The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-28
Neither Was He Untruthful, as Some
of the Witnesses Tried to Inn
press on the Military Board.
P. O. PHILLIPS EXAMINED
HE DID NOT THINK BOOZ HAD THE
MATERIAL FOR A SOLDIER.
Cadet Breth Much Exhausted After
Being "Exercised" - Stimulants
Necessary to Revive Him.

WEST POINT, N. Y, Dec. 27.-There was
an unusually large attendance Of specta-
tors at the military court of inquiry to-
day. Horace c. Booz, q civil engineer of
Buffalo, and p. o. Phillips, Of East Cleve-
land, who was heralded as a congressman.
but told the press representatives that he
was never elected to Congress. were the
chief witnesses. The formers testimony
was principally refutation of the state
ments made about his brother. former
Cadet Oscar L. Booz, of Bristol, Pa, who
died recently. Several Of the cadet wit
nesses, during the progress of the investi-
cation, accused Booz of having shown cow
ardice in his fight with Cadet Keller, in
August, 1898, and they also accused him of
untruthfulness. Lieutenant Coe, instructor
of mathematics, in his testimony, last week,
stated that Booz was not possessed OF
sufficient mental capacity to pass the neces-
sary examination at this academy. His
brother stated to-day that this was not so,
as the manner in which the former cadet
had passed his examinations at the pre-
paratory school. at Bustleton. Pa. was suf-
Of sufficient intellect. He said Oscar was
not untruthful and he was anything but a
coward.
Mr.. Phillipss principal reason for ap-
pearing before the court was to show that
he had not visited the academy in 1895 for
the purpose Of saving his son from being
hazed. He stayed here for about ten or
eleven days in August of that year. shortly
after the fight between Booz and Keller
had taken place. Mr.. and Mrs. Booz stopped
at the same hotel with him, but neither one
of them complained Of their sons treat
ment. He said that, in his opinion, Booz
was not the kind of material out of which
good army officers could be made.
One of the witnesses at the morning ses-
sion informed the court that he had seen
Cadet Breth so far exhausted from severe
exercising that stimulants had to be given
him in his tent in 1897. In the afternoon
two other cadets Of Breth's class said they
had seen him in a nervous condition, his
body. arms and legs twitching after he had
been hazed, but one of them said he be-
lieved Breth was pretending prostration.
There still remain thirteen cadets Of the
first class to be examined. They all have
been away on Christmas furloughs and will
fourth-class men will also be examined and
T. ]. Smith, of Carbondale, ILL.,. former
cadet, is expected to be on hand tomorrow
to tell what he knows of the hazing prac-
ticed at the academy. 1t is possible the
court will get through here by Saturday.
FORMS OF HAZING.
When the court assembled to-day Cadet
Williss G. Peace. of North Carolina. of the
fourth class. was the first witness. He
said ne knew former Cadet Breth and saw
him Eazed in the tent of ex-Cadet Beder
in 1897. The witness after being frequently
asked to describe the forms of hazing to
which Breth was subject, replied: 'I can.
not exactly describe them in detail, but
think they were the usual forms, such as
holding out Indian clubs until it became
tiresome, doing Wooden Willie and other
things which were in vogue at that time
Breth was a very awkward man and die
not seem to be able to do anything right
He was subject to nervousness and was
easily ratified
The witness, in reply to General Claus
said that he knew of about eight fights
having occurred during the first two years
he was in the academy. and about nine
during the next two years.
After being closely questioned as to wha,
he would consider brutality in hazing, the
witness replied: 81 would say that If a
cadet were hazed to such a degree tina,
he would be injured or had to be helped BY
his fellows. the haxing would be brutal
This answer was given after General Bates
had intimated to the witness that in case
a cadet died from the effects of such haz-
ing the law would hold all of those who
took part in it responsible for the mans
death.
Cadet Allen c. Kay, of Minnesota, who
came next, said he had seen Cadet Brett
the night before he left the academy
Breth seemed to be very much cast dowr
at being found deficient and the witness
ympathized with him. Breth did not com.
plain of illness, nor did he say anything oi
his treatment by the other cadets Will.
here.
In reply to General Brooke, the witness
said he had never hazed a man to the limi,
of his endurance; he never saw a mar
faint or become exhausted from hazing
DO you think 1t is for the physical bene-
fit of a cadet to have him 'eagled' seventy
five times?" inquired General Claus.
..Yes. sir. I should say it is. L did it my
self and II benefited me-" was the ready
reply.
Cadet John A. Pearson, OF Tennessee
when asked If he ever hazed Cadet Booz
answered in the negative. In describing
several forms of exercising. he said: ''Cho-
chooing is the most exhausting. The man
Is required to get down and use his hands
and legs rapidly as possible in propenins
himself over the ground"
TESTIMONY OF r. C. BOOZ.
The next witness was r. c. Booz, civil
engineer. of Buffalo. N. Y. brother Of the