New-York tribune., 1900-12-28
Bu0Z'S BROTHER TEsTIFJEs
DENIES THAT THE FORMER CADET WAS
COWARD Oh A NUMsKUII,
BOARD HEARS BRETH WAS so ExH.rs-r,
AFTER HAzING THAT STIMULATES
HAD TO BE ADMINISTERED

West Point, y. Z, Dec 27-The-A zx,e.
usually large attendance OF spectators =. ho,h
the morning and afternoon sessions or +ba r-,,,
tsry court OF inquiry at the Military Academy
to-day. The fact that two witnesses from dis
tsnt points would be called upon to ,as,t<,
was the cause Of the increased interest One Of
these was Horace c. Bocz g civil eng,,e.r :.
Buffalo. and p O. Phillips. Of East Cleveland
who was heraldeo as Congressman bu, he
told the press representatives. thar he was ,,a,-
elected 70 Congress.
The testimony given by the former WAS prin-
clpally refutation Of the statement made 49,.
his brother, former Cadet Oscar I. Rooz of
Bristol, Penn, who died recently il is alleges
from the effects OF severe hazing which be re-
oeiveo while at the West Point Academy two
years ago. Several OF the cadet witnesses dur
ing the progress OF the Investigation accused
oscar of having shown sowardice in his fight
with Cadet Keller in August, 1895. and thew
also accused him OF untruthfulness
Lieutenant See, instructor Of mathematics. In
his testimony last week stated that Booz was
not possessed OF sufficient mental capacity sue
csssfully 70 pass the necessary examination at
the Academy. His brother stated today that
this so as the manner in which the
former cadet had passed bis examinations at the
preparatory school in Bustleton, Penn, proved
that Oscar was possessed Of sufficient intellect
truthful. and he was anything but coward
Mr.. Phillips's principal reason for appearing
before the court was TO show that he had not
visited the Academy in 1898 for the purpose Of
saving his from being hazed He stayed
here for about ten eleven days in August Of
that year shortly after the fight between Booz
ard Keller had taken place Mr.. and Mrs. Booz
stayed at the same hotel with him. but neither
one Of them complained Of their sons treatment
He said that in his opinion Booz wes not Of the
kind OF material out Of which good Army off,
GERS could be made.
One OF the witnesses at the morning session
informed the court that he had seen Cadet Breth
SO far exhausted from severe exercising that
stimulants had 70 be given him in his tent in
1897 In the afternoon two other cadets Of
Breths class said they had seen him in a ner-
vous condition, his body, arms and legs twitch-
ing after he had been hazed. but one of them
said he believed Breth was pretending prostra-
ton.
There stin remain thirteen cadets Of the first
class to he examined. They have all been away
on Christmas furlough and will be back to-
morrow. Some Of the present fourth class men
viii also be examined. and 7. ]. Smith, OF Car
bondale Ill, former cadet is expected TO be
on hand tomorrow TO tell what he knows Of the
hazing practised at the Academy. It is possible
urday
BRETH WAS VERY AWKWARD.
The court assembled at 9:35 o'clock this morn
ing Cadet Willis G. Peace, Of North Carolina,
Of the first class, who was the first witness, said
Breth was very awkward man. and did not
seem 10 be able to do anything right very well.
rattled.=I got a letter from Breth about six
months after he left here. In il he tried 10
plain his difficulty IN doing things right while
Al the post here, and said that he had been SUI
fering from sickness all the time he in camp.
He had hoped 20 get better in barracks but did
not.
The witness added that there were some men
who used 10 haze more than others and that
some Of them seemed TO be without the faculty
~ judging when man had enough. After be-
ing closely questioned as TO what he would con-
slider brutality in hazing the witness replied:
y should say that if a cadet were hazed to such
q degree that he would be injured, or had to be
helped by his fellows. the hazing would be
brutal"
R. C. Booz testified that he had not seen his
brother during the time that he was in the
West Point Academy in 1898. He added:
I received letter from him shortly after he
went 10 the Academy. In il he said he felt
perlence away from home In the second letter,
which I got about the beginning Of August, he
told re that he would be called out to fight in
ABOUT week He complained Of having had to
take Tabasco sauce, and suffered from sore
throat IN consequence. He claimed that il was
forced down his throat and he had 10 swallow il
o. choke.
WHAT YOUNG BOoZ WROTE
The witness then handed to the Recorder
portion of a letter he had received from his
brother in which Oscar said that he would soon
70 home, Is he could not stand the treatment
any longer This after the fight, and Oscar
had said that MS heart was troubling him.
Where is the rest of this letter.
II was destroyed last September replied the
witness. It was overlooked among other papers
r was extra sheet of letter"
Following is copy Of the paper. 1t is written
On one side OF q half sheet OF ordinary note
paper
I expect 7 viii be home some time in the near
future, for I have stood the treatment about
long enough. ] have had trouble with my heart
the LIST two three days. the result of several
severe blows J received in the fight. also
received cut about inch long under my left
eye. ano think II will leave scar. I was pretty
badly bruised. but feel all right with the
permission from papa 10 resign, and il have
my way viii he home inside Of q week.
Cadet Henry A. Meyers. jr.. said that the
present fourth class had not been exercised at
al BY upper class men. Hazing in any form
vas against the military regulations, he said
nut ne cid not think he was breaking the oath
ne LOOK when he came here by violating the
Ifgu4atlons prohibiting haZing-
bsdet Frank P. Lahm, of Ohio, testified that
ne q classmste OF former Cadet Breth- The
4aLtef was hazed in camp one night and the wit
ness saw him with men rubbing his hands
Bneth was trembling all over his body He had