Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-29
WHIr rTAKER.
DAMAGING TESTIMONY.

S@~oO
company with Recorder Sears he inspect
ed Whlttaker's room last Friday, May 2Ist,
ndfound an oyercoat hanging in the alcove,
In the sleeve of which was pair of civilian
pants and around which was rolled an under
shirt.
Lieutenant Randolph testified he was re-
quested by Recorder Sears, May IS, to be
present at conversation with Whitaker.
The recorder asked Whitaker if he had any
citizens clothing in his quarters. Whitta-
ker's first reply was that he had not, but af-
ter further questioning he seemed to qualify
by saying that to the best of his knowledge
and belief he had not. The whole conYer-
sation impressed witness with the idea that
Whitaker denied having any citizens cloth
ing in his room. Witness was also present
at subsequent conversation in the COM
mandant's office. when the commandant
asked Whitaker to explain why the pants
we're 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 put them on, and he
did. They fitted him, and when his name
was found 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 asked to account
for the presence of the pantaIoons in his
room, he could not; he said that some one
other than himself must have placed them
there. He said he hadn't seen the pants be-
fore since last Christmas. Witness said he
asked Whitaker that morning if he had
seen any suit of civilians clothing. or paris
of suit, and Whitaker replied: s'Not sinos
just before Christmas"
The recorder said if some one else mt the
articles IN Whittaker's room they took much
trouble and great risk with no object as far
as ne could see. The recorder pointed out
several other minor points to show that
Whitaker was unreliable, and said he Whit
taker) had had love affair which had prob
ably made him morbid.
Extracts from Whittaker's diary were read,
IN which Whitaker says he believes one of
his instructors was "negroe hater." One
OF his notes read: "The instructor does real
~ nate me for being niger. Poor devil,
shall pray for him, and all like him.
Laughter
Another extract: ~ am hated and scorn-
ed for being niger, but some day will
prove me worthless or 0Ot."
Another read: Everybody seems against
me this year, and fear they will floor me
like they did poor Smith,
Another read: "In chem. (chemistrv)
Lieutenant johnson was savage on me. I
shall study tonight till one or two o'clock.
and may yet go through if they give me
half chance"
Lieut.. knight, in reply to the recorder,
said Prof. Greener, in answer to a request Of
the court to make known over his own sig
nature any facts which would tend further to
thoroughly investigate the whole matter, had
sent to him communication May 20, but
the contents had already been thoroughly
investigated. In reply to suspicious against
Lieut.. Bixby and Tabor, Prof. Greener
wrote: 81 have no personal reason for sus-
pecting these gentlemen Lieut.. Knight
added, ~ do not deem it necessary to occupy
the time of the court in following up any
thing else." This closed the testimony in
the case.
SUMMING UP.
Recorder Sears then summed up. He said
much unfair criticism had been made on
the methods of the court by persons igno-
rant of military law. A misinformed and
violently prejudiced public required that ex-
traordinary measures be adopted in trying
the case. The recorder took the ground
from the start that all the testimony went to
show Whitaker was the author of his own
assault. The history of Whittaker's entry
into The academy was then given. He ex-
pected trouble, but it did not come until
cadet struck him. He did not have the cour.
age to resent the blow, knowing, as he
must, that no blame could attach to him for
30 doing. He reported the matter, and
Mcdonald was at once arrested, tried. and
dismissed from the academy.
The recorder then spoke of Whittaker's
standing in his class. Previous to the 5th
of April he was in dangerous position. He
went into the various motives cadets could
have in perpetrating the assault, and ridi-
culed the idea that they might have perpe-
trated so black trick. The recorder said
Whitaker had covered his tracks by PERU
ry. His own testimony and handwriting
without the note of warning were enough
to convict him. He reviewed Whittaker's
testimony and pointed out what he called
the Inconsistencies in it. Finally he sum
m I'd up Whittaker's motive in committing
the deed to be fear that he would not gradu,
ate.
Lieut.. knight, counsel for Whitaker,
then said the recorder had given his inter
probation, but there was no reason why the
court should accept them. He asked that
the court disabuse its mind as to the brood
ing OF Whitaker. On the contrary, the
evidence went to show that he was of good
cheer and confident. He said there was
nothing in the evidence to show Whittaker's
story was not true. He ridiculed 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
from boyhood to the time he was
found bound. He demanded court of in
quiry, which is much more severe than O
court martial Counsel claimed the note of
warming was forgery of Whittaker's writ
ing. That paper was stolen from his room
with the object of fastening suspicion on
Whitaker. There was every possibility of
doing this, as Whittaker's room was easy of
access.
Lieut.. knight then took up the writing
experts, and, in a most sarcastically amusing
way, showed how repeatedly they contra
aicted themselves and each other. In CON
clusion, he pronounced it as monstrous to
say young man just entering on manhood,
should be thought guilty of such a crime,
With everything to hope for, with bright
prospects, and nothing to gain by the com-
mission of such deed. The speech was
considered most able, logical and legal. At
ts conclusion the court adjourned sine die,
md the Whitaker inquiry ended.