The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-30
Secret Society at the Preparatory
school Formed for the Purpose
of Perpetuating Brutal Haxing.
CASE OF THE LATE O. L. BOOZ
NO COMPLAINT MADE BY THE PAR
ENTS OF THE YOUNG MAN.
Weak Eyes Given as the Cause of
ceived by superintendent Mills.

WEST POINT. N. Y. Dec. 2s.-The inves-
tigation by court of inquiry Of the
charges of brutal hazing arising out of the
death of former Cadet Oscar l.. Booz,
which has been in progress. with some in
termission. for the last two weeks. was
concluded at the West Point Military
Academy this afternoon. The military
court of inquiry composed of Generals
Brooke. Bates and Clous. together with
Captain Dean, the recorder of the court,
left for Governors island tonight and on
Monday morning at 10 o'clock they will
examine the mass of evidence which they
have listened to during the several sessions
of the court and unless something unfore-
seen occurs will make a report to the War
Department at Washington very soon aft
erwards. While the court of inquiry has
been an open one since it began taking tes-
timony, Mondays session will be exclusive
and of public interest.
Superintendent Mills and Commandant of
Cadets Helm were the chief witnesses ex-
amined to-day. They produced lot of ex-
tracts from records of the academy as to
the efforts made by the authorities to
abolish hazing in every variety in the in
stitution.
Lieutenant Colonel Otto L. Helm, COM
mandant at the academy, was the first wit
ness to-day. He produced the superin-
tendent's sick reports. which showed that
Cadet Booz had only reported sick once
while he was at the academy. He was ex-
cused that occasion from drill, as he
was suffering from an acute attack cf
diarrhoea. The records made 1T clear that
Booz had never been absent from break
fast, dinner or supper while he was cadet
at West Point. An extracr from the
records was read by the witness who said
Cadet Booz had availed himself of the
Saturday evening privileges of going any
where within the reservation on Saturday,
Aug. 6. the day of the Bookseller fight.
Booz reported his going away at 1:5s p. m.
and his returning at 3:1S p. m.
REFUSED TO "SQUEAL.',
In reply to an inquiry by General CIous
witness said that in the summer of 1899.
through anonymous letters, the brutal haz-
ing of Cadets Macarthur and Haskell came
to the knowledge of the acadamy officials.
An investigation was Immediately ordered,
but no information as to the facts could
be elicited from any of those examined,
among whom were Macarthur and Haskell
The regulations prohibited hazing, pro-
vided punishment for hazers and hazed
alike.
In telling of the agreement made by the
fourth-class men in 1899, among whom
were Cadets Macarthur and Grant, not to
submit to hazing, Colonel Helm said: II
called the class together Git was very
large one) and explained to them the rules
and regulations prohibiting tazing. 1 told
them if they would agree not to submit
to hazing and promise not 10 haze anyone
themselves they would rid the academy OF
a foul blot on it's reputation. Scon after
wards they appealed to me to be released
from this agreement. but / refused. I also
didates preparing at Highland Falls were
being hazed and I made an investigation,
the outcome of which was the severe pun
ishing of the guilty cadets
The remainder of the commandments testi-
mony was mainly an explanation of the
acts of the authorities and the measures
taken by them to suppress hazing at the
academy. The punishments were increased
and the number of cadets found guilty of
violations Of the regulations in 1899 were
greatly in excess of the previous year.
Speaking generally of hazing, Colonel Helm
said: "Hazing is traditional. and, am
sorry to say, is thought by persons inside,
as well as outside of the academy, to be
commendable, and as long as students hear
it spoken Of In this way 1T will be impos-
sible for the authorities to stamp it out
what method do you think could be
used to stop the calling out of fourth-class
men, and subsequent fistic encounters?"
asked General Clous.
swhy, 1 consider that form of hazing,
and as long as the cadets don't live up to
the agreement not to submit to hazing
and the upper class don't cease interfering
with them, it will be impossible to sup
press it,
Former Cadet Smith. of Carbondale, ILL.,,
testified that he was admitted to the
academy I'm June. 1885, and discharged in
January, 1s99 One night seven of the wit
ness's class. including Booz, were exer-
cised. Witness did not remember anyone
having tainted. He himself was very much
fatigued, but not to the point of exhaus-
ton. Witness said he had not heard Cadet
Booze complain of his treatment
HIS JAW BROKEN.
Cadet Truman w. Carruthers, of Illinois,
the next witness, came TO the academy In
July, 1899. He was called out 'for disobey-
ing upper class men and general fresh
ness" he said. His opponent was Mr..
Shannon, of the present second class. He
received an abrasion on the forehead and
his jaw was broken, necessitating his be-
ing in the hospital for two weeks.
Col. A L. Mills. superintendent of the
academy. was then examined. Speaking of
"bracins." the superintendent said: 81 do
not consider 'bracing as haxing. bat It
amounts to 1T when carried TO excess and
causes physical PAIN For the protection