Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-16
1T IS BRUTAL COWARDICE
briggs Of Brooklyn 30 Designate, West
Point Fighting Code.
CADET BARNES HAS TRYING TIME
Congressman Forces Admissions from
Him and Then Addresses Him Per-
sonsIIy While UttcrinR scath-
Ing Rebuke of All Hs.ers.

WEST POINT. N. Y, Jan. 15.-Cadet
Joseph Barnes OF the District of Columbia,
who was one OF Cadet Keller's seconds and
who seems TO have more knowledge OF the
code Of the corps in regard to fstc argu-
ments than any other cadet at the West
Point academy, continued his testimony be-
fore the congressional investigating com
mitteo when the hearing was resumed to-
day.
Last night Barnes was sworn and exam
ined by Judge smith the congressman from
Council Bluffs, la, and the young man had
quite trying time.
Mr. Smith did not mincc his words when
he endeavored to show the witness who Is
practically on the eve OF graduation, that
the hrst-class men were arrogant, ignorant
and conceited in addition, when they as
class commended the West Point system OF
fighting against the better Judgment Of the
military officers OF the academy and in vio-
lation OF the rules and regulations govern
ing the institution.
Mr.. briggs OF Brooklyn took the witness
in hand today and asked him minutely about
the Keller Booz fight. While listening to
Barnes description Of the affair, the
Brooklyn congressman interrupted the wit
ness and asked him: Under Your infa-
nous and unmanly code of hghting, Is 1t not
understood that an upper-class man is Sc
lected especially for the purpose OF admin
isterinR sound drubbng to the fourth
class man who Is called out?"
"Yes. sir; 1t Ia understood when a fourth
class man Is called out he is to be whip
ped"
"Oh. so that's the CODE said Mr. briggs
as he shook his finger at the witness. while
he arose from his seat beside the chairman,
then. leaning toward the witness, he
tad
practice you have described would not be
tolerated in any athletic club IN the world.
The upper-class man who is a party to the
calling out OF fourth class man for the
purpose OF having him thrashed Is a cow
ard. and the fourth class man who is beaten
is nothing else but a hero This morning
received four letters from Kansas, Mas
sachusetts. New York and Brooklyn, in all
of which the mode OF fighting and hazing
here is called brutal bullyism. That is too
mild a description. | call 1t brutal coward
ice" as he took his seat
Bsrnes wouid Duel.
BY Mr.. Wagner:
Suppose that an oath were administered
TO cadet when he received his appoint
ment as cadet to this academy, the
provisions OF which prohibited fghting, do
you think It would stop the practice?"
U
believe any man would break his oath. But,
as for myself, | will say that IL | had to
30 back to the time OF my appointment and
an oath was being about TO be administered
to me which would prohibit me from resent
ing an insult. | would unhesitatingly refuse
TO take II and content myself in some civil
occupation." replied the witness.
"You expect TO become an officer very
soon, do you not?" inquired Colonel Clay
..yss @s,nr "snss paHs.T0l '','.".-
"Then after you have become an officer.
would you, in violation OF your oath, ac-
cept or send n challenge to a duel, hstic
or otherwise?"
"If the provocaton occurred in we'll
defined lines, I would not violate my oath.
but would resign and send or accept a
challenge In the event that | could not
meet and shoot my man on sight"
Speaking OF hazing Mr.. Wagner, address
ing the witness. said:
"Do you know that one, william Nc
Kiney, now president OF the United States
when n member of congress, said that he
would favor the abolition OF the West Point
Military academy in case hazing could not
be stopped there7"
''Yes sir"
And the late James C. Blaine had the
same idea" said Mr.. briggs.
And so also did Zachary Taylor" added
Judge Smith,
The witness. at the request OF Judge
Smith. stood up.
women's Tongues Are sibiInnt.
When Congressman briggs asked Cadet
Deem II II was through having "conven
lent memory" that he could only remember
Cadet Sherdan's name out OF all the men
he had exercised, there was a storm OF
Kisses which ran around the room. ThS
women ms well the men took part in II
and 1t was evidently that they considered
the question as one impugning the credi-
bility of the witness. The code of honor
according to the testimony adduced durina
this investigation, as well as the military
inquiry. does not admit OF untruthfulness
and the people living at the post resent
anything suggestive OF a doubt on this
point
Several officers did not try to concea
their displeasure at the question put by
the Brooklyn congressman.
They also said that Judge Smith, another
member OF the committee, had no right Il
say in his examination of Deem that ''th,
death OF Booz was laid at Deems door"
The news of the kissing spread quickl,
all over the post with the result that tn,
attendance at the night session was un
usually large MIR briggs resumed his cx