Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-04
BOOZ CASE UP AGAIN
House Committee Now Investigating
the Alleged Hazing.
FATHER OF THE CADET TESTIPIES
Son Complained of Brutal Treat
ment at West Point.
SAYS BOY WAS TRUTHFUL

BRISTOL, Pa, January 4.-The House
committee OF five representatives appointed
by Speaker Henderson to investigate the
case of Oscar l.. Booz, formerly a West
Point cadet, who. it is alleged, died from
injuries received from being hazed by the
upper-class men two years ago. began It's
inquiry here today. The committee, which
consists Of Charles Dick, Ohio. chairman;
Edmund H. briggs. New York: Irving p.
Wanger. Pennsylvania: Walter l. Smith.
Iowa, and B. F. Clayton, New York.
rived here from Philadelphia at . o'clock
this morning, and Immediately went into
session at Pythian Hall. which place had
been selected for the committee by the bor-
oUgh authorities Maj. H. a. Casson Of
Ohio was selected by the committee for SER
geant-at-arms.
Chairman Dick called the session to order.
A number Of witnesses We're present but
the committee decided to hear the members
Of the Booz family first but none of these
being present, a delay of thirty-fve min
utes resulted.
VIM. H. 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.
Cadets Father Testifes.
Mr.. Booz then went over the same story
he told before the War Department inquiry
several weeks ago. He said Oscar did not
complain Of "eagling,'' but spoke more OF
the fight he was in and the tobasco sauce
he alleged he was forced to take. Oscar
told him he had black and blue marks on
his body a result Of his encounter with
an upper class man. Oscar reluctantly told
his father that the hot sauce had been
poured down his throat three times. The
boy, the father said, tried to hide the can-
dition of his throat after he left the
academy, and never gave the name of any
of his tormentors. Oscar had told him 1t
was not manly to do SO. Mr.. Booz declared
that the boy told him physical force was
used when he took the sauce while in
camp.
Mr.. Booz" asked Representative Wan
ger, was your son absolutely truthful?"
Yes sir, absolutely was the reply.
Oscar told me he was not in the best
physical condition when he catered the fight
at West Point Oscar also said he was get
ting along very we'll until he received
heart bow which almost knocked him our.
In answer to another question, Mr. Booz
said there was no hereditary disease in his
family.
I'm what quantities did your say he
took tobasco sauce? asked one Of the
committee.
oscar said he had to take a spoonful at
a time"
How soon after he came home did he
complain about his throat?
About month or six weeks.
Attended by Different Physicians.
Oscar, the father said, was attended at
different times by six physicians from the
time he resigned at the academy until his
doatb The younQ man never had anY
throat or pulmonary troubles previous to
going to West Point. Oscars eyes did not
trouble him before he went to the academy.
Mr.. Booz said he went to West Point
after the fight to see his boy. He noticed
that after his arrival extra guards were
on duty in the company streets, which in a
measure prevented further hazing.
Chairman Dick then asked numerous
questions of Mr.. Booz as to his sons edu-
cation. He said that his boy was up to
the average in his studies and that he was
proficient in mathematics. According to
Mr.. Booz, Oscar was good-natured, gen.
tlemanly fellow and a lover of athletics.
Chairman Dick then asked: why did
you not make official complaint to the su-
perintendent Of the academy of your sons
treatment?'
81 was really afraid to do that because
of the upper class men,
Did Oscar complain of the exercises?
mo, sir; he did not He said he stood
them all right
Meeting with MI. Phillips.
Mr.. Booz said while he was visiting West
Point he met a gentleman named Phillips,
who told him he was representative from
Cleveland, Ohio. 1t was Mr.. Phillips, wit
ness said. who called his attention to the
extra guards on duty. Mr.. Phillips had
told the witness he was there visiting his
son.
do you believe that your son died as a
result of hazing at West Point?" Mr.. Booz
was asked.
II do, firmly he replied
Then why did you not make official
complaint?'
II did not wish to have any publicity"
"Why did you not as a citizen make COM
plaint?"
Il did not know at that time the serious
ness 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 hazing.
but not brutality
This ended Mr. Boozs testimony He
was on the stand one hour.
Mrs. Sarah E. Booz, mother of Oscar, fol-
lowed her husband. She said her son was
academy, but when he left he was broken
in health and never was In good physical
&C ndition afterward. He complained Of
pains in the stomach. He never needed
medical attendance until he returned from
West Point.
Mrs. Booz wept as she detailed the suf-
ferings of her son. She said she was much
grieved when her son left the academy.
At that time the family did not fully realize
his serious condition. Mrs. Booz then be-
gan to give her opinion of the West Point
cadets, who, she said, prosecuted her son.
She called them "bullies." Oscar, she said,
never told his tormentors' names, nor did
he tell much about what was done to him.
Mrs. BOOs Closely Questioned.
Mrs. Booz was closely questioned as to
Oscars health before he went to West
Point. The mother maintained his health
was good.
She said Oscar sent a letter home each
week. In the fourth letter Oscar began to
complain of ill-treatment. Mrs Booz said
she sent the letters to her son Horace in
Buffalo, in the hope that he would go to
the Academy and try to get better treat
ment for Oscar. She said that Horace de-
stroyed these letters. After Oscar had writ
| ten home for permission to resign Mr.. and
| Mrs. Boox visited him In an effort to in
| duce him to remain at West Point. He
| resigned. she said. because Of his ill-treat-
| ment. but in his resignation paper he gave
| the weak condition of his eyes as the rea-
| son for his quitting the academy.
ibid Oscar ever describe to you how he
was compelled to take hot sauce?"