Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-19
CASE OF CADET BOOZ
His Classmates Deny That He Was
Brutally Treated.
MERELY SUBJ CITED TO ''BRACING"
According to Their Evidence He
Was Very Unpopular.
Y SUBJ CITED TO ''BRACING"
EXAMINATIONAT WEST POINT

WEST POINT N. Y, December 19.-The
examination of cadets who were in the
same class with the late Oscar b. BooZ at
the Military Academy here two years ago
was continued today by the court of in
quiry appointed by the War Department to
probe the allegation that Booz was brutally
hazed two years ago. and died two weeks
since at Bristol, Pa, as a result.
The first fifteen minutes of today's session
was behind closed doors. When the open
sitting was begun Cadet Raymond L. Lin
ton Of Michigan was examined. He said he
knew former Cadet Booz in 1898 and he
seemed to be in good health. He said that
BooZ was not haZed or treated brutaly.
far he knew. The witness described
brac!ng' as an exaggerated form of the
position of a soldier. 1t a drawing in
Of the chin and the throwing back Of the
shoulders at the same time.
Capt. Dean, the recorder of the court,
asked, IF a fourth-class man is unpopular
is he subjected to more bracing' and exer-
CiSing than otherS?'
"On the contrary, sir, a great deal less"
replied the witness. He is let alone by the
upper class men and members Of his own
eass.''
Punishment for "Bracfng."
In reply to questions by Colonel Helm,
cCmmandant of cadets, the witness said:
There are positive orders against 'brac
irg' and exercising and cadets have been
severely punished for violating these or
ders.''
an blackboard in the rear of the hall
the following was written: ITO haze-To
play mischievous or abusive tricks on, try
the pluck or temper of especially by phys
tcal persecution, lower class students in
college or newcomer in establishment of
any klnd.-CAntury Dictionary
Cadet StepAen Abbott of Illinois. the next
witness, when sworn was asked TO read
this definition of the words Ito haze" and
n said that was not his construction of the
words as applied to the hazing by "brac-
iTg. etc, which took place in the academy.
Tie was not quite clear on the rules prOnIb1t
ing this practice. He had been requested
a a fourth-class man to take some few
drops of Tabasco sauce off a spoon, but
was not forced to do it He took it him
sell at the order OF two upper class men.
l. was hot, but did him no harm.
'~Oid you see Cadet Booz after the fight
with Keller?" asked the recorder.
Yes, sir; his left eye was blackened.''
The witness went on to say that he had
ntver known Booz to be abused or III
1eated and denied that BooZ was interfered
with on account of his religious practices.
In reply to Commandant Helm the witness
said that he had known cadets well
the comma andants of the mess table to be
severely punished for permitting prac-
tclng restraint" "bracng," or other "ex-
elcises' on lower class men.
Cadet DOckery Testifes.
Cadet Albert B. Dockery of Mississippi
was questioned at length on military regu-
- lations prohibiting hazing. General Brooke
read an extract from the United States mill
tary regulations. prohibiting nearly every
thing which could be construed as hazing.
Then the general asked:
Are these regulations violated?"
Yes, SIR" replied the witness.
On being questioned by Colonel Mills.
superintendent of the academy. the wit
ness said tabasco sauce. if not on the table.
can be had by asking for it.
DO you know any other name for !t?
asked the superintendent.
After some hesitation witness replied:
Yes. sir; the cadets sometimes call 1t hell
sauce"
Cadet Charles McH Eby of Pennsylvania.
when sworn, said that he knew Booz, who
was not held in very high regard by the
cadets, as he had not shown courage in his
fight with Keller. Eby was asked about
the haZing which used to be prevalent, but
which, he said, was discont tlnued about two
years ago. He described them follows:
Bracing-An exaggerated form of a SOL
dieTly position
Wooden Willie-Continuous gun drill.
Foot ball-Lying on back and raising the
legs to a perpendicular position and back
again several times probably for six or
seven minutes.
misunderstanding on toes"
Hanging on stretcher-Suspended on
lands from bar with feet not on floor
Did you ever see a man faint while un
Gergoing any of these exercises?'
: He Feigned Distress.
well. 1 have known man to feign.'
was the reply.
Under what form of eXerciseo"
'Eagiirg / think, SIR
How long did he exercise?"
Il can't exactly say; about five six
minutes. l think
Who was the man."
Myself sir.
This rep.y caused laughter, in which the
women spectators joined
Then you are an authority on faint
iug?" said Cen Brooke.
NO, sir, 1 never tainted" was the reply
Ebv then, at the request of Superin-
tendpnt Mills, stood up and gave the court
al exhibition of what is known as bracing
which did not seem TO be very unnatural
OF painful position.
Cadet Victor s. Foster of Louisiana was
questioned about haZing. He said he was
subjected TO foot inspection in camp, which
means dropping hot candle grease on the
feet.
Did it hurt much?"
Did Not Feel the Grease.
NO, sir: I didn't feel IT. replied the
young fellow.
Cadet John X Herr of New Jersey, who
was present at the fight between Keller and
Booz. and who acted as one Of the latter's
seconds. testified:
Il knew Cadet Booz. I saw him hazed in
his tent in camp in '9S. Booz was holding
out Indian clubs and was informed that he
wOlrId be called out that evening or next
day, and he then put down the clubs.
Tell us about the fight" said Captain
Sean.
i The witness said: '"The men put up their
hands and spared Keller landed blow
on Booz's eye, and the latter turned his
head away He tried to avoid Keller. who
said stand up and fight Then Booz went
down from light blow and did not want to
| get up. He was helped up, but went down
| again two or three times and wanted to
quit He got blow in the body. but not
hard enough to knock him down. Booz
Topped down. He cried and said he would
give up. He wasn't knocked out. He just