National Republican., 1880-04-30
THE WEST POINT INQUIRY
Further Testimony as TO Whitta-
ker's Standing and Capacity.
Two Hundred Cadets who Couldn't Tell a
Lio-A Creduious Chapiniu-Tho Per-
petrntors OF the Outrage Would
Not Deny It-Professor Green
or as witness-Dutoh-
or Not Vorao;ous.
No Now Light on Tho Outrage.

No Now Light on the Outrage
WEST POINT, ~ Y, April 20.-Cadet Catlin testi-
led that he had spoken five or six times to Whit
lnker, and called on him In his room remaining
half an hour This was before the outrage. and IL
was known to some Of the cadets, but II made no
difference to them rs far as witness was concerned
lie had also called on him since the outrage. Wit
ness came from New Hampshire and was ap.
pointed by Senator Blair
tnuk Mchlcr, OdjutGnt Of tho Military Academy
ana secretary Of the ncadcuc beard testified as TO
Whittakcr's demcrit record. He said Whitaker
had l19 demorits from october, 1876 to March this
year, but had number removed by credit, which
LETT him cghty-ninc demcrits. Cadets wero nj
lowed 100 demorits every six months or $40 in ALL
without being marked deficient. Firty-nine of the
ninety-nine o0en6os reported against him have
been removed by the superintendent For those
fifty nlnc he would have received 1873 demerits
lie has been punished but for four olenses IN three
and a'haIf years One for carelcssnessi in artil
lery drill, another for having a dirty gun and the
TWO others for being out Of bed at taps. In addition
he received twelve punishmcnts for having re-
ceived more than certain number Of dement's In
one month. In dement's now he stands remark
having so good n record.
Lieutenant Coffin, IN command of Whiltaker's
company, testified that Whitnker's character as a
soldier Is very good indeed; witness had not had
occasion 10 report him single time, because he
always pays strict attention to his duties
Recorder Sears stated to the court that he would
put three witnesses on the stand 70 give testimony
as r. what weight should begiven othe statements
Of the 200 cadets Of the corps given on their word
ofhonor that they knew nothing ofthe outrage
professor George L. Andrews was called: He
sald me word OF cadet is perfectly reliable. The
common law in corps Is when Il cadet is caught
ying he Is treated With utter contempt aud suffers
social ostrac!sm. He knows of one cadet who has
not TO this day recovered from such ostracism and
said the corps IL the best body of Young men for
T,uth Tuth ana veraClly he ever came in contact with.
Iher Whole training goes TO inculcate the highest
When abroad, principals OF French schools had ex-
pressed TO him great reliance as TO the truthnlncss
quite so successful as here.
Professor Niche testified substantially the same.
He said the general character of the corps could
not be higher He referred 10 General Cullom's
book on West Point which showed that the gradu-
ates have performed their duties with honor and
Integrity and with credit to their country There
have been only thrty-eight eXpusions exclusive
OF those who Joined the rebellion from lsl2 to 1873
ana the graduates number ESQ A cadet in the
ranks who utters word to another cadet and is
reported and denies tho charge, aud II is nfterward
proven would lose his character for veraciy
went into the rebellion from West Point were
under oath to be loyal, were they notY
Answer--l believe they were and believe also
That Representatives In Congress were under oath.
NJ Townsend-Yes that's so. IlAughter,l
Chaplain Forsyth was examined and said he rc-
garded the word of a cadet US perfectly trust
worthy; SO fur as his experience aud observation
The COurt-Do you think any cadet guilty of such
an outrage as this on Cadet WHITAKER would ac-
knowledge 1t?
witness--I think he would.
The recorder read to the court two afldavis from
Cadets Gilman and CreagGn who are now absent
on SICK leave denying all knowledge of the out
rage.
Professor Greener, whose proteEo Whitaker is,
was thu next witness, Among other things he said
Whitaker was pupil of his in tho University of
South Carolina; he was always studious and his
character was the best out Of three hundred pupils
IN the university, and he the best scholar in
his class OF twenty-hvc In dCportmeut no never
received mark, aud ii was ON account Of his good
scholarship that Professor Greener was induced To
send HIM TO West Point; witness had received let
tors from Whitaker; the general tone OF them ut
iirsl was hopeful; once or twice they were u lttle
complaining rs regards oStraclsm, but he never
complained OF his official treatment and said his
instructors treated HIM IN the kudcst mnnncr;
to the Mcdonald affair alcr on he en-
pressed no doubt about graduating, but yet
at times he telt discouraged because or
his ostIacism: witness described at length his own
| social position In Harvard University; he wts the
first colored student to enter, and he was never
treated with any dscourIesy he dined ut the
club table, and had intimate associations with
the best men Of the class; there was another colored
student, much darker than he and he was never
iusuled; in witness class there were 1870 members,
and two-thirds OF them spoke to him; lie was u
member OF the college societies and had white
roommate; witness explained passages in some OF
the letters he had written to Whit tokrr, which
seemed 70 conflict with his testimony about the
freedom OF his college life he SAID they writ
ten to encourage Whitaker, witness said he had
received letters from Whittaker's mother which
showed & she was Christian mother, pos.
that Whitukers social Usracism would pre-
vent his graduating; he said that, al
though he was intimate with members
OF the Cabinet aud members of Congress he had
not said anything 70 them about Nhittuker's osira-
csm. because he did not think the matter could 10
reached that way he said he thought that when
Il Colored student came to West Point, and his
character aud depoiiment for three years were
beyond question: and only Two cadets spoke 10 him
IN all that time, and instructors did not come near
him, It did not speak wen Tor the kindly Feelings
that animated the academy; witness was not aware
visit cadets in their rooms at the barracks.
The recorder asked Professor Grcener If he could
suggest any new line OF procedure which might
help TO clear up the outrage matter. lie replied
| that Van Burcn's testimony could be couobQrnted,
and the course Of Ryan could be considered
further. IT, said the witness, any cadet Is npli-
Gated by lIyaus testimony OF the testimony OF Van
Buren, II is the duty OF tho court to give tho
students an additional oath sufficient 10 put IL
beyond the theory OF cadet honor and to make ia
matter OF perjury 4 sworn TO falsely by that cadet.
Tie krCOfICr-HRs not that already been done?
Professor Grcener-Not us strongly as l could
wish.
cadet ~ the corps had been put under oath?
Professor GTeeuor--l do,
The RGCordcr-Do you think the violation OF the
oath 50 administered Is UmenOblo and has already
been made The ground for the arrest Oi citizen Of
the United States?
Professor GTeCner-l do.
The Rccordcr-1hcn what further about Ryan,
Professor GreenCr-FrOm the present status of
Ryan would Judge the civil authorities will IN
in addition to the above testimony Professor
Greoner said the oath Whitaker Wus asked 10 lako
was different from that put to the other cadets be-
cause pointed questions were asked Whitaker and
witness thought the same kind Of an oath ought %
have been Administered 10 each cadet
Lieutenant Knight explained that the Whitaker
oath was rendered to him for his own bencht.
Juhn butcher was recalled aud testified IN
rambling, uCuhCTent manner, aud said that what.
over he did say 10 Squire Vau Burun wus made up
ont OF whole cloth out OF his head md there WAS
no truth IN II.
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