Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-01-03
A N IN JU S TIC E

brought home, but said nothing about
it. In the class with Mr.. Boyd was
a man who had entered West Point at
the avowed age of twenty-five, though
undoubtedly much older, as his appear
ance indicated. During wartime the
extreme age for admission there, which
before and since was and is limited to
twenty-five years, had been extended
to twenty-five. This was done in order
to permit young men who had achiey
ed distinction in real warfare the OPP
portunity Of acquiring a military edu-
cation. So this man, named Casey, had
entered at the acknowledged age of
twenty-five.
he was absolutely without money
and belonged to an Irish family ia
humble circumstances, and his superior
age and cunning untitled Mr.. Boyd TO
cope with him. Mr. Casey was com
PEELED 20 procure money at all hazards.
Before entering West Point he had
married. That fact, IL known, would
have dismissed him at once from the
academy. ia accordance with the laws
governing that Institution, which per
NIT no cadet to marry In the acade-
my at that time were several cadets,
sons of very wealthy parents, who,
contrary to West Point rules. kept IN
their rooms at barracks large sums of
money. That was Casey's opportunity,
for be lad constant need OF it with
which to silence his wife. who had
threatened his exposure.
So great was the confidence of the
academy classmates in each other that
the money was simply placed in
trunk, to which all the clique had ac-
cess, and used as a general fund. The
government supplies cadets with all
necessary articles. 50 that OILY luxu-
ries need be purchased. Even TO those
generous young men the disappearance
OF money in large sums became paz-
zling and led to Inquiries, which devel-
oped into suspicious, and plan was
formed to mark some of the bills and
thus discover the eyildoer.
Mr.. Boyd, by reason of his unpopu-
larity. was unaware of those move
hAEAkSt anu ttC hda AO4u DO btlE Ol Ills
own losses. The cadets had informed
their immediate commandsnt that mon
ey was constantly being stolen in fhe
corps. Aghast at such a state OF af-
fairs, he had authorized and selected a
committee of eight-two from each
company-to find and punish the thief
In an unguarded moment the com
mandant had said, IF you find the of
fender, you can deal with him as you
deem advisable"
The most prominent member of the
committee was Casey. himself the real
culprit After a perfuuetory search
through quarters occupied by other
cadets they reached Mr.. Boyd's and
found nothing to reward their efforts.
At that juncture Casey glanced up
ward at pile of books lying on some
shelves and said. Let us look at that
large dictionary"
Casey's room was directly opposite
that occupied by Mr.. Boyd, who room
ed alone because OF his unpopularity.
Mr.. BOyd's room was unguarded and
accessible, so no doubt Casey had fire.
quently entered it and taken money
from the man he now publicly accus-
ed The search took place at noon.
when the main body OF the corps were
at dinner On Mr. Boyd's return to
his room be found it filled with ca
diets, who madly accused him OF the
crime. White with horror and shame
unspeakable he answered their charges
in way which would have convinced
any judge of human nature that he
was entirely innocent. Sinking TO his
knees and raising his eyes to heaven,
he cried. by the memory of my dead
mother, swear ! knew nothing what
ever Of this money!
But the supposed cuiprit was in the
hands of philistines. No thought of
mercy impeIled them. / now quote
from a published account by an eye
witness the scene later in the day: 1T
was a cold, blusterless day. Orders
were given to fall into ranks in the
area of the barracks for tdress pa
rade
across the broad porch of the bar
racks and down the steps came four
cadets, bearing between them mans
form They advanced along the bat
tallon's front. As they turned the ad
jutant raised his right hand, and forth
with the drums and fifes beat and
walled out in unmelodious ami unearth-
ly harmony the terrible tune OF the
'Rogues March, On they came, and
now | saw affixed TO that mans breast
a large white placard and on 1t the
words Coward. LIAR Thief" The
face above the words was marble
white, as the face of the dead, but the
Wild, staring. blood red eyes seemed
to waU and shrink in their horrible
misery"
General Cullom WAS then in com
mand at West Point On that particu
lar evening he was returning from the
dock toward which those heartless ca
diets had driven Mr. Boyd when he met
the young man face 10 face.
The generals first and natural
thought was that Mr.. Boyd had dress
ed himself in civilians clothes and
was stealing of the post in search Of
amusement but second glance show
ed him face full OF grief and shame.
He took the young man at once TO his
own quarters, questioned him and
found IA his dfamay that the cadets