St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-26
A MARTINET's BLUNDER.
Slave Driver Sheators Will Have
to Answer in Court

HOMESTEAD, July 25.-An indirect
result of the shooting of MIR. Frick gave
Homestead its one exciting topic today.
1t was the case of w. l.. LamS, the
private of compony X. Tenth regiment
who shouted ''Hurrah" 70: the man who
did it," when told of the act of Berg
man. and as punishment was strung up
by hif THUMBS, had one side of his head
and half his muStache shaved and was
drummed out of camp. In addition to
this disgrace, the sentence carries with
dishonorabie discharge from the nation
al guard and denial of the right to en-
list iii the federal army and the rights
of citizenship.
The case threatens to become nation
al. Homestead people talk of nothing
else. Letters and kilograms denouncing
it have been received in Homestead, in
Pittsburg. and by the governor of
Pennsylvania.
Young lams threatens to bring suit
against Col. Streator and Gen. Snowdon,
but this is by ITO means the most serious
aspect OF the case. ii reports are true
1t has caused much feeling in the
national guard. particularly among the
rank and file. and members OF the
Tenth regiment ere authority for the
statement that Co npany K, to which
IamS belonged will have to be dis
banded because its members do not in
tend to re-enlSt after their present
term of enlistment has expired.
Officers of the troops almost generally
approved Col. StreatOr'S action. Col.
Case, of the Fourth regiment, told his
men that if any of them INDUCED in any
jubilation over Berkman's crime he
would treat them the same way; but
ST Col. Case had heard the ex-
pressionS of his soldiers, he wonid
have discovered that they did not share
his opinion in approving the humiliat-
ing punishment accorded Private Iams.
They condemned Iams' remark, but
they they thought his punishment
brutal and outrageous. Officers
of Iams' regiment, the Tenth,
were seemingly a unit in upholding
Col. Streator. They agreed i'm their
condemnation of the disgraced private,
and lauded their commander for his &C
ton. If many of the officers think
Iams was treated harshly they failed to
say SO. A few of them, however. made
comments not f1attering to Col. Streat-
Or's action.
lams, the disgraced man, came to
Homestead today from Pittsburg, where
he spent the night. He was looking for
Col. Streeter. He crossed the river to
wv NeeihP "a tilC lChiil was lOlU
that Col. Streeter had crossed to the
other side. lams came back. but did
not find the colonel. He then went
back to Pittsburg. Before leaving
Homestead he told United Press re-
porter his story. He said he was only
nineteen years old and came from one
of the best families in Pennsylvania.
His home was in Waynesburg. but he
was temporarily residing in Allegheny
and his occupation was that of COM
mercial traveller for a firm in Cincin-
natl.
Il was lying in front of Col. Streator's
tent Saturday afternoon" said Iams,
when the news came that Prick had
been shot. | shouted out 'Hurrah for
the man that shot him. in a thoughtless
manner. Soon after Col. Streator
mustered the regiment and asked
who shouted 'Hurrah for the man that
did it, | stepped forward and
Col. Streator asked me to man re-
traction. He a sked me in such an in
solent way that l refused. Then was
taken to a guard house, where Col.
Streator again asked me to retract. l
again refused, and he ordered me to be
strung up by my thumbs. l was
hanging there twenty-eight min
utes. Every few minutes some other
offlcer would ask me if | had
enough, or if l would apologize. |
refused to apologize. but did not make
any uncomplimentary remarks about
Col. Streator. At the end of twenty
eight minutes l tainted and they took
me down. was left in the guardhouse
all night, and at daybreak barber
shaved off half my head and half
my mustache. Then l was given
an old pair of trousers.
an undershirt, and hat in exchange
for MY uniform and drummed out of
camp" lams said he did not like Friek.
but that he would have retracted what
he said had he been asked to do so in
gentlemanly manner.
Il am an American citizen and [ pro-