The sun., 1901-01-05
NEW B0OZ INQUIRY ON
House Committee Listens to Evidence
at Bristol, Pa.
STORY OF CADETS PARENTS.
Father Gives 1t ms His Firm Belief
That His Sen Died ns n Result
of HazinE Mt West
Point.
TORY OF CADETS PARENTS.

Bristol, Pa. Jan. 4.-'rhe house COM
mttcc of five congressman appointed by
Speaker Henderson to investigate the
ease OF Oscar H. Rooz, formerly n West
Point cadet, who il is alleged, died from
injuries from heing hazed by the upper
class men there two years ago, has begun
its inquiry here.
Chairman Dick called the session to
order A number Of witnesses were pres
ent, but the committee decided to hear
the members Of the Booz family first.
William III. Booz, father of the dead
cadet, was the first witness. He was
asked by Chairman Dick to tell the story
of his boys life while at the Military
academy as far as he knew.
Mr.. Booz then went over the same
story he told during the war department
inquiry several weeks ago. He said Os-
car did not complain OF "eagling," but
spoke more OF the fight he was in, and
the tabasco sauce he alleged he was
forced to take. Oscar told him he had
black and blue marks on his body as a
result of his encounter with an upper
class man. Oscar reluctantly told his
father that the hot sauce had been pour
ed down his throat three times. The
boy. the father said, tried to hide the
condition OF his throat, after he left the
academy and never gave the name OF any
Of his tormentors. Oscar had told him
it was not manly to do 80. Mr.. Booz de-
clared that the boy told him physical
force was used when he took the sauce
while in camp.
MIR. Booz," asked Congressman Wag-
ner, was your son absolutely truthfulY'
Yes, sir, absolutely" was the reply.
Mr.. Booz Blnmes HnxinE.
do You believe that your son died as
result of hazng at West Point?" Mr..
Booz was asked.
Il firmly do" was the reply.
Then why did you not make official
complaint?'
Il did not wish to have any publicity"
why did you not as citizen make
complaint?"
Il did not know at that time the seri.
BUSINESS of the case and also did not know
there was any redress"
You are satisfied your boy did not re.
ceive fair play?"
YES sir. All my boys can stand haz.
/ ing, but not brutality"
This ended Mr.. Booz's testimony. HI
was on the stand one hour.
| Mrs. Sarah Il. Booz, mother Of Oscar.
followed her husband. She said her son
was III rugged health when he went "a
the academy, but when he left was bro
ken down in health and never was in
good physical condition nfterward. III,
complained much OF pains in the stom.
ach. He never needed medical attention
until he returned from West Point.
Mrs. Booz wept as she detailed the suf.
ferings of her son. She said she was
much grieyed when her son left the acad
emy. At that time the family did moi
fully realize his serious condition. Mrs
Booz then began to give her opinion OF
West Point cadets, who, she said, perse.
cutcd her son. She called them "bullies.'
Oscar, she said, never told his torment.
ors' names. nor did he tell much about
| what was done to him.
Health Formerly Good.
Mrs. Booz was closely questioned as tt
Oscars health before he went to West
Point The mother maintained that his
health was good.
She said Oscar sent letter home each
week. In the fourth letter Oscar began
to complain of i'll treatment. Mrs. Boos
| said she sent the letters to her son Hor
ace, in Buffalo, in the hope that he would
go to the academy and try to get better
treatment for Oscar. She said that Hor.
ace destroyed these letters. After Oscar
had written home for permission to re.
sign Mr.. and Mrs. Booz visited him, in
an effort to induce him to remain at West
Point. He resigned, she said, because OF
his i'll treatment, but in his resignation
paper he gave the weak condition of his
eyes as the reason for his quitting tho
academy.
did Oscar ever describe to you how
he was compelled to take hot sauce?"
HE never did"
Mrs. Booz was on the witness stand
for an hour and a quarter, and her exam
lnation was most rigid.
The Alpha's Captain Blamed.
Victoria, B. G., Jan. 4.-The coroner's
jury at Union, which has been investi
eating the death OF the victims of tn,
Alpha wreck, has returned verdict cen
suring the captain Of the steamer for
not having reliable chart and for at.
tempting to enter the channel near Union
without pilot.