The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-11-16
End of Iams' Thumbs.

PrrrsBuRsH. Pa, Nov. 5-Allegheny
County Court refused 10 furnish any balm
for ex- Private Iams' bruised thumbs, and
the jury to-day returned verdict Of not
guilty. Colonies Hawkins and Srestor
were vindioated, and the punishment they
inflicted upon the obstreperous Iams has
been sanctioned by the Commonwealth.
The Jury remained out ali night and q. 10
O'Clock filed into court and informed Judge
Porter that there was knot to be united.
The jurors had agreed that the Colonies
were innocent Of the charges Of assault and
battery, but wanted to know whether they
could put the costs upon the defendants any
how. The Judge toldihe jury that the ques
ton Of costs had nothing to do with the
question Of assault and battery.
TIE JUDGES SHARP REBUKE.
Judge Porter then delivered the following
sharp rebnke to the doubling jurors
The subject of your inquiry is wholly
immaterial on the question. 1t cannot en-
ter into the case. Any other action between
these parties cannot enter into this case. As
to the instructions given you in the assault
and battery to find the defendants not guilty
Ipropose you should obey the Court. You,
of course, may ignore the instructions. You
are Judges Of the fact and the law not the
law as you think it should be, but what il
is. We have told you what the Supreme
Court Of the United States says the Jaw is
and that is the Law you want to know. Il
any man in the jury thinks be knows more
than the Supreme Court ofthe United States,
Of course, he will stick 10 bis opinion. Il is
a shame, however, that a man with such
profound knowledge should waste his time
in the jury box
The jury retired and soon returned with a
verdict Of aoquiitAl, but placed half the cost,
upon Colonies Hawkins and Streator Their
attorney at once asked the Judge to set aside
that part OF the verdict and he will probably
do so.
WHAT THE VERDICT NEASs
The verdict of the Court has far-reach-
ing effect 1t settles the question that ofi-
GERS of the militia may severely punish the
Guards, when on duty, for diso5edience. Al
though they are Citizen soldiers they in
cur penalties similar TO the men in the regu-
lar army.
when Alexander Bergman shot Chairman
II. c. Frick, the news soon reached Home
stead. Private Isms, Of the Tenth Regi-
ment, proposed "three cheers for the man
that shot Frick"
Colonel Streator heard the remark, called
out the regiment and asked the man who
made it TO step forward. Isms confessed,
but relas1d to eat his words. Colonel Strea-
tor then took Iams to tent in the presence
Of other officers and several surgeons, order
ed Iams TO be strung up by the thumbs.
Ropes were tied around each thumb and the
fellow was tied up. He suffered a good deal
He asked for tobacco and when it was given
to him he swallowed it. In few minutes
be grew sick, his pulse beat very slow and
the doctors ordered him cut down. Iams'
thumbs were pretty badly bruised by the
ropes, but otherwise he was not much hurt
Then his head was shaved clean on eneside
and be was crummed out OF camp.
GREAT INTEREST IN rHE CASE.
The episode created an immense interest
in all parts Of the United States, and even
in England the papers discussed it, aud pub |
lie meetings either condemned or applaud
ed. 1t was claimed by many that the pun
ishment was brutal and uncalled for. while
military men generally agreed that the
punishment fit the crime" Iams brought
suit on a charge of assault and battery
against the officers. Had he won it he
would have brought civil suit for damages.
He has said be would bring civil suit an y
how