The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-30
MILLS ON THE STAND
is SUPERINTENDENT OF THE WEST
POINT MILITARY ACAD-
ENVY
III STRONGLY OPPOSES GlZINa
HAS DONE WHAT HE CAN DO TO
STAMP OUT THE
PRACTICE
MATTER CT CADET FIGHTS


WEST POINT, II. ", Dec. 29.-Lieut.
/ Col. Otto l.. Helm, commaudant at the
United States Military academy was tfYa
first witness called to the stand, today
TO testify before the court of inquiry ap-
pointed to investigate the alleg& tions OF
brutal hazing of cadets. Col. Helm pro-
duced the Spperintendent's sick report.
which showed that Cadet Booz had oniy
reported sick once while he was at the
academy. He was excused on that oc-
casion, from one drill, as he was suffering
from an acute attack OF diarrhoea The
records madesit clear that Booz had never
beer absent from breakfast, dinner or
supper while he was a cadet at West
Point
An extract from the records was read
by the witness Who said Cadet Rooz had
availed himself of the Saturday evening
privileges of going anywhere within the
reservation on Saturday, Aug s, the day
of the Bookseller fight Booz reported
his going away at 1:5S p. M. and his
returning at 3:1S p m. In reply to Gen
Clous, the witness said that in the SUM
n,Gr of 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 in
formation as to the facts could be elicit
ed 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 MAZE
by the fourth class men in 1893, among
whom were Cadets Macarthur and Gram.
not to submit to hazing Col. Helm said.
81 called the class together Qt was a
very large onej and explained to them the
rules and regulations prohibiting haZing,
I told them if they would agree not to
submit to hazing and promise not to haze
anyone themselves, they would rid the
academy Of a foul blot on its reputa-
ticn. Soon afterwards they appealed to
me to be released from this agreement,
but / refused
81 also heard" continued the witness,
that candidates preparing at Highland
Falls were being hazed and made an
investigation, the outcome of which was
the severe Furnishing of the guilty
cadets
The remainder of the commandments
testimony was mainly an explanation CT
the actions of the authorities and the
measures taken by them to suppress
hazing at the academy L he punishmeEts
were increased and the number of cadets
found guilty of violations of the regu a
tions in 1899 were greatly in excess of
the previous year.
Speaking generally of hazing, Col. Helm
said:
''lIazing is traditional and 1 am sorry
to say, is thought by persons inside as
we'll as outside of the academy, to be
commendable AS long as students hear
it spoken of in this way it will be jmpos-
sible for the authorities to stamp it out
What methods do you think could be
used to stamp out calling out of fourth
men and subsequent fstic encounters?
asked Gen. Clous.
"Why, 1 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, 1t will be fmpos-
sible to suppress it. !"
Former Cadet Smith, of Carbondale,
ILL.,. testified that he was admitted to the
academy in June, 1898, and discharged
in January, 1888.
One night seven of the witness class,
including Booz, were called to ex-Cadet
Harles' tent to exercise. Witness did not
remember any one having tainted. He
himself was very much fatigued, but
not to the point of exhaustion
BooZ DIDN'T COMPLAIN.
did Cadet Booz ever complain to
you?''
mo sir, he never complained of his
treatment"
Cadet Truman w. Carrithers, OF Him
ois, the next witness, came to the acad-
envy in July 1899. He was called out for
disobeying upper classmen and general
freshness" he said. His opponent was
Mr.. Shannon of the present second class.
what was the resultg
-.a------I -. ToufI, pare