The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-19
The Wcss-Poinf Investigation.
TIE NEW YORK "TTMEsv CORRESPONDENT
DECLINES TO ANSWER.

TIE NEW YORK "TTMEs" CORRESPONDENT
DECLINES TO AKswER.
WEST POINT, N. Y, April 11.-At the
opening OF court the Times correspondent.
EDWARD c. Lewis, was called to the stand
ana presented copy Of the Times OF
April 18th. He was allowed TO make
statement, when he said, by advice OF
counsel, he declined to answer oil ques-
lions about the article In the Times. except
about the first nineteen lines In the second
paragraph, on the ground that the In
formation was impaired to him In con.
hdence In his professional capacity, and be
could not reveal IL. About the nineteen
lines referred 10 he would ask the In
diligence OF the Court until Monday after
noon, when his counsel, General McMahon,
will be present. Here the Court held con.
sultation, when, after a short delay, the
President said: "Tbe Court desires 10 say
that rs this witness has been sworn 10 tell
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
The truth, and now refuses to do so, and
proposes to give only such information as
Is polite, no importance would be attached
10 any information given TO the press by
this correspondent. The Court will report
the matter to the coInmandant OF the post
aud let the examination OF the witness
DROP
Recorder Sears stated that the article re.
ferred 10 begins by speaking OF highly
important clue. That clue was known TO
the Recorder on the first day the court con-
yened, and the Recorder took every step 10
Get evidence to support the clue, but was
unable to get anything 10 positively justify
HIM in placing the parties alleged to be con:
cerned with it upon the witness-stand. In
reading the article referred to he found
such positive statements that he deemed it
important 10 put The reporter on the stand.
in tue hope OF getting something to SUBJ
stantiate the clue.
Major-General Schofed. in command OF
the Department Of West Point, gave Il de-
tailed statement OF his knowledge OF the out.
rage on Whitaker; the subsequent inyesi-
CATION under his orders, the result OF which
he made known to Whitaker as being pre-.
judicial to him; Whittaker's prompt and
earnest denial and his demand for court
OF inquiry. General Schofeld stated that
Whittsker's frankness impressed him that he
could not be gully. In West Point 1it-
taker could not rest under the impUtitiOD
cist upon him, and the court OF inquiry
was promptly ordered. The hearing vi the
corps OF cadets aud the hearing OF Whitaker
bad impressed General Schofeld with the
innocence OF both, and the clue outside had
also failed. In closing General Scboheld
said "The method pursued in this inves.
tigation was adopted solely in justice to
Cadet Whitaker. II the investigation has
pursued any other coul sc it is unknown TO
me. The whole fact bearing upon Whitaker
must have left him in public suspicion until
the guil,ylparlies were found. Every means
known to me, OF which have been suggested
to me from any other source by which the
investigation could be pursued, have been
adopted"
Other testimony revealed how the coored
cadets have been ostracised and ignored in
the past.
Adjourned until Monday.