Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-04-14
Outrage at West Point.

Outrage at West Point.
A brutal attack was made on Cadet John
son c. Whitaker (colored) early Tuesda.
morning, the 9th Instant. When reveill
was sounded at six o'clock, Cadet Whit
taker did not make his appearance, and on
of the guard being sent to his room to as
certain the cause found everything in con
fusion, and Cadet Whitaker lying on thu
floor in an unconscious condition, his fee
tied to the iron bedstead, his hands bount
and his head resting on a pillow. The pill
low was saturated with blood, his night
clothing was covered with blood, and ther,
were pools of blood on the floor. He wa
relieved from his bonds, and when sufli
GENTLY recovered to speak, explained tina
shortly after two o'clock, three persons il
disguise entered his room, jumped upon anC
overpowered him, threatening him will
death if he made any disturbance. In biz
struggle to defend himself he received the
injuries that caused the flow of blood, the
marks of which were everywhere visible
One of his assalants remarking "Let',
mark him like they do hogs down SOUTH" tn,
lower end of his left ear was cut off and the
lobe of the right ear was slit in two places
After completing this mutilation, he wa.
bound and left as he was found by the guard
In the morning. Prompt inquiry was inst
tuted to ascertain the perpetrators of the
outrage. As the matter came to be dis
cussed, and the various circumstances con
nected with the affair were gathered up, the
opinion gained currency that the cadet
either alone or with the aid of an accom-
plice, committed the outrage to save himself
from failure in the approaching examina.
tions. This suspicion was entertained by
the officers of the school, and on being in.
formed of it by the principal General Soho
field, Cadet Whitaker Indignantly denied it,
and demanded court of inquiry. In sup
port of this theory it is claimed by the sur
geon that when found in the morning Whit.
taker was feigning Inconsistencies that a
note of warning received by him Sunday,
the 9TH instant, was written by Whitaker
himself in disguised hand that vigorous
kick would have released his feet, or he might
have stopped down and have united them
with his hands and other indications are
cited as pointing to Whitaker as his own
assailant. The court of inquiry has failed
thus far to elicit single fact to support the
theory of the officials of the school, but has
strengthened the confidence of impartial OBJ
servers in the truthfulness of Cadet Whit
takers statement, confirmed by deliberate
and solemn oath. While it is possible that
he may be guilty, the probabilities thus far
are decidedly adverse to any such conclusion
From the commencement of the proceed
ings not particle of sympathy or encourage
ment except perhaps from his counsel, has
been shown Cadet Whitaker by any one Of
ficially connected with the post His case
seems to have been prejudged, and he is
treated more like an accused or convicted
criminal than like presumably innocent
person suing for simple justice. The mat
ter was the occasion of some outspoken re.
marks in both houses of congress, senators
and representatives, irrespective of party
speaking of the outrage in terms of unmeas-
ured reprobation and advocating the utter
abolition of the school if brutalities like
this cannot be suppressed. Great stress
is placed by the West Point officials on
the fact that each cadet in the corps ha.
been questioned and emphatically denies
all knowledge of the affair. The theory on
which plain people will Judge this general
denial is simple and conclusive; that young
men mean enough to treat this colored
youth, who has skin as white as many
Caucasians, as he has been treated since he
first became cadet at West Point, and to
cap the climax of their unnatural course
by such inhumanity as was finally perpe-
trated upon him,-are mean enough to lie to
shield themselves from the consequences of
their deeds. With the whole institution,
from General Schofield down to the young
est cadet, with judge, jury and advocate,
believers in the Innocence of the cadets and
The guilt Of Whitaker, satisfactory solu-
ton OF the matter is not likely to be reached.
If the treatment melted out to colored cadets
since their race was elevated to citizenship
is legitimate outcome of the instruction
dispensed at West Point, the institution had
better be closed up and given over to bats
and moles, and all the people shall say, amen