Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-22
HAz|NG NOT CAUSE
OF CADETS DEATH
No Evidence to Show That Sweet
Was Roughly Treated
at v. M. /.
DECISION IS UNANIMOUS
Board Completes Investigation,
and It's Report Exoner-
ateS Institute.
Especial to The Times Disoatch.] ]

Especial to The Times Disnatch.l
LEXINGTON, VA. December 2l.-The
death OF f1Thurber Sweet. cadet at Vir-
sinia Military Institute, and son of n
Chicago millionaire was not due to
hazing, the institutes board of direc-
tors voted to-day. Nothing to Justify
the belief that Sweet was hazed was
heard at the boards investigation. it
II was said. and several physicians
testified that death was due to
myelitis, an affection of the spine.
which is not caused by rough treat
ment.
-Four Washington and Lee Univer-
sity students told the board that Sweet
showed them wounds the day he left
the institute which he claimed were
caused by blows from broomsticks and
bayonets welded by upper classmen.
The vote of the board was unani-
nous.
The last witness examined was DR.
". II. Scott, who saw Sweet the day
after he left school. Or. Scott said the
scars on Sweets back were slight. and
might have been caused by n fall down
stairs. He was positive that the in
juries had no connection with the dis
case that caused death. DR. Scott
Morris House and said that he had
been severely beaten By upper class
men n, the Virginia Military Institute
and desired treatment. Dr. Scott
treated his hand. and Sweet wanted to
show his back. ijr. Scott examined
the boys back ....,. SAW that Il was
somewhat nfamed from some cause.
He told Sweet that such Il condition
might have been caused by severe rub
hins with n Turkish towel
FINDINGS OF BOARD
EXoNEHATE INSTITUTE
Following are the findings in full OF
the board Of visitors:
BE it resolved. That the following be
entered on the minutes of the board
OF visitors with reference TO the charges
made in the newspapers that Cadet
Thurher Swce, died as a rcsul; OF being
hazcd while ut th.- institute:
The board met at the institute on
thc morning OF December 90. 1915. with
the following members present, namely,
Hon r. 4. James, president: General
Charles j. Anderson, Colonel Joseph
Button. Hon. Walter Taylor. r. c.
Stearnes Superintendent of Public In
s,ruct!on; Captain r. L. Tate. Captain
VI. T. Corsc for the purpose of making
complete investigation of the charges
in question.
As soon as the meeting was called
TO order II was determined that the
Investigation should be held in public.
and there were present throughout ;hc
taking of the evidence Hugh y White.
attorney az law, Representing. tho cadet
corps; II. r. Ruff. Common at
t"rncy-e!ect for Rockhrdce County:
newspaper Representatives,. and Il com
mttee of the corps Of cadets
All witnesses who could be reached
We're examined orally under oath. and
the written statements OF those who
present Were fled.
DEATH IN NO WAY INDUCED
HT INJURY At INSTITUTE
After a most careful and pains king
investigation, covering all points in the
case, and including the statements OF
every person who was known or sup
posed 10 have any knowledge bearing
on the matter. the board of managers
unanimously reached The following con
clusions:
Thurber Sweet from myclitis was in
no way induced by any hazing or in
jury of any kind received by him while
at the institute. or from any cadet or
person connected herewith.
In connection with this conclusion
tho board calls attention 10 the evidence
of all the physicians who attended
Cadet Sweet.
Cat.t Sweet was attended while
suffering from myeltis by the follow
ing physicians: DIR. Hunter McClung,
surgeon at the institute: DR.. G.. H.
Davidson. physician practicing in Lex
ington: DR.. Reid White. physician
Dracticing in Lexington; DIR. Robert
Glasgow. physician practicing in Lex
ington. and DR. John Staigc Davis. Of
the University of Virginia Hospital
All OF these physicians agree that
Cadet Sweet died of myeltis. which was
of an infectious or toxic origin. and
that there was nothing whatever to in
dicatc that this disease was caused or
exaggerated by a physical injury of
any kind.
The board further calls attention in
connection with the conclusion reached
by II 10 the statement of G. y. Sweet,
father of Cadet Sweet, who came to
Lexington twice during his sons stay
at the institute. and who was thor
oughly familiar with all the facts in
vovcd.
Mr.. C. y. Sweet wrote on December
II the following letter to the super
intendent inclosing his newspaper in
terview hereinafter set forth. declar-
ing his sons death was not the result
of hazing. Letter of C. \. Sweet to
superintendent
wv. Scott Thurber art galleries. in
terror decorating. 40S South Michigan
Boulevard, Chicago. December IA. 1915.
General T.. w Nichols superinten-
dent Virginia Military Institute, Lex
ington, Va.
MY Dear Generals:
"My vocabulary seems so very lin
tied and my heart so full OF what
want to say that do not know how