New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-13
CLEWS AT WEST POINT.


vATE LABoRs OF THE RECORDER WITH AN tx
PERI.
The note of warning to Cadet Whitaker and the
handwriting of all the cadets are still under eX-
animation by experts at West Point Yesterday a
long report was made by Mr.. SouthwOrth. who de-
cared his belief that the writer of Set OF spec-
mems was the author of the note Of warning. Mr.
Ames made supplemental repOrtlt came out during
the proceedings that Recorder Sears had taken some
published facsimiles of Whttaker's writing to MI
Southworn, while the latter was preparing his re-
port. A public announcement of the results OF tue
labors of the experts is expected this week. Mr.
Townsend has made report favorable to w hlttaRer,
andhas withdrawn from the case
AN INTERESTING DAY IN COURT.
THE TESTIMONY OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES SEARS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LOOKING CLOSELY AFTER
wHITiAKER's INTERESTS.
[FRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE'l
WEST PoINT. N. Y, May 12.-There was an
interesting to-day in the WHITAKER Court Oh lu
uuiry Professor Greener recently learned that on May
G. two DAYS before Mr. SOuthworth made his first report
identifying" No 27 as the writer OF tue no'e OF warn
Ing Recorder Sears asked some one Mt the west fonC
Hotel for The Nelo York Herald Of that morning. saying
at the time that wOnd like 10 show 1t TO Mr. SOUTH
WORTH who was busy at work. in room above on MS
first report paper contained what we're claimed 10
he facsimile reproductions of note Of warning ard
of few lines Whitaker at the request OF inc
reporter paper given to Recorder sears WIZ
then went to Mr.. SOuthwOrtn's rOom
This morning, when Mr.. SOuthwOrths second report
had been read, Professor Greener handed to MAJOR
Mord, cai president OF the court, paper upon when
certain questions were writsen, intended to bring out
the facts OF the He asked that they be put 10 ME-
Southworth The paper was passed from one meihoer
of the court to another and consultation lOl0"eu'
Meanwhile Recorder asked the witness he con-
| Oh, WIN ma
had any size to it, the witness thought that be was
| engaged upon any side. Mr.. SOuhworth replied that
he under God that he seeking for the truth without
! any paIualIly.
| President Mordecai- Before you presented the re-
of May s. had you seen or were you Onertu nc o
smile o. Cad Wnttaker's Handwriting printed Win In
| specimen OF the note OF warming in The Nc'o-loH HeT
| aid OF The 9th iust. No.,
Mr.. southwnrih considerably embarraSsed)-i had
Were you off red the facsimile
| l not.
| The witness taken apparently by surprise at the
character the questions did not seem 20 understand
their tenor President Mordcca repeated the first q's
tion in uouIfed FORM aud the witness answered "
| saw it,"
The Presldent-Had 1t been offered to you by any
The Wituess-I saw it without examining It, The rae
smile OF the handwriting did not examine IN the least
| The facsimile Of the note ran over -
| pteSluent-WaS 1t offered To y0u Oy anyone CON
neced with tue court or 10 connected WIN cue COURT
The Pr,sdenl-DO you regard such printed facsimics
as OF value III comparison win written papers io
| Il
Inc PretiIenl.Mwas tie iucsmile of this letter
publlsLrd gwen you by tie Recorder with the other
| parc upon winch your present report was maue
The Wltness.-It was not gwen t. me ut al. only
saw 1t IN tie Recorders bands saw II Win ho pa
| peis. 49,
Tnis ended the examination by the preeldent Then
Recorder Sears by his manner showed that he was
| annoyed by the differences that would be drawn from
| the ouesons and answers, said should like TO have
the author OF nat question slate his motive in putting
| It,"
President Mordecai-You will learn that from him
Itlis being SAID n Professor Grcener rose anu au-
| yancrd1 and let II not be stated IN open Court.
Pro essor GreeneT1rm ready to give It; Wish TO
President Nor Ieco -Expain to the Recorder; on,,o
Professor Greenpr addressing hiUselt to hat gentle
man, ahougi all near by could hear him j" wish TO
that am informed OF GTcdGo 81 aTnoG SIX t1@
Ing the IacsimIll OF handTiing OF Mr. Wi Io
and Of the n not OF m you
Recorder ThsTs wnat SGP3sea fnppS nU
is to 10 made about that. vii! tell what was done
asked Mr. SOuthwOrth II he had seen morning paper
the chances bclng 500 To tat ho would nave seen
one for they were all around the hr;cl. Atterward
called attention 10 the facs nile ~ me HeTdfd hs OtlnG
note. The oiner / knew notlnns about wh ME
it was in the room Nj. s1utnwoth saw ' hS nnu
ancs bet wrcn the original NJ the lnnym 'us nolr ana
n ss ppt U sooG iacime Ii showed
II a, him Idon't see II has ANYTHING TO do with THIS
case. Decnuse 1t was moi an official d"canen'' anm We,
| was Liable TO it at any time We haven't ueDarrcu
| him from reading The morning pap.rs.'
|
deca the wiinrss said tnat before preparing his re-
morris he mad read none Of the reports OF the other
perts.
Whitakers friends think that an important point has
been gained by Recorder sears's admission that he
showed the facsimile Of the note Of warning TO
| Mr. Southworth while the latter was preparing
| lila first report. Had Mr.. SouthwOrth even
| glanced at the handwriting. 1t IS argued
tla he could have at picked out Whttakers copy
from the gao specimens which he was then
at work getting ready for his first report III turns
out mat OF the experts have unit upon Whit
taEer as the author the note of warning, II is not I'M
possible that an attempt VIII be made by Whitaker
friends TO all the evidence OF the experts on
the strength Of the testimony which has been gve this
morning; 49, - .,., ,,,
1t will be expected Of me that upon receiving from TINS
Questioned note fhould most carefully review my posi-
irn expressed my former report whether IL had been
frankly admit that been Obliged abandon the
ground then taken, for in the new on,s hnd more
characteristic points harmony and sanentsS OF ham
with the quesIioned note. The new standards cover
longer period OF tine and are larger IN quantity and
afford the expert solid ground at least. he can
have confidence that he has some handwriting hat was
marked set are written by AMI the
same hand. Set - Is by another md without
anaiy sis of questioned note or ullndmg To any
new points of pen movement, forms or cLararicnstcs
will andc TO single point only, mat OF the cross 90
fOtn capital a." and the Two ts III the questioned
no "a being natural aud belonging TO the character
standards sel---cOntan mHny examples OF the chaIac
ter ~ ahd IuiiV SuppVlI anu Justly ;y 10y LnJ yI
proceed e. answer Directly the written questions given
| me by q G court. 49,. . -.
First OueStOn.-WcIe these two sets written by the
same baud AnSuer They were. -
second QueStiOn-lf NOT which set In number ana dc
gree presents the most STRIKING similarity 10 the whole
or any portion of the anonymous note AHsper-
Set -. ,
Third Oucstioa-In tho set selected IN answer to thu
last question, there slmarities sufficient III nuiubr
and degree HuthOIizr you 10 give your opinion as III
expert that the Anonymous note was or might have beer
written by the writer of this set2 A.-They are amply
sufficient authorize as an expert 10 give my Opn
ion that the writer Of this set wrote the Anonymous
| note.
lust before going Court, That nave not pro
nounced with sufficient force the FACT OF more Rentra