Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-22
BRUTALITY OF
HAzING IS TOLD.
Court Of Inquiry is Investigating
Cases.
BAD CONDITION OF AFFAIRS
Military Tribunal Reveals Disgrace
Tui Proceedings West Point
Brutality.

TO finish It's work this week. An add
journment until Wednesday or Thurs
day will be taken after tomorrow's
session and the remainder Of the tes-
tlmony probably will be secured by
the end OF next week. Today the story
Of the fight between Keller and Booz
in Fort Putnam on the 9th Of August,
1925. was told by Keller himself, as
well as by some Of the seconds and the
sentlnels who were posted TO watch for
officers who might interfere.
The first witness called was William
u. Guthrie of Missouri, a cadet OF the
first class. He saw Booz shortly after
his fight and noticed that one OF his
eyes was blaokened. He knew Cadet
Breth and was positive Breth had new
err been placed in strait Jacket.
such thing would be so very unusual
that II Il were done to any one on the
post the witness would certainly have
known Of 1t. He knew OF men being
dragged IL a blanket from their tents
10 the company streets. Personal vlo-
lence has never been used In bracing.
Cadet Lewis Brown Of Rhode Island.
one Of Keller's seconds in the fight
with Booz, said Booz ran from Keller
and was struck several times In the
back In the second round Booz lay
down and refused to get up.
Cadet William G. Caples Of Missouri
said he had given hot sauce TO several
cadets but not more than four or FIVE
drops TO any one,
Lieut.. Frank w. Coe, instructor in
mathematics at the military academy.
testified that BOoz was deficient in his
mathematics and never could have
passed his examination He was men
tally far below the standard required
by the military academy.
Cadet Frank Keller, who had the
fight with Booz, said: II was chosen
by a committee Of my class TO call
out Cadet Booz because he disobeyed
the orders Of the corporal Of the guard
and made insolent remarks 10 a higher
cassman. ! was weighed In and |
turned in $50 pounds. Booz was 1852
pounds. He was taller than and had
a longer reach.
We stripped to the waist" contin-
ued the witness. MY seconds told me
! had a tough customer TO meet and
they told me to do my best. For the
hrst thirty seconds after the call OF
time Booz showed a little fight. as he
struck me couple Of times about the
shoulders. / struck him under the left
eye, cutting It slightly. After this he
turned his back and kept running
away. / frequently told him TO face
me or / would hit him In the back. |
did hit him a couple OF blows under
the right arm.
In the second round / thought he
was going TO put up a fight after all,
but he Immediately began running
again, | struck him in the right eye
and then on the stomach. He went
down altogether, although the blow
was neither a knockdown nor a knock
out blow. He lay on the ground and
was counted out. l went up 10 him
and shook hands. / said ! hoped he
had no ill-feellng toward me. He said,
No and smiled"
When questioned as 10 whether he
mad hazed lower classmen or given
them hell sauce. Keller said mo- but
ne admitted having braced a few.
cadet Ralph n. Hayden of New York.
one Of the sentinels at the fight. said
Booz was not hit hard enough to knock
him down, and that all through he
acted cowardly, Booz lay on the ground
and cried. Hayden acknowledged hav-
ing taken part in hazing lower class
men,
Cadet w. 7. Bemilton Of Kentucky
told Of one occasion when Booz was
on sentinel duty at the rear OF Bet
tison's tent, when he spoke to BOoz
who was standing at one Of the post
and told him to patrol his post prop
erly.
Had you any right" asked Gen
Brooke, TO give him any such in
structions?"
mo. not officially" replied the wit
ness But felt had right to give
some information to him when he was
doing wrong"
Was II not q breach OF military
discipline for you TO speak to sentry
on duty?' 1T was"
And as a result Of that Mr.. Booz
was called out TO fight?" yes, sir"
Then. sir. you had no right to put
Cadet Booz in that position" said Gen.
Brooke sharply.
Cadet George r. spaulding OF Mlchi-
gan, who acted as timekeeper at the
hight, said Booz was not severely In
Jured and walked all right from Fort
Putnam to camp, over three-quarters
OF a mile He positively denied ever
having hazed Booz.
Cadet Charles Garnet. president OF
the y NJ. G. A., submitted the following
letter, which he received from Rev. DR.,
Allison Of Bristol, Pa. in answer TO one
he sent to DR.. Allison
Bristol, Pa, Dec. 49, 1907 beg to
acknowledge receipt OF your letter OF
December 7th II is my desire TO say
that your letter is a confirmation In
not a few particulars Of my friend Os-
cars experiences. Your surprise that
a Christian minister should make state
ments Of certain kind | cannot help.
il Is a Christian minister's duty to tell
the truth I feel quite sure that the
congressional committee OF investiga-
ton will discover that no untenable
position has been taken by Mr.. BOOKS
friends.
Your letter 20 me is a most interest
Ing communication, IN the fact OF the
sweeping and other kinds Of statements
by Col Mnls. He denies hazing and
the presence Of tobacco sauce at west
Point You do not. You admit both,
but seek 10 maintain the effects on
theory OF eKaggeratlon, etc.
Il am glad to have had your letter,
and It is likely TO be helpful TO us IN
more ways than one. can understand
Of course. how natural II is for you
young men to see no defects In your
alma mater, since YOU have crossed
the 'plebe rublcon.
The friends OF oscar know that he
was truthful. His statements are 10 De
prima facle evidence What he stated In
the long letter he wrote home when
he pleaded to be allowed TO leave the
academy. is enough. Only yesterday !
had the sad privilege OF perusing Us
contents, / am sorry you mention the
novel theory. The cadet who told you
that made a statement that your Chris
tan grace and common sense ought 20
nave taken cum grano sails. oscar
was not that kind Of a young man.
Most sincerely yours,
ALEXANDER ALLISON
The letter was read, hut not ordered
attached 10 the record.
Cadet Joseph Farnsworth Barnes OF
The District Of Columbia who was one
Of kellers seconds in the fight gave