The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-14
The West Point Inquiry.

| TOWNSEND WITH0RAWS FROM THE WbliTA-
KgR CASE INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS
EXPECTED.
WEST POINT, n. Y, May 12.-The court
OF inquiry resumed its hearing OF the Whit
| taker case at $50 O'Clock this morning, all
the members being present. The Recorder
stated that he had telegraphed Mr.. Town
send that the court would meet at this time,
but Mr.. Townsend, who was In attendance
at the United States Court at Rochester, an
swered that ne could not be present, and
had no suggestions TO make. The Recorder
added that he understood from new spaper
accounts that Mr. Townsend had with
drawn from the case.
Regarding MIR. TownseDds absence, Mr..
GreeDer made the following statement to
reporters outside the court: "Mr. Town.
send has submitted lengthy report to the
Secretary OF War concerning the Whitaker
case up to last Thursday, announcing his
withdrawal, because he saw no further ne
cessity for his continuance in the case un-
less the Secretary should order b4m to con-
tinue. Mr.. Townsend's withdrawal is not
based on any belief in Wbittaker's guilt.
On the contrary, his Views are stated post
lively in his report to the reverse, but ne
fees that his presence from the hrst has
been irritating or obnoxious to those con-
Quoting the case for West Point, and his
pronounced views and Outspoken ways
have only served to make the antayonism
and discOurtesy the more marked"
The second, an additional report OF Mr..
Soutbworth, the expert, was received.
Only q portion OF it was read in open SEES.
sion, names, numbers Of documents. etc,
being omitted, 80 that it is impossible to
give correct idea OF its bearing. Professor
Greener, Wbittaker's frieLd, banded the
Court some questions to be asked Mr.
Southworth. A long consultation was held
by the Court, and finally it consented to put
them. The questions were in reference to
the printed fdc-SimiteS Of Whittaker's hand
writing and the note OF warning recently
pristed. Professor Greener said he heard
on good authority that these had been given
Mr.. Southworth to pass on. The Recorder
said be did not understand what Mr..
Greener meant, but he bad shown the mat
ter to Mr.. SouthwOrth, who at once pointed
out glsring discrepancies in the JoC-StmtteS
and The originals, and declared printed fac.
Smiles were useless to form judgments on.
This interference created quite little stir.
Expert Ames was recalled and submitted
an additional report corrOborative OF that OF
MIR. SouthwOrth. Recorder Sears Is authori-
ty for saying that the court will endeavor to
close the case this week, when the identity
OF the writer OF writers fixed upon by the
experts will probably be disclosed. The
report OF the court when finished will be
given to General Schofield under seal. He
may review it and make it public, or trans
NIT unopened to the War Department. In
the latter event the report will first be given
publicity from Washington.
Detectives intimated tonight that there
will soon be a denOucment in the case,
probably on Friday or Saturday; and 1t is
also announced that a secret session held
this morning was OF unusual Importance.
One of the detectives brought an eight-page
letter from New York to-day. He says he
got II from colored man, and that the man
received it from Whitaker the same day
the outrage was discovered. The detective
says it Is filed with deDunciations OF West
Point and OF the treatment the colored ca
def bad received. 1t has not yet been put
in evidence.