Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-04-19
WEST POINT.
The Whitaker Inquiry

WEST POINT, hprl In tlc Hll-
taker case the correspondent OF the New
York Times was called, but he declined
giving his authority for the statement:
"Three cadets whre heard saying Whit
taker would be fixed" He asked the
indulgence of the court till Monday,
when his counsel would he present.
The court held short consultation and
at its conclusion the President said: THE
court desires to say that as this witness
has been sworn to tell the truth, the
whole truth and nothing but the truth
and now refuses Ia do so and proposes
10 give only such information as is po-
litic, no. Importance will be attached
to any information given To the press by
this correspondent. The court will re-
port the matter tO the commandant Of the
post and let the examination OF witness
drop. The recorder stated that the story
published had been fully Investigated,
aud he had been unable To get anything
to possibly justify him in placing the
persons alleged To be connected with II
upon the witness stand.
Second Lieutenant VIM. ii. Coffin
testified that tue night inspections
of the barracks consist OF the
inspector going into the cadets
rooms with dark lantern to see ii they
are in. lie didn't inspect on the night
Whitaker was assaulted and refused 10
90 hazing. In the past, he said, the
colored cadets were let alone. The
haZed cadets were made To fly the crow
and sometimes smoked out and made
to walk clans.
The correspondent of the Times
asked the court, through the Re
corder, TO take his protest against the
assumption contained in the statement
of the court IA an entirely unwarrantcd
and unjust assumption OF the court, be-
cause he had taken an oath as
witness and then retired within
his legal rights, as advised
TO do by eminent military counsel,
was unjust, unwarrantable and IN viola
ton of the courtesies of the couSt. He
said he had no right to the opinion con-
cerning him unless specially ordered.
Major.General SchOtield, in command
OF the department OF West Point, testi-
fed that he received a message from the
cadets at the barracks, about six o'clock
on the morning of April u, requesting
him To 90 there, as Cadet Whitaker was
seriously injured. lie responded as
quickly as possible, and when near the
barracks was told that Whitaker was
not AZ seriously hurt as first reported.
When he learned the facts he gave
orders for an Investigation, and members
of the corps came TO him, expressing IN
dignation over the occurrence, and also
urging an investigation. Gen. Schotield
then thought the guilty parties could
easily be found. The investigation pur-
sued bv the commandant OF the corps
lasted three days, and the result was re-
ported to him, when he sent for Whit
takcr and informed him of the result
and the prejudice against him. Whit
takrr made prompt and earnest de-
nial, and demanded court OF IN
quiry. Whittakers irankness im-
pressed the General that he could not
be guilty. After the investigation
there were reports that the guilty par.
ties were beyond West Point, and then
the authorities had to look elsewhere.
In the meantime Whitaker could not
rest under the imputatiOn cast upon
him, and a court OF inquiry was
promptly ordered. The bearing OF the
corps OF cadets and the bearing Of Whit
taker impressed the General with the
innocence Of both, and the clue outside
had alSD failed. In closing. General
SChoheld said that the method pursued
in this investigation was adopted solely
in justice to Cadet Whitaker. Ii
the investigation has pursued
any other course, it is unknown.
The whole fact being that Whitaker,
must have been left to public suspicion,
until the guilty parties were found, every
means known 10 me, and which have
been suggestedto me from other sources,
by which the investigation could be
pursued, have been adopted.
Other testimony revealed how the
cOlored cadets had been os.racised and
ignored in the past.
The Clerk OF the Quarternaster's lie
partment identified the handkerchief as
one Of the style issued to cadets, but the
points OF the neCktie we're different from
those in his department. No necktle
had been issued 10 Whitaker since May
10Th, 1875. Witness testified that the
style of handkerchief had not been for
sale in Highland Fall for six months.
| Adjourned tall Monday