New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-17
TESTIMONY OF THE CoMMANDANT.
nE TnINKs oUrsIDnRs GOULD NoT nAvN MADE Tn


TESTIMONY OF THE COAiSiANDANT.
He THINKS OUTSIDERS COULD NOT have MADE THE
AssAULT-HE DEEMS WHITAKER GUILTY.
lFRoM TIE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT oF THE TRrBUSE.l
WEST POINT, April 16.-The effect Of Whit
takers dcnunolaton in Court yesterday of newspaper
Misrepresentation concerning his expectations OF justice
tho Court Of Inquiry has been good 1t con-
verted to his side the ladies in Court II indeed OF
them needed conversion IN that direction for he has had
their sympathy all along II thought also that the
desire Of the cadets offer reward, while IL spranR
mainly from wish 20 vindeae the honor OF the corps.
may have been partially due 10 the effect on them OF
this somewhat dramatic soene In Court. DR.. William
Saunders, the dentist OF the post, who is not an
officer, meets the cadets frequently in the pursuit
Of bis calling and they talk TO him very freely-or he
puts It, be "opens their mouths" He snd to The TRIB
UHE correspondent that he had found but sentiment
among them in regard TO this affair, namely, that 1t
shOuld be prObed TO the bottom They say they do not
care where lightning strikes II It shoud prove TO be
their their dearest friends that did tire
thing they must be found and punished. 1.-THE whole
corps" said Saunders, has become band OF anna
teur detectives" He added that this Whitaker affair
differed from the fifteen game In one rescect. Every
one knows plenty Of people who have done the puzzle.
but they cannot tell how 1t was dOne How Whitaker
injured we'll understood, but who has done It re-
mains mystery
The Court OF Inquiry yesterday made application to
General schoaed to fix definitely the OF District
Attorney Townsend before the Court In response to
tbs a communication from the Commanding General
was SENT defining the position Of Mr. Townsend after
consultation with the latter TO be that OF assistant eoUn
se adviser the Recorder sent by the Secretary
Court and Recorder the benefit Of his experience and his
professional skill and knowledge. -, ,,.
Commandant OF the Corps =, OF Cadets, Was
soUal eTreTience on the morning after the at
tack, in connection with the finding OF Whitaker.
imSpy %SS of pFevoas wRtssfs One point that had not
been brought before that Whitaker thought his
in the room. One Of them said; let's light the
gas and let him see how nc looks" Colonel L1zeile
suid that hnd caused examination 10 be made by
the barber of Whttakers hair to ascertain whether u
had been cut by hlnsel Whitaltsr or by others The
Coumandant said that Whitaker seemed natural IN his
movements after tue discovery, and natural In his man.
ner, WITH the exception OF whining or complaining
tone. He seemed 70 be almost crylngIwhimp
clothes were excluded from the cadets aud put
into tho trunks tunkrOOm and that to the
moTpings. except by special permission.
on cross-exauinatoD, the witness said that he made
taksr had been tled marks his wrists the de-
tails Of ms rsng aud dressing 10 as Court ne SAID that
of "a white or OF color cd person he could not say
Colonel Lucille was again on the stand IN the after
noon lie sald that It seemed to hun that there no
apparent reason for any s1por i2 W4tta6es or SGli
0Ice On Wednesday. He said know it, SIR and then
explained there many little things that because
60, 10 satisfy me that there evidence Of supOr,
II he could observe mqcn, and know tnat there were
other things TINT lie had forgotten MS quick TO
coyery IN tue morning confirmed me- In this opinion"
DEFINING WHITAKER THE CUTPRTE
Whitaker complained of pain In the side, but the
surgcon found nothing 20 account for II. think not
withsaudng what the barber said that he could and
did cut his own hair cannot understand how any
bodycades or citiEens-cOuld have taken OF neckte
and left IL in the room. In opinion the note OF
ing was written by Whitaker himself base It upon
the similarity OF leters-particuaGly OF tho "t""f"
and "d If there why Others should
have commtted outrage to drive Whitaker away be-
eause he was not wanted thore equally strong
sons why he should have done Il himself 10 stay.
In %ss sr seSy one o SnRe and
candOr that also the case with al the other
expressed their Indignation ~ the occurrence.
think that with the transom and ventaior open in his
rou he could have easily made effective ALARM and
do not think he lacked either the or tho moral
courage think he could have freed himself
thought citizens were excluded from this affair, from
lack OF motive, and that IL was done either by Whit
aker or BY other oadets All Lhs pgeGhail4es IN tno
reason doubt Whittakors Yer1city outside OF this
affair, .,--, A., ..,, .,,, -, ,,
cnt from Whittnkers head Indicated that II not
done TO dsngure hun. also think that men who came
do IL rather than belts The handkerchief would say,
was not taken rOm whtakers clothesross, because he
he knew nothing about the burnt paper on tho floor.
have said he did not Lack COURAGE Bnt eerialny the
ciTcumsl ances OF that night, as no told the indicate
lack OF physical Gr S G0 os pT S at s ns
Colonel" said Mr.. townsend" do you know
'Bs Sns' Of TuSs the 6t6 ~ No, s answered the com.
mendant tried one OF the bands, aud It snapped
at the edge, but did not break. am considerably
stronger tnGn Cadet WHITAKER and could not have
cited no much strength dd had been tied as he
was A to hs feet. think vigorous KICK would have
Xon consider whitaker to be as yerSciouS rae as
he would do this thing aud liei' Il think
lie about IT, It Is more Improbable for two and stu more
improbable for three. nan who was baso en0ugh TO
do such a thing, however, would pFoDsDy He ABOUT
The court adjourned until tomorrow at 10 o'clock.
SIMPSONS STATEMENT.
Ius sImpson the son Of the colored bathtender who
from tho post last Friday reached here this
rorning iu company with detective from Washington.
lie SAWS he has been living with his wife In Fourteenth
af between II. and Lists, and had just obtained
a position as hOuseserVant in Washington
He did not mention the Whitaker mat
,cr IN tho detectives while on his way here. Upon
arriving hc brenRfasted at tho hotel and then reported
to recorder Of the court Ths ne 10 70 20 tHes eaen
TO iiighs1d Falls where hts mother lives His father
has not seep him sinGe bis arrival l.. -.
e Raid that his attention was nrst called TO the 1act
Of lis being suspected by friend In Washington who
showed him newspaper which stated that he was I'M,
kaid that II simpson wanted he was ready 10 go,
aud could be found "Noxt day" be said Lhe detective
days before Whitaker was hurt. bad been waiting
bOiore that TO complete my arrangements. l
s5D'ctea 20 teSry nbogt ''aS the note that whitaker
d use 70 zee him lin g9o6 deal oba he ksp R@a
them for him. But he never said enytSing TO me n6ou'
prGne y pS a5d Sday or 6nt eore m expressed
any opinion IN the case he had received tho reports on
faets testifed TO by them ana it seemed to him that
they had reached the bottom Iacts'
FOOLISH TALK In ARMY CIRCLES.
THE LATEST THEORY OF THE AFTAIR-oLANNIsH-