Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-12-23
TO ELIMINATE CONCE|T
THE OBJECT Of HAZ|NG.
UPPER CLASS MEN AT WEST POINT
GIVE SOME ENTERTAINING
TESTIMONY.
ALL THE NEW MEN FARE ALIKE
POSITION CUTS ANY FIGURE
AT WEST POINT.

WEST POINT, n. Y, December p.
The court of inquiry investigating the
! allegation that the late Oscar L. Booz
was so i'll treated while a cadet at the
military academy that his health was
/ impaired, began work early to-day, in
tending to finish its labors at noon.
| Cadet Sheriff., of North Carolina, gave
! some important testimony, such as has
been often repeated in the course of
this investigation
Major John NJ Bannister, surgeon
L. S. A, was recalled and told of his
testing the effects of partaking OF four
/ drops of tropical pepper sauce, such
as is used in the cadets mess hall. He
said he tried it last night by dropping
four drops of the sauce on the palm
of his hand and taking it up with his
tongue. He swallowed the sauce, al
though it tasted hot ike the taste of a
cayenne pepper pod. His throat, he
said, was very susceptible 10 any irri-
tation but he felt no ill-effeets from the
dose.
Two young ladies who were present
when he made the test, in a spirit Of
fun did likewise, and they too, found
no difficulty in swallowing the same
quantity.
. In reply to Gen. CIous, the witness
said:
Il positively swear that the taking
OF this sauce could not directly or in
directly have caused tuberculosis OF
the throat or in any way be the cause
of the death Of Cadet Booz two years
after his partaking it
Cadet John H. Poole Of Michigan,
swore that he never hazed Booz. He
knew Breth, who was a member OF
his own class.
This was the fourth class in 1897.
Did you see Breth hazed?"
NO, sir, but / heard he was 'eIer-
cised' considerably"
What are the relations Of the up
| per class men TO the fourth class
men?"
with the exception Of exercising.
which has been abolished. it is about
the same as formerly We require
them to do special work about our
tents, cleaning guns. making up the
beds, and so forth"
i Have you heard Of any fights since
last encampment7"
Yes, sir, l heard Of four"
Between upper class men and fourth
class men," inquired Gen. Clous.
Yes. sir"
Who wOn?" asked the general.
Two were won by upper class men,
one by a fourth class man and the
other was draw
Cadet Guy Z. Carleton. Of Michigan,
testified that Booz was hazed. but that
there was nothing brutal or severe in
it Others had similar experiences.
In reply to several questions regard
/ ing Cadet Brech, the witness said:
Il knew him. but did not hear Of
his being hazed or being put in
straight jacket If he had been placed
in a straight jacket, I certainly would
have heard OF il I have had a special
duty man from the fourth class. He
made my bed. swept out the tent, car
risd water and cleaned ny gun and
bayonet."
Cadet Emory J. Pike. Of Iowa. had
heard Of men being required 10 eat
soap. but never knew OF positive
case.
Did you ever ask anyone 10 eat
soap" asked Gen. C.ous.
No. sir"
Did you ever require a cadet 70
swallow any hot sauce?"
NO. sir"
You knew Cadet Breth ?"
Yes, sir; remember him on &C
count Of his -w0ode1ness.
DO you mean By that that he vas
woodenheaded?"
Yes. sir"
In treating fourth class men By
your methods Of hazing was any diff
ference made between the sons OF ricn
men and those Of poor mem"
Well. sir, there would De 10 dis
tiEction except when II happened the
rich mans son was conceited.' an
swered the witness.
Why 90 you haze fourth class
mem" asked Gen Brooke.
Fourth class men are new and
gree1a they are hazed 70 make them
conform 70 the rules 70 obey their su-
peTiors and make men out OF them
II the son OF General. OF the son
Of q President OF TIE United States
came here would he 5e hzzed7" askeI
the general
Yes, he would. If he were Connected.
and il Is likely he would De hazed.
anyhow.
You then evidently wish 70 make
them ali feel that they are OF Al equal
footing. that none IS better than the
others asked Gen Brooke.
That's The idea. sir
IN reply 70 Gen Brooke. Cadet Cox,
Of Virginia. said that when Z cadet
in the fourth class vas concei.ed 1t
vas taken out Of him by hazing
How long does the conceit Iast?''
asked the general
! About twenty Minutes replied the
witness
All. then i Is exercised said he
general !okiugly.
Yes, sir
Dies il ever re-urn7~
Not while he IS : fourth class nan.
sir"
+ General Brooke questioned the Wit
( Tess a. length OF the cadet code O.
/ honor. and the witness said. Cur
I ec1e requires q man not 70 do any
thing ungsntlenanly. Sometimes q
class has caused man 70 resign for
making false statements or doing
something n violation OF this code"