National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-05-08
THE WHITAKER INQUIRY.
lmpertinent interference by the
Grand Jury Threatened.
Assistant District-Attornoy Flero a witness
He has Given His knowledge TO tho
Grand Jury-Isecorder Sears VIII
Chase tho Tbree-Cndot Story
Down-A visit Paid to
Ryan's Saloon.
a New Direction Given the Invc

n New Direction Given the Investiga tion.
WEST POINT, N. Y. May Tho board convened
at 10 o'clock when Assistant United states District
Attorney Fero was called to the witness stand. In
reply to questions, the witness said he didn't think
he could give the court any further Information
which would aid the investigation, as in his opn
ion it had been quito exhausted and then addod
"a great deal of the knowledge possess is tho
property Of tho grand jury, which, as Is well
known, is the highest court IN the lamd.' The re-
corder asked him If in the course Of his own in-
Vistigation ho had discovered any attempt on the
part Of tho military authorities to conceal or hide
anything, when Mr., Fiero replied: II have not.'
The recorder next said 10 the witness 1T has been
| matter Of report and rumor that during your last
visit TO Highland Falls you were followed By two
mounted officers" Witness said there was meas
urc Of truth in the report IF you were followed
for an unworthy motive this court has right to
know 1t, and we want TO find out who those officers
were. What moro in detail besides this followeR'
| Here General Woodiord and Mr.. Fiero had, a
short whispering consultation when Mr. Fiers
said; by details suppose you want oil tho facts
and crcumstancGs2'
| The recorder answered Mr. Fiero In the ailirma-
tive, when the latter proceeded with his statement
He said lie could not identify the mon Oh horse
bnck. he arrived here on the l2lh by request Of
General Woodford. aud General SChOheld extended
to him oil the privileges necessary for an indepen-
! dent investigation of the outrage. His attention
was first called to the llth, and lie was on his way
| to Highland Fails on foot when ho heard horses
| behind him. Ilc looked back and saw two men
| with blue pants OH horseback. lie stopped and
sat wall by the roadside, when the horses
turned and retraced their steps, and he went to
the fnlls. He called ON person he desired 10 sec
and remained all hour. On his return he looked
nt Ryan's and saw two men wearing blue pants
talking to person he has since identified us Ryan,
aud he said that Ryan subsequently admitted 70
him that two officers were In his place that day.
Coming back toward West Point" witness said,
| 81 met two of your company-engineers-s slightly
intoxicated and feeling happy, and | talked with
them and asked If they were In the habit of going
TO Ryan's and if the officers were in the habit OF
| there. Witup,s In re-
ply " question. said that he had several CONVEX
sations with Ryan, and thought the latter did not
| fix on the date that the officers were at his place.
| Witness was impressed with the Idea that Il ives
Wednesday, April IL.
| Lieutenant 1illman, OF tho conrt--IIHve You
stated to any one more definitely than now that
| YOU knew of officers following you down there aud
watching you OH that day?
| Mr.. Fiero-No, have not; but have said they
might have been officers and 1t has boon suggested
| ~ me they were officers.
Afler Mr.. Ficro testified the recorder yas handed
| two sheets Of nOe-puper from Mr.. Woodiord IIo
announced that after reading this nc thought IL
would not be necessary to call Slr. Woodford. Mr..
Mr. Fero will cheerfully give me, in my official
capacity us the recorder, any facts he mas have
reading from Mr.. woodfords stacment) Mr.. Fiero's
knowledge and Judgment were obtained or formed
while aiding in his official capacity asa United
clined 70 testify touching tho matter before this
Lieutenants Rossell and Gilmore were sworn.
They testified that they were pleasure riding
Wednesday, April l4h, Mt twelve v clock and rode
to Highland Falls and back, stopping ut Fosters
saloon to get some beer. They had no reason on
their way down to rernce their steps; they knew
Fiero by sight, but did not see him on that ride
| Recorder sears stated that he had witness who
watched Ryan's that day from II u. M. til 1
D. m, and hG says no officers were ont riding near
there that day except tho lieutcnants named above
| and added, now propose 70 chase the matter Of
the three cadet story to a nal conclusion"
| lie then called Sergeant Englehardt all enlisted
man, 10 the stand, who testified in substance that
he was III Ryans place ON u Saturday after
noon before the outrage. but was not certain
whether 1t was q week or eight days before There
| were three soldiers with him, and he had talk
with Ryan. The latter asked him ii lie was looking
for cadets and In Joking way he said how Ryan
| told him few cadets were there live minutes be-
| fore.
Sergeant Moore was called and cor-obotntel the
above, eNcGpt.lhlt he said 1t was on Saturday,
| April g. two days before the outrage. when he aud
| Engehardt were ut ltyan's,
| Recorder Sears read numerous strong allldavits
| in favor of WhittakCrS excellent character from
| 1860 10 tho time he came here, and included
among them were ailidavits from Angelina Ball, OF
Concord, Mass. who was the colUrcd cadets teacher
in the South; one from Mr.. DcssnusSure, of Atlanta.
Ca, the Rev. f. ~. Pinckney, of Oraugeburg, 5. c.;
| L. NJ. Boykin of Camden, <. C.. one from the ex-
chief of police of Camden, s. q. and one from II.
j. Fox, ID. D.. OF East Saugus, Mass. who was one
Of Whlt,akers professors before he came here and
| from others.
| Adjourned.