The Topeka state journal., 1900-12-27
CASE OF BRETH.
Tt Occupies Large Part Of the Session
of Hazing Investigation.

of Hazing Investigation.
West Point, N Y, Dec 27.-Henry
Booz, of Bristol, Pa, who is now living
in or near Buffalo. will arrive here to-
day to testify before the military court
of inquiry regarding the alleged brutal
treatment received by his brother Oscar,
lately deceased, while a fourth class
cadet at the West Point military acad-
emy two years ago. It is understood
that a former cadet who lives in Ilii-
nois viii be here today or tomorrow to
give his version of the hazing prac-
ticed at the post during the summer of
18S7-'9S. Another witness who notified
the court of his coming is c ngressman
r. o. Phillips, of Cleveland, @. He has
a son here IN the present second class
who was a classTnate of BOoz, but the
impression is that the Ohioan will
simply deny that he ever came to the
academy to protect his son from being
hazed.
When the court assembled Cadet Will
lis G. Peace, of North Carolina, of the
first class, was the first witness. He
said he knew former Cadet Breth, ana
saw him haZed. The witness after be-
ing frequently asked to describe the
forms of hazing to which Breth was
subjected, replied:
II can not exactly describe them in
detail, but I think there were the usual
forms, such as holding out Indian clubs
until it became tiresomes doing wooden
Willie and other things which were in
vogue at that time. Breth was very
awkward man, and did not seem to be
able to do anything right. He was sub
ject to nervousness, and was easily rat
tied"
Continuing the witness said:
81 got a letter from Breth about six
months after he left here. In it he tried
to explain his difficulty in doing things
right while at the post here, and said
all the time he was in camp. He had
hoped to get better in barracks. but did
not
what was the nature of his sick
ness?' inquired General Cious.
''I don't remember, sir
'tHave you got the letter."
mo. sir; looked for it, but must
have destroyed it long since
the witness in reply to General ClouS
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.
rs there any hatred or feeling in ex-
istence between first class men and
fourth class men2" asked General
Bates.
T don't believe there is any feeling on
the part of the first class men against
the fourth class men. but there may be
on the part of the fourth class men
against the upper class, replied cadet
Peace This may be accounted for by
but this feeling passes away when the
cadets are advanced to the third class
Peace went on to say that he did not
see brutal exercising.
s'Then you don't think that being re-
ouired to exert yourself physically
against your will almost to the point
Of exhaustion brutal2" exclaimed Gen
era1 Bates.
Il was exercised myself, sir. and
did not think it was brutal 1t was un-
comfortable, but I never knew 1t TO re-
suit in permanent injury
The witness said there were some men
who used to haze more than others, ana
that some of them seemed to be with
out the faculty of judging when a man
had enough.
After being closely questioned as 20
what he would consider brutality IN haz-
ing the witness replied: i should say
that if a cadet were hazed to such de-
gree that he would be injured or had to
be helped by his fellows. the hazing
would be brutal
This answer was given after Gen. Bates
had intimated to the witness that IN case
a cadet died from the effects of sucn
hazIng the law would hold all of those
who took part in 1T responsible Aor the
Cadet Allen G.. Kaye. of Minnesota,
who came next, said he had seen Cades
Breth the night before he left the acac-
erny Breth seemed very much cast
down at being found deficient and the
witness sympathiZed with him Brefs1
did not complain OF Illness VI CAA AE S11y
anything of his treatment by the cadets, t
while here.
In reply to Gen. Brooke. the witness
said he had never fazed a man to the /
limit of his endurance, he never saw a |
man faint or become exhausted from /
hazing and had not heard of such a case |
do you think it is for the physical |
benefit of a cadet to have him seagled
rs times2 inquired Gen Clous-
Yes, sir, should say It is. I did it |
myself and it 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:
t.Choo-chooing IS the most exhaust1ng.
The man is required to get down and /
use his hands and legs as rapidly as pos
sibles in propelling himself over the I
ground
The next witness was R. G. Booz, c1vI1 /
engineer of Buffalo. N. T. a brother Of I
the late Cadet Oscar L Booz. The WI
ness had not seen his brother during the |
time he was III the West Point academy /
in 1888. Mr.. Booz continued:
T received a letter from him shortly /
after he went to the academy. In 1t he /
said he felt strange at the place as Il I
was his first experience away from |
home. In the second letter which got,
about the beginning Of August, he told /
me he would be called out to tight in /