Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-05
CASE OF CADET BOOB
Physician Says Tabasoo Sauce May
Have Caused His Death.
THROAT WAS GREATLY IRRITATED
Young Man Had an Acute Attack
Of Laryngitis.
OTHER TESTIMONY TODAY

BRISTOL. Pa, January 5-The congress
sional committee investigating the death
of Cadet Booz, which sat until midnight
last night in Philadelphia, was up early to-
day and in Bristol before O'Clock
ready for work. In fact, the committee was
ready to go ahead before the witnesses had
arrived.
DR.. William H. Martin, the Bristol ply
stefan who examined Oscar Booz as to
his physical condition previous to his en-
trance into West Point was the first wit
ness He was mercy asked to identify
the report he made to Representative Wan
ger. who appointed Booz to the Military
Academy. He was followed by DR.. Willis
p. Weaver of Bristol, the Booz family
physician, who did not complete his testi-
mony yesterday.
1t was testified yesterday by DR. Weaver
that Oscar Booz, when he went to west
Point, had just recovered from an attack
of acute aryngtis
Mr.. briggs Of New York asked DR..
Weaver If a person suffering from acute
laryngitis had tabasco sauce administered
to him would 1t leave a vulnerable spot
for tuberculosis germs to take root.
Yes, sir" was the reply. DR.. Weaver
matte conditions prevailing in Bristol and
as to the health of the community.
Gave Young BOOx Good Name.
Regarding Oscar Boozs personality, DR..
Weaver had always found him quiet, re-
firing. unassuming young man. He was
fond of his home and the doctor believed
he to extent susceptible to home
sickness. AS far he knew, Dr. Weaver
said he was truthful, and it never occurred
to him that Oscars physical condition
might be a bar to his admission TO West
Point. His condition the doctor considered
good.
When Oscar returned from the academy,
DR.. Weaver noticed that the young man
seemed run down and advised him to take
tonic. He had received the impression
that Oscar had resigned from West Point
on account of his eyes. DR.. Weaver no.
ticed that the eyes were inf1amed Oscar
never told the witness anything about the
alleged ilI-treatment at West Point and all
that the witness knew of any hazing that
the boy was subjected to was what Oscars
family had told him. He firmly believed
that the cadets vitality was undoubtedly
lowered by the abuse and humiliation he
subjected to at West Point.
DR.. Evan ]. Groom of Bristol another
physician, who attended Oscar, said he
treated him last year for acute tubercular
laryngitis. He could not give him any
lief. so he sent him to a throat specialist
In Philadelphia. The witness thought ia
basco sauce would affect a throat which
had been treated for laryngtis, and did
not believe that 1t made him less able to
resist the lodgment of tuberculosis germs.
Corroborates DIR. Weaver.
DIR. Groom corroborated DR.. Weaver in
every detail to the personal character
istics Of BoOz. He did not think, however,
that the young man was suited for a
soldier. He did not think he could stand the
rigor of such a life.
Louise n. Boggs. superintendent of the
Bristol public schools, Endorsed the test
mony that Oscar Booz was of a gentlemanly
disposition. he was proficient in all of his
studies while at the school here. Miss Boggs
he Sol hpV hIit
''goody-goody'' boy.
William Highland of Bristol said that
when oscar went to West Point he was in
good physical condition. He saw the cadet
upon his return from the academy and he
seemed TO be in failing health.
Elwood Brelsford, Bristol undertaken,
told of the appearance of BooZ's body after
death. He noticed scars the right foot
and large red spot on one of the knees.
He could not tell what caused these marks.
w. L. Kolb, retired clergyman of Bris-
toll. knew oscar very well. Oscar told him
he had been in a fight at the Military
Academy. and also said that some of his
teeth had been loosened in the contest and
that he had received severe blow over the
heart. Oscar related TO him. Mr.. Kolb
said how alarmed he the heart
blow and consulted a surgeon at the acad-
envy. who quoted his fears. The surgeon,
according to Oscar did not ask any ques-
lions to how he had received the heart
blow.
Rev. DIR. Alison Testifes.
Bristol Presbyterian Church, where young
Booz attended, related how a Bible had
been presented to Oscar by the Sunday
school association. Oscar wrote to him
that he reading the Bible every day,
and said among other things:
1T was hard to be Christian at West
Point" The young man, after his resgna
ton. confided to the witness that it was
probably the LORDS work, and that he had
an inclination for a career as a minister
Of the Gospel. Oscars father. the witness
continued. persuaded him to study law.
DIR. Alison submitted a letter he had re-
ceived from President Burnett of the Young
Mems Christian Association Of West Point
Military Academy In this letter Mr.. Bur-
nett had taken DR.. Alison to task for some
charges of brutality he had made in his
funeral sermon over BooZ.
The committee wanted to know upon
what grounds DR.. Alison had based these
charges of brutality at the academy.
The witness said he based them on what
he heard from the family and what he knew
of the young man himself
1t pointed out to the witness that the
members of the Booz family had no positive
evidence of severe hazing other than what
Oscar spoke Of from time to time. To this
DR.. Alison replied that If the family had no
good grounds for their statements then the
grounds for his statements in the sermon
were not solid.
Miss Nellie Booz Recalled.
Miss Nellie Booz, Oscars sister. was re-
called to the stand to tell what she knew of
the Bible incident at the academy She
said Oscar told her that the cadets had told
him to produce the Bible presented to him
at Bristol. and if he did not he would be
SCARED for life.
DR.. Alison again called and was
closely questioned by Mr. briggs OF New
York in regard to his sermon and its con-
tents. all of which brought out nothing
which would throw any light on the sub
ject under inquiry. DR.. Alison did not want
Oscar to become a soldier, he the wit
ness, did not like the business of a soldier
AS for courage, he felt sure that Oscar
would have done the same thing Hobson
u.d at Santiago harbor If given an oppor-
tunity.
At l2:40 o'clock the committee took a
recess until 3 o'clock.
After recess the examination Of DIR. ALI
son was continued. Newspaper abstracts
of the sermon which he delivered were read
to him and he was asked to explain certain
statements therein. In making explana-
ton DR.. Alison took occasion to say that
he believed Oscar BooZ in his gave
earlier as result of his being at West
Point.