Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-12-30

WEST POINT, n. Y, December 90.
Lieut.. Col. Otto L. Helm, commandant
at the United States military academy,
was the first witness called to-day to
testify before the court of inquiry ap-
pointed to investigate the allegations
of brutal hazing of cadets. Col Helm
produced the superintendent sick re-
ports which showed that Cadet Booz
had reported sick only once while he
was at the academy. He was excused,
on that occasion, from one drill, as he
was suffering from an acute attack of
diarrhoea. The records made it clear
that BOOz had never been absent from
breakfast, dinner or supper while he
was cadet at West Point.
An extract from the records was
read by the witness, who said Cadet
BOOZ had availed himself of the Sat
urday evening privileges of going any
where within the reservation on Sat
urday, August 6, the day of the Booz-
Keller fight. Booz reported his going
away at 1:58 p. M. and his returning
at BIS p n. In replying to Gen. Clous
1899 through anonymous letters, the
brutal hazing of Cadets Macarthur and
Haskell came to the knowledge of the
academy officials. An investigation
was Immediately ordered. but no infor-
nation as to the facts could be elected
from any of those examined, among
whom were Macarthur and Haskell.
The regulations prohibiting hazing pro-
vided punishment for hazers and hazed
alike. In telling of the agreement
made by the fourth class men in 1899,
among who were Cadets Macarthur
and Grant, not to submit to aazing,
Col. Helm said:
Il called the class together lit was a
very large One) and explained to them
the rules and regulations prohibiting
hazing. l told them il they would
agree not to submit 10 hazing and
promise not 20 haze any one them
selves, they would rid the academy of
foul blot on its reputation Soon
afterward they appealed to me to be
released from this agreement. but I
refused. | also heard that candidates
preparing at Highland Falls were be
ing hazed, and l made an investigation.
the outcome of which was the severe
punishment OF the guilty cadets"
The remainder of the commandments
testimony was mainly an explanation
OF the actions OF the authorities. and
the measures taken by them to suppress
hazing at the academy. The punish
ments 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. Col.
Helm said: "Hazing is traditional. and
l am sorry TO say is thought BY per-
sons inside, as well as outside of the
academy, to be commendable. and as
long as students hear it spoken of in
this way it will be impossible for the
authorities to stamp it out
What methods do you think could
be used to stamp out the calling out
OF fourth-class men and subsequent
fstic encounters asked Gen. Clous.
Why, consider that a form of haz-
ing. and as long as the cadets don't live
up to the agreement not to submit to
hazing and the upper class do not
cease interfering with them, it will be
impossible TO suppress it."
Former Cadet Smith of Carbonate.
H., testified that he was admitted to
the academy in June. 1898, and dis
charged in January. 1899
One night seven Of the witness class
including BoOz, were called TO ex-Ca-
det Harmer's tent to be exercised. Wit
ness did not remember any one having
tainted; he himself was very much ia
tigued, but not to the point of exhaus-
ton.
Did Cadet Booz ever complain to
your"
mo, sir; he never complained of
his treatment"
Cadet Thurman w Carrothers. OF
Illinois, the next witness, came to the
academy in July 1899. He was called
out for disobeying upper class men
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