The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-28
HAzING INVESTIGATION
WEST POINT CADETS GIVE TESTIMONY
BEFORE THE ARMY BOARD.
HAZING NOT YET SUPPRESSED.
A Number of Cadets Give Evidence OF
Treatment of New Men at Military
School-All New Men HaZed - They
Have no Thought of Refusing to
Obey Orders Of Older Cadets-HaZing
Subject to n Code OF Ethics-A Higher
Class Committee to Pass upon Hazing

Class Committee to Pass upon Hazing
West Point, n. Y, December 26.-
The military court of inquiry resumed
it's investigation of alleged brutal haz-
ing at the West Point military acade
my this afternoon
Twelve witnesses were examined by
Generals Brooke and Clous. They
were all of the present first class, and
class mates of former Cadet Breth.
One of them, Cadet Tidball, of Vir-
ginia, swore that he had seen Breth
exhausted after going through an ex-
ercising ordeal in camp in 1897 Some
of the men who were haZing Breth
gave him whisl1ey when he became ex-
hausted. The witness could only re-
member one of the hazers and this was
Lieutenant Mumma, who graduated
last year.
Cadet Russell said that he heard of
and placed under a water faucet. He
could not vouch for the accuracy of
his informant and did not remember
him name.
All the witnesses said they knew of
no brutal treatment in the hazing.
held any conversation with other ca
! diets as to the withholding of testimony
at the investigation and said all the
cadets were anxious that everything
should be told.
Tomorrow Congressman T. o. Phelps,
| of Cleveland, O.. will be witness in
| reference to the statement made that
| ne came to the academy in 1893 in or
der to nave his boy protected from haz-
ing. Mr.. Phelps already has denied
| this by telegraph.
| Horace Booz, of Bristol. Pa, a BROTH
er of Oscar l.. Booz, who died three
| weeks ago, also will be here tomorrow
| and it is understood that he is coming
| here to testify.
Cadet B. z. Brown, of Virginia, now
of the first class, testified that he knew
| Booz, but did not remember his being e
! ill while at the academy. He denied
| having given any hell. sauce to any
| fourth class men. Cadet Brown said
| that he had taken part In fleet inspec-
| tions" which consisted OF dropping hot
| candle grease on the bare feet of
| fourth class men.
Did you know Cadet Breth? asked
| General Clous.
Yes sir, he was in my class"
Did you ever know of his being
dropped out of his tent?'
mo, SIR
WAS he ever put in straight jack
et?"
mo, sir 1 never heard of such a
thing in the academy.
What do you make fourth clas:
men do?''
Nothing in barracks. but bracing,
answered the witness. "In camp
have had a fourth class man act a:
special duty man. He cleaned my gur
and bayonet and carried water ant
| cleaned my tent
had been made to run down the com
pany streets, while others threw wate1
on them. This was called taking a batl
Did you ever see a man braced OF
exercised to the limit of his power o.
endurance?" asked General Brooke.
Il could not say, sir. but have seel
them pretend to faint in order to b.
excused from going any further will
, the exercise"
What was most exhaustive you
yourself, We're required to do as
fourth class man."
'Eagling, SIR was the reply
Describe it, please
1T is a modification of the settin,
up drill for back and legs"
Did you ever know amy injury t
result from exercising?"
mo, SIR"
The witness said there was no dan
ger in hazing and the classes voted It
DO away with it only because of tn
stories published about it.
What besides 'bracing' do You re
quire a fourth class man to do?' in
: quired General Brooke
, I'VE have them do ridiculous forma
uons, one of which we call the bar
, yard The men are designated b
names of barn yard animals and whe
they are told to form they initiate tn
noises made by the animals"
rs any force uSed?"
, mo, sir
DO you make them do anythin
. you tell them?"
mo. they are told to do it and the
generally do all they are told"
: The witness said that when he wa
a fourth class man the idea of refusin
, to do all he was required to by hazeg
, never entered his mead. There was n
: brutal spirit in it If there were bru
. tality by word the fourth class me
!. would resent 1t.
|, Then he would have to fight % sue
. | geSted General Brooke.
! Yes. sir"
E And get beaten?"
A Not always, sir; the fourth clas
e men have won fights"
J. DO you know OF any men being es
/ pecially prepared or instructed 1
4 hghting?'
: No, sir"
t Was Cadet Keller prepared for hi
8 hight with Cadet Booz?"
No. sir; Keller was rather a DOB
boxer. was the reply
Did Keller ever have any other fipb
before he fought Booz?" asked Geners
: Bates.
4 mo, SIR
r Then he was not known as a fight