Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-11
THE WEST POINT CADETS
FOUGHT WITH BARE FISTS.
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES
INVESTIGATION SHOWS A
BAD STATE OF AFFAIRS.
THE REGULATIONS VIOLATED
AND THE OATH TAKEN BY CADETS
NOT CONSIDERED BINDING
UPON THEM.

WEST POINT, y. Y, January To-
The five members Of the Congression-
al investigating committee held three
sessions to-day at the West Point
I academy in the endeavor 10 learn If
possible the cause Of the deaths of
Cadets Booz and Breth.
Three witnesses were examined. They
were Cadets Bettison, Ennis and kel-
Ter. The first named, who comes from
| Kentucky, was on the stand nearly six
hours, taking up nearly all the time of
the morning and afternoon sessions.
He was examined at great length by
every member of the committee on all
points entailed IN the inquiry and his
evidence was evidently intended by the
committee 10 be used as a basis for
their future plans in conducting the in
yestigation. Everything of any inn
portance touching the Breth. BooZ or
any other cases involved in the in
quiry was taken up and Bettison ans
wered every question without hesita~
ton.
VIM. P. Ennis, cadet at large, who
preceded Bettison as president OF his
He was vigorously examined as to GER
tain threats he made ABOUT reporting
former cadets Huezler and Albert for
every transgTession Of the rules Of the
academy so that they would be dis
charged on account of dement's En-
mis- reiterated time after time that be
felt they were unfit 70 stay at the sca-
deny and acknowledged that he. as
corporal was IN a position 10 report
their shortcomings In every detail and
did SO. He said he did so In every
case but protested that he did not do
them any injustice. Col. Clayton, who
is graduate Of the academy. gave the
young man chance 70 redeem him
self In the eyes Of the committee and
finally said: Il wish TO ask this wit
ness no more questions but I would
advise the young man TO reyise his
ideas If he intends 10 remain in the
army"
Cadet Keller. who fought with Booz
was made to tell the story of the bout
between himself and the Pennsylvan-
ian on August 9Th, 1898.
His story was in every detail SINH
lar to that given by him before the
military court last month. He told OF
his being knocked out afterwards by
Cadet Williams in round and a nall.
The committee adjourned at 10 O'Clock
tonight TO meet tomorrow morning.
Before the committee resumed the
inquiry to-day they visited the camp
grounds and Fort Clinton, whore many
fights between cadets have occurred.
Col. Clayton, who Is a graduate Of the
academy, explained the arrangement
OF the tents in the summer encamp-
ments to his brother committeeman.
and when they visited the rink in the
ar OF the camp the stretching pro
| cess by which several cadets were haz-
ed was discovered.
Cadet Wm. r Bettison. Of Kentucky
was the first witness He testified that
Cadet Breth was his classmate and that
,-adet Booz was a fourth class man
while ne (the witnessJ was a third
class man He never knew Of Breth
beng hazed. Witness said he knew of
FIVE fights between cadets during his
first year and was present at two OF
them.
Witness said there we're nine fights
during the year 1899-lsOJ. and seven
during the present year. BETH
son recalled the names Of the partici-
pants in nearly all these fights. He
said none Of these fights had been in
yestigated by the authorities, and con-
sequently no one punished. He had
never been principal in fight, bat
had offlciated at several and was the
chairman Of the "5crapping Commit
-aa which GarfHa9 vrrar d HUn+ mas IN
be arranged.
Beu-son described the fights ss bare
knuckle contests under Marquis Of
Queensberry rules. except that the rounds
were two minutes each. The principals
stripped ID the waist and fights we're
usually "a a finish
Mr. Dnggs then said
IN your fights here under what may
call West Point rules you force a man
to fght On when groggy. ard its just
bare knckle fight % a hnish2'
Yes; and they are nearly al finish
fights"
Then you here hold fight % brutal
nature which the laws q Il out % the
IS States IN the Union have prohibited
BY lawg
Betuson made 10 reply
Mr. briggs then addressed the witness
or the point that in bang o. assisting
at fights cadet vas violating the oath
administered On his entering the ac4d-
envy. After some evasion the Eitaess
said that the violations Of the academy
regulations were not considered by me
cadets As violations of the articles q
war and Eere not looked upon a. rzIH-
rzrw alaotzEtarce