Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-18

the testimony of DR.. j. Soils Cohen,
a throat specialist, who had
Oscar under treatment, and S. S.
Albert, a former ciass-mate of Oscar
Booz. The board left for New York
tonight and will sit at West Point
tomorrow afternoon.
BRISTOL, Pa. December 1.-THE
military board of inquiry appointed
by the Secretary of War to investigate
charges made by the relatives and
friends of Oscar L. Booz, the former
West Point cadet that he came to his
death on December 3rd at his home
here as the result of hazing by fellow
cadets at the Academy two years ago,
began the taking of testimony here
to-day.
The board, consisting of Major Gen.
John E. Brooke commanding the de-
partment of the East; Brig. Gen. AL
fred E. Bates and Col. j. H. Clous,
deputy judge advocate general, arriv-
ed here at 1890 o'clock this morn
ing. They were met at the railroad
station by VIM. H. Booz, the father
of the former cadet, and Rev. Alex
ander Allison, pastor of the Bristol
iCSOy ICi ian SAAA Il1C WI ou1ppIhS
place of the Booz family. The mem
bers of the board were escorted to the
church, where the inquiry was held
in the pastors study.
The entire Booz family was present.
The inquiry began at 10:5 so o'clock,
the first witness called being Mr.
BoOz, who was invited to tell all he
knew Mr. BOOz stated that Oscar en-
i
Soon after letters were received from
him stating that he had been hazed.
Mr. Booz said that his son had com
planned to him of the indignities to
which he was subjected at West
Point, but when Mr. Booz spoke to
Lieut. Blakely about it he was told
the hazing would stop after the ca
diets got back in barracks. He told
his son would have to stick to it.
He said his son had written him Of
the brutal treatment he had received
in hazing, how he had been forced to
fight an expert boxer and how he had
received in the boxing a severe heart
blow and furthermore that tobasco
sauce had been forced down his throat,
while he had been tightly held by
number of the upper classmen.
Mr. Booz told of his sons return to
home in broken health and spirits and
that he was finally forced to take to
his bed from which he did not arise.
He said his son stoutly refused to re
veal the names of the students who
prosecuted him.
Mrs. Booz also testified of her sons
complaints in letters to her of the
brutal treatment he had received at
West Point. She said her son never
told lie and never acted a lie. She
thought Supt. Mills, of West Point
should be made to apologize for call
ing her son liar.
Nellie BCoz. a sister of deceased also
testified that her brother had COM
planned to her of ilI-treatment received
in hazing at West Point She said he
had told her that if he had not swal-
lowed the tObasco sauce he would have
been strangled. They were holding
him down and he could do nothing
else.
DR.. Weaver, the physician Of the
Booz family. testified that when Oscar
left for West Point. he was in robust
physical condition but when he re-
turned home a few months later, he
was pale and thin. On examining Os-
cars throat after his return. he ad-
vised him to consult a Philadelphia
specialist. which advice he followed.
DR.. Weaver refused for professional
reasons to answer the question OF Gen.
Bates as to what tobasco would dis
ease the boys throat. He was inform
ed that he was in contempt of court
but the board could not exact any
punishment
Rev. DR.. Allison, in his testimony
paid high tribute to the character Of
Oscar Booz. He had received a letter
from the students shortly after he had
gone to West Point. in which Oscar had
told of ill-treatment he had received
and added that it was hard TO be a
Christian at West Point
Some other witnesses were examined
without the elicitation of anything
new and the board then adjourned to
meet at Philadelphia later in the day.
At Philadelphia, DR.. j. Sofas Cohen.
throat specialist, testified to having
treated Oscar Booz. He said the lat
ter's case was hopeless one. He said
he had noticed on examination he
found Booz had an old injury in the
throat. He could not tell how long
he might have been troubled with the
affection. He thought IL tobasco sauce
had ese2 forced down Boog's throat