The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-06-02
THE wHITrAKER wKANGLE.
Conclusion of the CeIebrated Case, and the
Argument OF the Counsel In the Case.

spected Whittakeris room last Friday Nav N
ana an a iouna an overeoas banging In an alcoye
pants, around. v hich was rolled an undeTshirt.
Lieutenant Randolph testified that he was
requested by Recorder Sears, on May Is, TO be
present at a conversation with Whitaker.
The Recorder ass ed Whitaker If he had any
citizens clothing In his quarters. Whittaker's
first reply was that he had not, but after fur
ther questioning he seemed TO qualify by say
ing that TO the best OF his knowledge and be-
iieI he had not. The conversation
Whitaker denied having any citizen cloth
ing in his room. a witness was also present
mandsnt's office, when the Commancant
asked Whitaker to explain why the pants
were found in the sleeve OF his coat AT first
Whitaker was unable TO say If they were his
pants or not, and he was told to pus them oa,
and he did. They ritted him, and when he
found his name ON the binding he said they
were his. A coat and vest were brought out,
when he was willing to say that all three of
the garments were his. When ass ed TO ac-
in his room he could not. He said that some
one other than himse # must have placed them
there. He said he had not seen the pants be-
fore since last Christmas. Witness said he
asked WHITAKER this morning If he had seen
any suit of civilians clothing. or pants of suit
and Whitaker replied: mot since lust be
fore Christmas The Rec rider saiu If some
one else put the articles in Whittaker's room,
they TOOK much trouble and great risk with
no object, as far as he couId see. The Re
corder pointed oct several other minor points
10 show that Whitaker was unreliable, and
said he (Whit'aker) had had a love affair,
which had probably made him morbid.
Extracts from Whittaker's diary were read
in which Whitaker says he believes one OF
his instructors was "negro hater." One of
"The Instructor does really hate me for be-
ing Niger. Poor devil, shall pray for him
and all like him" [Laughter.l
Another extract read:
"I'm hated and scorned for being a nigger,
but some day will prove me worthless or not"
Another reads:
"Everybod seems against me this year. and
fear they Will floor me like they did poor
Smith"
Another read:
"In Chem chemistry the Lieutenant
(Johnsonl was savage on me. L shall study to-
through If they give me half chance !"
Lieutenant Knight, in reply TO the Recorder,
said that Professor Greener, in answer TO a
request of the Court to make known, over his
own signature, any facts which would tend
further TO thoroughly investigate the whole
matter, had sent to him communication on
thoroughly Investigated. In reply to sus-
picions against Lieutenants Bixby and Gaber,
Professor GreeDer wrote: 81 have no personal
tenant knight added: "I don't deem it nee
eSsary 10 occupy the time of the Cour. in fol-
lowing up anything else."
This closeo the testimony in the case.
Recorder Sears then summed up. He said
much unfair criticism hsd been made on the
methods OF the Court by persons ignorant of
military law. An uninformed and violently
prejudiced pubic required that extraordinary
measures he adopted in trying the case. The
Recorder took The ground from the start that
all the testimony went to show that Whitta-
ker was the a1thor of his own auit. The
history of Wbttaker's entry into the Acad-
emy was then given. He expected trouble,
but 1t did not come until Cadet Mcdonald
struck him. He did not have the courage to
resent the boy, knowing, as he must; that u 0
he reported the matter, and Mcdonald was at
once arrested. tried. and dismissed from the
Academy. The Recorder then spoke OF
WbiffaEpFS standing i'm his classes inst nrpVi
Gus % the 5th of April. He was in danger
Gus p .Sition. He went into various motives
cadets could have in perpetrating the assault,
and ridiculed the idea that they might have
perpetrated so brutal a trick. The Recorder
said All the cadets had constituted themselves
into n body OF intelligent detectives. He en-
phstically denied that the cadets could have
hired outsiders to do the work. He said
Whitaker had blooded over the thing so long
that he felt fully persuaded he must do it. He
covered his tracks by perjury. His own testi
mOny, without the handwriting and note of
warning, Were enough to convict him: He
reviewed Whltiaker's testimony and pointed
out what he called inconsistencies in it.
Finally, he summed up Wnittaker's
motives in committing the deed,
graduate. Having been rejected by girl, he
thought 10 win her affection by showing him
self to be prosecuted. He deplOres his social
condition, and so concerts this scheme, be-
leving he would get into the hospital. and,
falling to pass, would go out into the world
with host OF friends TO receive him as a
martyr. The Recorder referred to the woman
in the case, repeatedly citing her as one OF the
causes which led TO his concertiug the bogus
assault. He charged Whitaker with dis
guising his hand in writing the slips for the
experts. he finally charged that Whitaker
had failed TO clear himself, but, on the con
trary, the circumstantial evidence was so
Stroug against him as to justify the Recorder
in demanding that Whitaker be tried by a
Court Martial for conduct unbecoming cadet
and gentleman, and Tor perjury.
Lieutenant KNIGHT, counsel for Whitaker,
| then said the Recorder had given his interpre-
tauons, but that was no reason why the Court
should accept them. He asked that the Court
disabuse its mind as to the brooding of Whit
| taker On the contrary, the evidence went to
show that he was of good cneer and confident
He said there was nothing in the evidence 70
show that Whittakers story was not true. He
Tiniculed the idea that Whitaker wanted
sympathy. The Court would remember that
Whitaker was anxious to resign at one time
to be OF help to his mother. No evidence had
been produced to reflect on Whittaker's char
| acter from boyhoOd to the time he
Court of Inquiry, which is much
more severe than Court Martial. CouDsel
| claimed that the note of warning wss a for
/ gerry OF Whittakers writing; that the paper
| fastening suspicion On Whitaker. There was
every possibility of doing this. as Whittaker's
| room was easy of access. Lieutenant knight
| then took up the writing experts, and in g
| most sarcastieally amusing way showed how
/ repeatedly they contradicted themselves and
each other In conclusion he pronounced ii
| as monstrous TO say young man just enter
/ on manhood should be thought guilty OF such
| a crime, with everything TO hope for, with
bright prospects. and nothing to gain by the
| The speech was considered most able, logi
cal and legal. At its conclusion the Court
| adjourned sine die, and the Whitaker inquiry
ended.