The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-06-05
Whitaker His Own Prosecutor.

The court Of inquiry, to investigate the cas-,
Of the eolored cadet al West Point, who wa,
bound and gagged and had an ear slit some
time ago, made a report on Saturday last, and
suspicion that Whitaker was his own persecu.
tor has proved to be fact. Here is the
report:
The court Of inquiry appointed by special
order No. IS, Headquarters Department oil
West Point, United States Military Academy,
West Point, N. Y, April 8, 1880, to examine
and investigate the facts and circumstances
connected with the recent assault made upon
Cadet Whitaker, and the imputation cast
upon his character Ia relation thereto, has the
honor to submit the following report as the
result Of its investigation The court here
reviews the testimony and proceedings in the
case, and arrives at the following conclusion;
First. The court is unable to believe that
such slight wounds as Cadet Whitaker re.
eeiyed oould have been inflicted by the per.
sons in the manner aud under the circnm.
stances described by him.
Second. IL does not see why man with
his surroundings aud in his condition and
frame Of mind, us shown by his own evidence,
should have submitted TO an assault such as
is alleged without summoning assistance dur,
ing the assault or Immediately thereafter.
and lett as he claims TO have been, could
readily have released himself had he exerted
himself to do so.
Fourth. From the testimony Of the post
surgeon and others, the court is com.
PEELED to believe that Cadet Whitaker was
neither asleep nor iasensible when he was
examined on the morning Of April G, 1880,
but that he was feigning.
Firth. The court is not able to discover
any motive that any person other than Cadet
Whitaker could have had in making such an
assault, and there is no evidence whatever to
warrant the belief that any other person did
make it.
sixth. Ii believes that the hair clipping,
the flesh cutting and the binding could all
have been accomplished by Cadet Whitaker
himself
"Seyeuth. The theory that the note of
warning is in imitation Of Cadet Whitaker
writing is, in the opinion of the court, unten.
able. The severe tests to which the experts
IN handwriting were subjected, and their pos.
tive testimony, placed il beyond doubt that
Cadet Whitaker himself wrote the note of
warning, and, therefore, that he is not ignor.
ant of the person or persons engaged in the
affair. This latter conclusion is strengthened
by the fact that one-half of the sheet Of paper
oh WulCu inns note IS written was tOunu IN
Cadet Whittaker's possession.
Opinion. the strong array Of circum.
stantial evidence, from the testing of the OK.
perts in handwriting, and from the conflicting
statements Of Cadet Whitaker, and lack Of
yeracity eviaced by him in certain cases
during the investigation, az shown by the
evidence, the court is Of the opinion that the
imputation upon the character Of Cadet Whit.
taker, referred to in the order converting the
court, in the official reports Of the command.
ant Of cadets and the post surgeon, is fully
sustained
When the report was sent to Gen. Schofeld
and carefully read by him, he caused a letter
to be addressed to Col. I.azelle, commandaut
of the corps Of cadets, directing the arrest of
Whitaker aud placing him in confinement in
his room. The order was promptly carried
out, and Whiuake: will remain under arrest
until this case is disposed OF, aud guard will
keep him under surveillance.
An officer in high rank, being asked what
disposition would be made of him il the fAd.
iags of the court are approved by the War
Department, replied il he was a nOn-commis
stoned officer he would be tried by SQUIRT mar.
tial, as urged by Recorder Sears, in his ad.
dress TO the court, but it is probable, il the
President approves, that he will be dismissed
from the Academy or be turned over to the
civil authorities.