Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-12-21

West Point, Dee. q. The military
court Of inquiry, looking into the al
legged hazing Of Oscar L. Booz, who
died, it was asserted from the eff
fects gxpect to have all the evidence
collected by tomorrow evening, but
judging last night by the large mum
Der Of witnesses yet to be called
there may possibly be an adjourn
ment until after the holidays.
The name Of former Cadet John r..
Breth, of Altoona, who it was nj
legged, died Is months ago rs a resalt
of brual hazing at the West Point
military academy, was associated
with that of O. l.. Booz in thu inquiry.
superintendent Mills emphaticallly
denies that Breth was injured while
there and said that the assertions to
that eff ct were absolutely false
Ia refntation of the statement made
by Cadet Booz's father, Congressman
Phillips. Of Cleveland seut tele-
gram to Superintend Mt Mills, of the
academy denying that he ever came
to West Point for the purpose of pro
tecting his son. Cadet Burt w. Phil
lips. from being hazed. This was sub
mitted to the court and by direction
of the court, attached to the record.
Different cadets and other wit
nesses were examined. In this article
We give some of the testimony OF
some of the witnesses, but not in the
order which they appeared on the
witness stand.
Rev Father Charles G. O'Keefe.
pastor of the Highlands Falls parish.
which includes the West Point mill
tary academy, in reply to questions,
said:
Il knew Cadet John Breth, of AL
tooDa, Pa. He came here in 1897
with letter of introduction from Il
priest in Altoona. He never com
planned to me of being i'll treated.
and when | jo1ingly asked him how
he liked the hazing he replied that
he was receiving no more than others,
and seemed to treat it as mere fun.
He never gave me the impression that
he received any injury. His instruc-
tor told me the boy was quite hope
less in his class matters. ! asked
him about his class studies and found
he was in the last or second section.
| told him he would have to get out
of that section or he would be
dropped.
In reply TO General Clous the wit
ness said he had never heard of such
a thing as cadets being put into a
straight Jacket tor the amusement of
others. The reverend gentleman said
that in his opinion the matter of re-
Lyon WAS never factor in the
progress of a cadet.
Cadet Charles Il. jennings of Con
necieut. said that on one occasion
Cadet William G. Caples. of Missouri.
told him to put out his tongue, and
Caples dropped five drops of hot
sauce upon It. 1t did not hurt or
choke him and only left burning
feeling on the tongue for few min
ntes. Al another time he had to
stand Oh his head in tub half full
of vat and say: We've met the
enemy and we are theirs" The wit
ness had seen Booz It few days be-
fore he left the academy and h look
ed as Wei rs any Of u.s.
Cadet Charles Telford. of Utah. tes-
tilted that he. like other fourth class
men had to stand on his head and
eat about 4 bowl Of molass s and
eight slices Of bread. The witness
belonged to the Mormon church: he
had not been in any way discrimnat-
ed against or looked down upon on
account of his religion
Cadet John r. McGinnis. of Ohio.
is Il Roman Catholic: he had never
been Disseminated against on that
account nor did he know Of any ca
Diet who had suffered or been annoyed
on account of his religion
did YOU have to do any mental
work." was asked
"Oh, l cleaned guns and bayonets.
took part in foolish parades. sang
songs fer the amusement Of upper
class men, ate my allotted quantity
of molasses and bread, but I never
suffered any i'll effects
Cadet Benjamin f. Mcclellan. of
Mississippi. said that Reoz had com
planned Of weak eyes and talked Of
resignin@ hut not until afttr he had
been Transferred to the last section
for deficiency in mathematics.
Cadet .i9hu r. Franklin. Of Tonnes
see testifi that he had seen Booz
"braceG" in the tent and in company.
Did You ever see sauce given
him?"
Yes; two or three drops at a
time"
"Who gave it to him ~
cadet Mcclure, who is now in the
corps. and Cadet Fred L. Dean. who
IS now in the first class
Major John NJ. Banister, surgeon r.
S. A., produced all the records of the
medical department of the academy.
These showed that John f. Broth
was admitted to the hospital June
81. 1897, and discharg a week
later. He was treated for external
hemorrhoids. He was admitted again
on July 6 and discharged the follow
ing day, as he had only an attack of
thermal fever, which is very simple
ailment
On Dec. II. 1897, Breth was excused
from sections on account of indiges-
ton, and these are the only instances
on record where the Altoona cadet
had been medically treated
In regard to Cadet Booz, Banister
said there was only one instance on
record of his being i'll, and on that
occasion Booz was allowed to remain
away from one drill, as he was suf
fering from diarrhoea.