 10 RyNn's, 10 whom he remarked he had
| business with the ordnance department. Witness
said from what he remarked 10 Ryan one might
! suppose he belonged to the ordnance department
| Cadet Rogers was called to the stand and pro-
| duccd necEte drawn by him from the commits
| snry In the summer OF 1878, when Rogers went on
| n iurluugh. The recorder showed tile court that
the ncckl lie was just like that found in Whittukers
| room on the morning Whitaker was discovered
establishing the fact that the tie was the kind
issued to cadets.
Albert S. SOuthworth, noted expert from Bos-
ton, was sworn, and papers were placed In his
| hands 10 examine. Tho recorder cautioned
| Expert AmcS not 10 converse with any one regard
ing his report ms II was to be submitted to board
| OF experts TO which Mr. Ames would be appointed
Adjourned until Thursday.