Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-11-02
STREATOR ON The STAND
The Coloneps Version of the
Furnishing of Iams.
FIRST CONSULTED WITH HAWKINS

| The Doctors We're Ordered TO See That No
Physical Injury Was InflIcted-COl.
| Hawkins and Gen. Wiley Also Give
Their Evidence.
PITTsBuRG Nov. 2-In the Iams case
| Col. Streator was sworn and gave details
of the movements of his regiment until
it encamped. An aide de camp informed
him that Prick had been shot and was
dead. Coz. Streator went into his tent
to dress, and then he heard: ''Three
| cheers for the man that killed Frick."
He went out and asked who had made
| the remark, but no one answered. He
ordered the men to their quarters.
Soldiers told him that the remark was
made by ''the man who had carried the
log yesterday"
He then directed the men to form up.
He said to each company that he did not
think the man knew what his words ex-
| pressed. He would rather have the man
acknowledge that he did it, even though
he knew him.
At Company K Iams said: Colonel,
did it,"
The Colonel then said: Young man,
can't believe that you want to voice the
| deed of an assassin"
Asked why he did it, Iams said it was
because he did not like Frick. He was
arrested and sent to the guard house.
Col. Streator then testified to Iams'
| previous misconduct. He told how Iams
| had deserted his post when doing guard
| duty; how he had slept on his post and
when accused had made false statements
and had been punished by carrying
| heavy log.
After Iams admitted making the re-
mark which led to his punishment" said
Col. Streator, II went to Col Hawkins.
| We then decided on the form of punish
| meHt l did not want to do anything
| until the Captain of Company K could be
seen. Col. Hawkins said: you know
your duty as a soldier l then directed
that lams be hung up by the thumbs
| told the surgeons to see to it that
no physical injury be inflicted.
| lone of the doctors came to me and
asked me how long Iams should be kept
| hanging. l replied, Doctor, that rests
| with you The doctor then said that
Iams had taken a chew of tobacco and it
had made him very sick. l told him then
| to use his own Judgment. The doctor
left me and went directly to the guard
| tent and lams was cut down."
Col. Streator next read the official re-
port which he had made at the time to
Col Hawkins. The report was returned
| with the necessary official endorsement
and an order from Major-Gen. Snowden
that Iams be discharged in disgrace, that
| his head be shaved and that he be drummed
| out of camp. This order came from Col.
| Hawkins and was obeyed.
| Col. Streator concluded his testimony
| by saying that on the day of the hanging
of Private Iams by the thumbs it was re-
| ported to him that two other soldiers had
also made mutnous remarks. One said,
| referring to Tricks supposed death, lit
| won't make much difference" and an
| other, There won't be many tears shed. "
He talked to them privately, and they eX
pressed sorrow and retracted.
Col. A. L. Hawkins gave testimony in
his own behalf and related stories of sim
liar and even more severe punishment in
tlicted for INSTRUMENTATION during the
Civil War. lams, Hawkins said was
not hung up in the usual way, because he
could rest his feet on the ground, where
as the usual manner Is to have the feet
barely touching the ground. These pun
ishments, he said were not brutal, but
necessary for good discipline.
These punishments are still in vogue in
the regular army when it is in active
| service.
Attorney Frank P. Iams wanted to
know where Hawkins got the information
that Prick was n law abiding citizen, as
was stated in his order regarding Pri-
waite lams' punishment and discharge.
tion on the subject, but he thought so.
Attorney lams also wanted to know why
regular discharge papers had not been
given to Private Iams.
| Col. Hawkins replied that it wasn't
! necessary in this case. The attorneys as
sumed the position that positive malice
was thus shown, the law specifically
provided that regular discharge papers
should be given to all soldiers removed
from the ranks.
Col. Hawkins then told of the orders
he had received in reference to the tour
of duty at Homestead. On the day Pri-
waite lams was punished p message was
4 flashed from division headquarters at
Homestead to Col. Hawkins headquar-
ters saying:
Prick shot by striker. Great excite
= ment at Homestead and Pittsburg. Be
on the alert" Col. Hawkins ordered the
guard doubled and gave orders to keep
all the men in camp. A second message,
also sent, said: "Frick is dead Great
excitement in Homestead. Large bodies
OF men surging through the streets of
Pittsburg. Be very vigilant"
Col. Hawkins ordered increased vigil
, | ance. While camp was in this state Iams
, proposed three cheers for the man who
shot Frick. Lieut.. Col. Streator reported
to him that an attempt had been made
in the Tenth Regiment to incite mutiny
and that he was investigating the matter.
He reported the arrest of Iams and
in talk about proper punishment
Il Col. Hawkins said to him: Colonel, you
l. know your duty a soldier" He did
+ not tell him what to do with Iams, but
F. approved what he did afterward.
The situation was critical and prompt
measures needed.
= Gen. John A. Wiley gave evidence or
the rendezvous and orders issued to hii
brigade.
% Perns of the Gloucester Fisheries.
G1nI-CESrER MISS Nov 2-Tha an.