Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-20
Classmates Of Cadet Booz Tell Of
Their Experiences.
OF REGARDED As HARDSHIPS
Drinking Mo|asses and Eating
Prunes Under CompuIsion.
FEW GOOD WORDS FOR BOOZ

WEST POINT, N. Y, December 0.-The
military court of inquiry that has been in
session here since Tuesday examining into
the allegation that the death of Oscar l..
Booz, a former cadet at the United States
Military Academy, was caused by brutal
treatment to which he was said to have
been subjected by fellow students resumed
its sitting today. There remain to be ex-
amined twenty cadets Of the class to which
Booz belonged, and it is likely that some
of the frst-class cadets and officers of the
academy Will also be interrogated as to
their knowledge of hazing. 1t is probable,
therefore, that the court will not close its
investigation before Saturday.
Maj. Charles B. Hall, 22d Infantry, treas
urer Of the Military Academy and quarter
master and commissary of cadets was the
first witness called today. He identified
two bottles of red sauces. which he said
were the only kinds of pepper or tropical
sauces in in the cadets mess hall since
he took charge three years ago. Tabasco
sauce was not in use In the academy. The
hot sauces were not generally laid on the
tables. but were served when called for.
This Cadet Had Been Hazed.
Cadet VIM. NJ. Cowes of Kansas testi-
fed that he knew Booz. but was not pres
ent at the fight with Keller. He described
the hazing ordeals in the summer of '9S,
and said he had undergone everything that
his classmates went through. He said he
had attended rat funerals, taken cold baths
and Joined In bowl races as we'll being
made acquainted with Wooden Willie
and the process of "eagling.'' He had
taken a couple drops of hot sadce from a
spoon. When asked to describe the sauce
the witness said, The bottle l saw In our
tent was labeled Tropical Pepper Sauce /"
The witness prepared at the same school
with Booz and cid not consider him strong
While at this school (St' I.uke's, at Bush
physicians and was developing hung and
chest capacity. The witness could not re-
member the names of the physicians. The
witness had little to do with BooZ after
coming to West Point; their relations were
Just indlfferently friendly
The next witness, Herbert z. krunlm of
Ohio told the court that among other
things which he was made to do as a
fe'lrth-class man was to qualify in the mess
hall.
What does that mean?" asked Captain
Dean.
Ate Eighty-Five Prunes.
II had to eat, eighty-five prunes at one
sitting, and at another 1 had to swallow
bowl Of molasses and six slices of bread"
Did you succeed in doing these things?'
asked the court.
mo, sir. I was not successful on my first
attempt at the molasses, but I did it all
right the second time"
In concluding his testimony the witness
said that Booz had slouchy manner, and
did not seem to have enough energy to hold
himself together.
Cadet David H. Bower of Iowa said he
had been hazed in as. He had to do foolish
things, such as receiving turtle passing
down the company street with candle on
it's back" and chasing a sparrow off the
street after being told it was an eagle
Cadet Henry E. Mitchell Of New York
said that he had seen every man In the
present first class taking part in the hazfng
of the fourth-class men In $685.