New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-04
APOLOGY OR ARREST Il.
itFI
FOR WARL|KE CADET
LittIejohn Must Make Amends
for Challenging DR.. Thomas
McMinamin.
CONFINED TO POST GROUNDS
Would.Be Duellist May Be Prose.
cuted for Riding Horse Upon
Toe of Highland Falls
Physician.
tey Telegraph to The rribun..

BY Telegraph 70 The Triount.1
Newburg, y. Y. May Cadet Robert
Littlejohn, the prospective general from
North Carolina. who Is now getting his
preliminary military training at the
United states Academy in West Point
will have TO do without his pleasant
little rides to Highland Falls afternoons,
at least for the time being. To make
matters more uncomfortable for him, h.
IL not even permitted to go outside the
limits Of the post. Also, he Will prob
ably be obliged to make personal
apology to DR.. Thomas McMinamin. OF
Highland Falls, and IL he falls to do this
he may have the unpleasant experience
of being placed under arrest
All these and perhaps still more mis-
fortunes have befalIen the embryo gen.
eral because his horse stepped on Dr.
Frank McMinamin's toe while Cadet Lit
tlejohn was riding the animal through
Highland Falls. The incident, however,
would not have assumed such serious
proportions OF Cadet Littlejohn had not
sent TO DIR. Thomas McNIinamin,
brother Of Or. Frank McMinamin, let
ter containing the following:
Permit me TO say that ! regret ex-
tremely that the rules Of the United
States Military Academy do not permit
me TO 5ismount in the streets OF High
land Falls II they did. allow me to as
sure you there would be no necessity to
address you now. However there are
! other opportunities, and 1t will give me
great pleasure to meet YOU on Wednes-
dav or Saturday afternoon at West
Point"
The so-called challenge was addressed
to DR.. Thomas McMinamin, because he
, was present when the cadets horse
stepped on his brother. Dr. Frank Nc
Mjnamin. and he took the future army
commander 10 task for not controlling
his horse properly.
Or. McMinamin did not reply to Cade,
Littlejohn, neither did he meet him per
sonally at West Point on Wednesday.
and 1t Is uncertain II he will tomorrow.
But he did turn the cadets letter over
TO Major General Thomas Barry, com
mandant of the United States Military
Academy at West Point. This provoked
an Investigation. Cadets Burne and
whittikcr, who were with Littlejohn
when the e iode occurred in Highland
Falls. were questioned. They were ex-
cused when they said that they had not
overheard the words that passed between
LIttlejohn and the physician.
Llttlejohn was also placed ION the car
pet" and was unable satisfactorily 10 eS.
plain why he challenged the doctor.
Hence he was ordered TO keep within the
| limits Of the post and TO dispense with
his rides TO Highland Falls pending I'll"
investigation.
That General Barry intends to probe
the incident 10 the bottom was indicated
when Lieutenant Glade visited DR.. Nc
Minamin and asked for his side OF the
controversy, also what punishment he
| would like 10 have meted out to Cadet
| Littlejohn. DR.. McMinamin replied that
he wanted an apology from the cadet.
either public or private. and II he did
not receive it within a reasonable length
/ Of time he would carry the matter 10 the
Secretary CT War at Washington. Also.
! IL necessary, he would prosecute Cadet
| Lttletohn for reckless riding, which -
/ a violation OF the village ordinance.
Asked II he wished all tho West Point
| cadets to be kept off the main streets OF
Highland Falls when they took their
afternoon rides, DR.. McMinamin said he
did not wish to impose any hardships OF
the other cadets because Of Littlejchn'
| misdoiNgs.
The good effect OF tho incident was
! noticeable the next day. however, when
! the cadets rode their mounts thu Rough the
streets in a single file and slowly, In
stead OF galloping through four and six
abreast. as has been the custom in the
past Cadet Littlejohn did not accom-
paDy the members OF his class. $50
Superintendent Barry has not yet de-
cded Cadet Littlejohn's fate, but Lieu
tenant Glade promised Dr. McMinamin
that the case would be settled entirely
! 10 his satisfaction.