Evening star., 1900-12-04
Ex-CADET O. L. Booz DEAD.
His Death Said to Have Been Caused
by HaxinX.

Oscar l.. Booz, former cadet at West
Point Military Academy, who had been ly-
ing at the point of death at his home tn
Bristol Pa suffering from injuries which
his parents claim were the result of hazing
at the academy over two years ago, died
yesterday in great agony. The cause or
death was throat consumption.
Booz was appointed a cadet by Represen-
tative Wanger of the seventh Pennsyl-
vania district, and it Is alleged by
the young mans father that tabas-
CO sauce was poured down his sons
throat while the cadets were hazing
him. The father also claims that red pep
per was thrown in his eyes, hot grease
poured on his bare feet, a tooth knocked out
and other fiendish pranks were indulged in
Shortly after this. the father says Oscar
because of his physical condition, was COM
PEELED to resign his cadetship The young
man steadily grew worse, but never would
divuge the names Of the cadets who III
treated him. His parents told him it was
his duty 10 tell. but his only answer was:
Il went there expecting to take whatever
medicine should be given, and it would not
be right to complain against the other
boys"
When asked the probability of steps be-
ing taken against the government me
West Point officials sister OF the young
man said that as no one had been
named as the guilty person. no further
action would be taken in the matter.
The report that Oscar L. Booz, who was a
cadet a, the Military Academy from June
until the end Of October 1898. is dead at his
home in Bristol. Pa, from injuries attrib-
uted to haZing while he was a cadet at
West Point has brought out the follow
ing statement from Col. A. l.. Mills su-
perintendent of the Military Academy:
The many statements made in the press
of the country alleging that Oscar l.. BooZ
was atrociously hazed while he was a cadet
at the Military Academy to such extent
that he is now Gying from its effects are
untrue and ridiculous Ex-Cadet Booz was
admitted to the Military Academy June 90
1885 and resigned October 81. $685. He
was on sick report but once, on July 30,
when he was excused from the drills from
that day on account of diarrhoea Had he
been brutaily beaten in a fight with another
cadet or had his throat been injured in the
manner claimed, Ii would have been impos-
sible for him TO have avoided the sick re-
port The reason given for his resigna ton
was weak eyes. His record shows he was
in the last section In mathematics. and the
marks he received to date of his resignati On
were deficient. l believe therein lies The
real cause of his resignation, and think 1t
most probable that stories of his alleged
1ll-treatment arise from statements he mas
made in endeavoring to explain to his
friends why he left the academy.
He made no complaint of ill-treatment
at the hands of other cadets. He was un-
der orders to do so IL such was accorded
him. From inquiries made, l am con-
vinced that this particular ex-cadet was
very little interfered with or molested by
other cadets during his entire stay at the
Military Academy"
Those who were classmates Of Cadet Booz
concur in the statement Of Col. Mills. The
forcing of fluid down Booz's throat. they