New-York tribune., 1901-01-18
BOOZ ON HIS OWN DEATH
SAID 1T WAS DUE TO HAZING, ACCORD
ING TO A BEFUDDLED CADET
WITNESS.

West Point N V Jan 17-When the hazing in
quiry resumed this morning Cadet James
Prentice of New-York. called. Prentice is the
cadet who is responsible for the report that former
Cadet Booz had secreted a novel inside OF open
Bible and reading II while to all appearances
he reading the Bible.
General Dick examined the witness closely with
reference to this assertion The witness said that
the book was a paper covered French novel. but
later the General made him admit that he could
not positively that it He also had to
acknowledge that it might possibly have been
lesson leaf supplement to the Bible.
ITO whom did you tell this?'
Mr.. Burnett
He is the president of the cadet branch OF the
Young Mems Christian Association"
Yes, sir .
when did you tell him?
while the cadet football team In Philadel-
phia the first day of last December
80 you kept this incident to yourself for
two years until you heard that Mr. Booz dead
dyng?"
Yes, sir
What brought up the recollection of the epi-
sode?"
I'VE all reading about Booz's charges in
the Philadelphia newspapers"
What charges?"
He had stated that he was killed by the hazng
he got at this Academy" replied the witness who
evidently did not the 'bull' he had made.
The witness said that he always friendly to
Booz, and did not wish to inture him in any way
got him hopelessly mixed up in describing DIFF
ference between the spoken lie and the acted lie In
reference 10 dead beating TO avoid hazing and
dead beating through alleged devotional reading
Gould Booz read French?"
From inquiries l have made since I think he
could not. should that about 10 per cent of
fourth class men understand French"
The Iowa lawyer then forced the witness to admit
that If Booz could not read French the book he saw
within the Bible might have been a religious pub
Hcation
The witness told of being hazed by Cadet Foy
during his first year at the Academy He was sick
during the day prior to being hazed and after ne
had done twelve eagles he became faint and told
Foy that he had been ILL., Foy let up on him and
scolded him for telling OF his Illness before
This" said Prentice. made me very careful ever
since II hazing n man l never interfered
with a delicate looking cadet. Booz was not a
strong looking man and I always had a friendly
feeling for him. and tried to advise him for the
better"
While making this statement Prentice was visibIy
affected and his voice broke He seemed to be
on the verge OF breaking down when in answer to
General Dick he said:
IF l had known anything about il beforehand
should never have allowed Booz to be called out,
l considered that he was not physically fit take
How did he conduct himself?"
He seemed TO be obstinate. and did not comply
readily when requested to do anything by upper
When the committee reassembled General Dick
dsmissng the witness General Dick said:
Now, turning back to your experience as a
fourth class man, don't you think that kindly
hand and encouraging word from an upper class
man to fourth class would have a more
beneficial effect the plebe than the rude rough
and I cruel ,l hazng h to which he is subjected"
-, Cadet Douglas Macarthur followed Prentice on
the stand. When Macarthur sworn Mr.. briggs
addressed hin and said: Mr. Macarthur, have
had mass of testimony given here regarding the
had Convusions. The committee is desirous of
having you tell in your way the manner in
which you were haZed, the forms of haZng, the
names of the men who hazed you and the conse-
Macarthur then told again the story of his
haZing
to be treated in such a manner" asked Mr.
NO, sir"
Did you consider the treatment you received
ing the definitions Of the word from dictionary.
Yes. sir
Did you ,stin regard it cruel?"
Now tell us the OF the men who were
haZing you?'
Cadets Dockery and Barrv."
Mr.. briggs tried to get Macarthur to admit that
he seriously upset by the violent exercises he
was required to through, but the witness would
not He maintained that he had cramps in his
muscles and had lost control of them.
who gave you the last order that nght?"
II am not sure but think that II was Dockery 4"
In reply to Colonel Clayton Macarthur said the
perfectly absurd.
1T was neither done by myself nor any else"
he said.
Did you moan?"
Yes sir. 1 groaned but I did not cry OUT
Macarthur was positive IN his denials. and the
committeeman seemed 20 be much surprised al
the stand he taking.
At a o'clock the committee adjourned until the
evening.