The times., 1901-04-02
DEATH NOT DUE TO HAZING
Secretary Root on the Findings OF
the Bo0z Enquiry Board.
The c>-Cadct Declared TO Have Re
cctvrd no Permanent Personal In
iurt-r-Thc Practice Condemned
I,,p Report of the Military Court.

ccty-d no Permanent Personal In
furi~.-Thc Practice Condemned
r.ae Report of the Military Court.
Tho Secretary of War yesterday made
public the report of the court OF enquiry
convened for the investigation of the
treatment of ex-Cadet Oscar l.. Booz. at
the Military Academy at West Point.
Secretary Root in disposiug of the case
says.
The findings of this court OF enquiry.
which are sustained 10y the evidence. show
that the statements which led to the
converting or the court to the effect that
former Cadet oscar l.. Booz came to his
death by reason of injuries received by
hazing at the Academy were not true.
They show that at the time Cadet Booz
was u member OF the Academy haZing
WAS prevalent there to deplorable eX-
tent: that the present officers of the Acad-
emy have shown comme1dable energy,
zeal, and efficiency In detecting and pun
ishing offences Of this character and that
they greatly decreased the practice and
improved the public sentiment among the
cadets upon this subject.
The testimony and findings OF the
court were placed in the hands
of the committee of Congress charged
ut about the same time with the
investigation of the subject, and the
very efficient and beneficial action OF that
committee, followed by the legislation
uron this subject. contained In the act
of March 2, 1901. renders further action
by the department unnecessary,
The report which is signed by Gen.
John r. Brooke. President of the court
OF enquiry, after detailing the charges
made by the cadets family. says:
The examination resulted in the deYel-
oument of the fact that the members OF
the class to which the late Cadet Booz
belonged while fourth class men, were
subjected to severe hazing. having been
required to perform sO-called exercise
to the limit OF their utmost endurance,
these so-cailed exercises taking an ex-
aggerated form of the exercises laid down
in drill regulations in the School of the
Soldier and were known as 'eaging,
'wooden-willying etc. Ia addition there
to fourth class men were required to take
sweat baths So called ridiculous and
nonsensicaI performances were also re-
quired from fourth class men.
while there is no doubt that Cadet
Rooz was forced into a fstic encounter,
was severely hazed, was required TO take
small doses of tropical pepper sauce, and
of grease from a lighted candle dropped
on his bare feet, a careful examination of
the testimony elected does not disclose
anv proof that he. while at the Military
Academy, received any permanent per-
sonal injury. or that his treatment at that
place had any causitiye relation TO the
disease tuberculosis. from which he died
more than two years afterward.
AN examination Of number of cadets
entering the Military Academy in June,
1883 showed that haZing in the eharac-
ter of physical persecution In its worst
phases reached it, highest point during
the encampment OF 1899, some Of the ncw
cadets having neen brutally exercised IN
Ill completely exhausted physically, caus-
ing commissions or involuntary twitching
of the muscles of the body subjected to
excessive strain. In the preceding year,
fourth class men were also subjected to
performing all sorts of ridiculous acts,
but at no time wero violent hands laid
upon them by the upper class men during
any form of hazing.
Personal services of new cadets were
required TO the same extent as in the
previous year In both years the authori-
ties labored assiduously to combat the
cruel evil Of hazing and rigidly sought to
ish such conduct, and lists Of severe pun
ishments inflicted upon upper class men
were submitted by the commandant of
cadets and Superintendent OF the Mill
tary Academy. covering all classes or
hazine detected by the authorities.
"An of this shows the earnestness of
their endeavors to suppress the vicious
practice But the lower class men sub
jected 10 hazing always defeated justice
by conceaIing the names of their peTse-
cutors and the latter shielded themselves
by a regulation then in existence which
permitted them to remain silent when en-
quiTy was made, whenever they believed
the answers sought would incriminate
them. Finally, however. through the eff
forts or Colonel Mills. the Superintendent
of the Military Academy. the cadets in
the upper classes realized that certain
forms Of hazing were highly injurious to
the good reputation Of the academy and
they concluded to take class action, the
members Of each Of the upper classes
pledged themselves TO abstain from all
hazng IN the form of physical exer-
Cises -
Referring To measures which had been
taken to suppress hazing at the Military
Academy the board mentions:
"Exacting continual vigilance on the
part of officers on duty III the department
OF tactics, under whose immediate super
vision cadets live, 10 detect and report
violations OF the regulations covering
hazing.
Strong and persistent personal efforts
TO create a moral sentiment among cadets
against the practice.
Severe summary punishment awarded
In every case established and in any hav-
ing u bearing on hazing, including sum
mary dismissal"
The report says: Football especially ex-
cites the interest of cadets and all four
classes participate in il. The sentiment
would be strong against subiecting ii new
cadet, a likely player. TO any hazng that
might physically harm him. The game
also brings cadets in contact with college
men and enlarges their horizon"
in regard to the system of arranging a
fight between cadets. the board remarks
In conclusion:
While the character OF the encounters
IS an offence under the general articles of
the academic regulations for the punish
ment Of conduct prejudiCial 20 good order
and military discipline. it Is nowhere spe-
ciiicaly denounced as an offence or a
specific punishment attached to it,
The board made no recommendations
TWENTY STTTCuES TN JunTTNn