New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-01
THE WEST POINT INQUIRY.

TESTIMONY OF Mr. TOWNSENDS EAPEhI'
THE NOTE OF WARNING COMPARED WITH sPEcI-
MEMS OF CADETS NORTHUMBERLAND slai-
1AR1rIEs EXISTING IN FOUR PAPERS.
fPRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF the TRIBUNE
WEST POINT, n. Y, April 30.-The only
witness OF any Importance who testified before the
Whitaker Court of Inquiry today was W. e. Bazen'
the expert in handwriting from Troy Since Iuesaay Ne
has been examining the slips that were ntrusteu "
him. and comparing the handwriting WIN tnat on Vi0
note of warning, and, will be seen by MS report o
has arrived at some decided opinions owing 10 the
nrecauion nv which the slips were remembered, II Is
impossible except in general way, to compare dis
conclusions with that Of superintendent Sayler'
who examined the same slips some lne
apo Mr. azen maintains that of the letters were
in disguised hand but that enough Of the words IN ho
note were IN the natural hand Of the writer to warrant
him I'm comparing them with the slips which had been
submitted him Like Mr.. Gayler, Mr. Hazen found one
slip which resembled the handwriting in the noe 10
Whitaker and asked for additional specimens Inc num-
Der of the slip was withheld in order that the other eX
ports might be able TO compare Mr. Hazens concur
sons with their own. Mr.. Hazcu concludes by ttlthg
postiveiy that he thinks the witer of the Whitaker
note among those whose specimens were sun
United to him. Recorder Sears IS said to De the OhY
member Of the Court who knows whether the "lthheIu
number is that Of the writer as Mr. Gaylers
"Number g." II It turns out that the evidence OF
several OF the experts points cadet the author
OF the note warning, the fact Will be suOmllledtO ING
Secretary OF War in report OF the Court OF Inquiry
and courmnrtia may then be ordered for the purpose
of testing the accuracy of the conclusions arrived at by
the experts The Court, after hearing CaValryman
Dutchr testify to some unmportant facts, adjourned
until 10 a. NJ on Tuesday The text OF Mr.. Hazens
report Is as follows:
have examined the note written in pencil and ad-
mems in pencil writing numbering 247 pieces I'm which
each OF the writer's had copied the same matter anu
also fltyseven specimens of INK ana pen wrng nave
also examined some other speelmens IN pen ana penG
writing which are marked extra specimens for Mr.
HazcD." and are numbered from TO so These extra
specimens furnished me al my Request, anu con
tain some specimens OF writing which designated ny
number from the pencil slips when desired TO nave
presented to under diff rent designation aud mixed
excepting popularity of tue writings examined, To
b me o ddressed to- Cadet Whitaker consists oftwo
parts the superscrpon and contents. The supcrscrr
w" Cadet Wnttaler"
And the contents being as written;
" NJ wHITT4kEE: no,,o. ,,,on o,.;,,.
After the examination which testified mat l
made am prepared u report the results OF my cXam
That the note addressed to Cadet Whitaker con
alls some ViI! S,i3ng J., III Iu m tvu " i,
apparent fort at dsSu Sc But an Of The opinion
that the married appearances Of habit aud the ecglHr-
ties are sufficient 10 identity me WiliK OF thc 'uhor
aud it, usual character. Ihc efforts nndr 10 dsruse
the writing appears In limited extent IN TIE letter &c
In the word cadet" nut tncre ~ also, apparently IN
the formation Of this letter very PROMINENT recuaT-
letter which UNUSUAL ana formed Uy the free motion
Of the peGc ana without Tue tremlIGns ehoft ppear
Tue letter "a" the word CADET " Is OF common
form wihcnl peculiarly, aud IN It's details corresponds
with the production Of the same Ie,cr In three or the
| six times II appears 10 the note.
The letter d. which follows the a., corresponds
with the saline letter IN " SUNDAY The word Whta-
kerr" upon tle envelope and IN the nOle is written In
the free hand OF the writer, ana without any apparent
rest or pauSes IN the ponc lmc7 which VA appear
the direction from an accusomtd r0nhe Inc OF motion
IN llt rent one, ans 10 which the reflex chpuc
OF ne Rn SIGg Of e Word ' wRs sS in M
address and body OF the note when agnlied, gives all
OF habit ana habit IN its to'as extends throughout
tlc NOTE GxGe H. IT, It's asSi. ,H PORTIONS ,,
pencil I'm Of Disgusting effort. rs do tue capital "A" IN
"hap the captaI "B" m "Brtcr" and the letter -"
preceding word "Fncnu, aA vel ~ the final ID" IN
he word "Frcnd ard tie letter -" In cadet" Those
portions the not desienated AZ disguised contain
very strong conditions Of habit AMI PROMINENT pccu
aritcs. III NY opinion, these arc of Sui'rnt charuc
ter type the Identity OF the writing when found else
It's true there Is not much Of this writing but the
very distinctive pcculartirs sOWn IN What thcIc h
nucn more than appears IN ordinary writing lEam.uc
ihe c' commencing word "cadeiand az ~ top IN
unusual loop formed by steady aud arbitrary cond
the 300 examined Gnd That resembles some. yet
when inagnhed, The details 81 habit by winch II
H fGau IN the note i is iu Of pccaoicc and nS.i
prominently 40 Is The formal on ~ the terminal cd' 10
thus thrown OF Ia the left 10 produce IOvp The let
tiers "xed" aud the pause made In connecting The "X'
with the c, AMI the peculiar mnrcr OF produc ne tho
pause.wll m dHOthrr connection seem Important.
The letter" u In April aud KrCg' Hnd the let
ter m k,cpn nnd awake" Ia some Of Tue de-
tails OF their formation, quite original und wtcn
maCuifed very eHriy disllnRuIrird. fhc unusull
engih Of the heavy stroke Oi the ictcr r. aud It's
| TO q loop dsfinctivo fcnturcs. Wtrt
ud only two Of thceo prcu1rlics existing IN
other Uriiing would not 30 Just fed COnurrtlug
such writing with the authorship Of The Whitaker noe.
But when ind nsn all repeated with distinctive eyi
denccs Of lHplt ana frequently produced ms tho post
tive dictates OF habit do feet warranted iu connecting
the authorship ~ such writing with the production Of
| the note addressed 10 Cadet Whitaker.
Among the specimens Of writing that have examined
| | have found several that IN my opinion written
by the same person who wrote the note question.
These specimens are hereto annexed. md numbered
= = aud 10, and marked Extracts for Mr.. Hazen q.
| found which attracted attention from a fra-
ture contained which TeVemhle1 tho writing In the
note. THIS pencil slip WIS numbered tHumber Uh-
heidi and addressed note to tho CUuft Send nIr
some specimens OF that writing. I1rd with other writ
ing aud IL was from that lot that | selected the
| specimens here annexed | also for other Spcc-
to trace some approaches, which found In on"
OF toe writings alluded to- TO the writing OF the note III
question, which on further examination found to have
strong lines OF difference. Upon tho srrts numbered
T. =, and 10, by unGerneationa and margincd refer
exist in this pencil writing when compRIcd with that
| OF the note. These writings distinct and typical
and Will DC ToidlY understood rs the writing tile
| same person, and dictated by the same imposed COLI
dillon OF habit that which executed the writing
TO Cadet Whitaker; have not Thought necessary on
tins question, 10 detail IN NY report particular parallel
| Of habit occurring In tho writing named nLd tAe
| note in qursOn
am prepared 10 testify that the handwriting OF the
| specimens hereto annexed and designated ns J have
stated, IN my opinion Is handwriting the person
who wrote the address and contents the EUtc al
dressed 10 Cadet WbitIaicf.
|
| WESTCHESTER RAPID TRANSIT PLANS.