New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-27

summary punishment but there certainly was time for
court marta at Homestead. where there was no open
state OF war In action the colonel would no tucided
In shooting man for trying TO create panic bu, in
time OF peace there is occasion for such summary
action There was plenty Of time for trial in ran,,.
case and TO my way OF thinking the shaving Of half
the mans head stripping him OF his uniform DIS
missing him from the service In disgrace and drumming
him out OF camp 10 tho tune Of The Roue's March
made sufficient punishment FOR the offence in these
times of peace 1t Is certainly torture to hang man
up by the thumbs until he Is unconscious and torture
ought not to be permitted
Assistant Postmaster James Gaylcr Is a 7th Reg
ment veteran. a member OF the Old Guard and Of
Lafayette Post, g. A r. To him, the treatment OF
Iams seemed entirely unjust. lie said have nothing
say In defence OF the soldier and In fact In the
abstract think he was served about right still
looking at the thing from a legal and a military
pect. believe that he was unlusty used In the
first place. he ought to have had a courtmartial In
the second place. II he had been found guilty I
doubt whether his punishment should have been
made so severe. The regiment virtually IA the
field and that fact should be considered. STILL the
hanging up by the thumbs and shaving the head
transgresscd the bounds Of rcason.o
United States Marshal John W. Jacobus said
That is the severcst penalty, short OF death for
miltaman that heard Of. and think Colonel
streator oversepped the bounds OF his authority.
At the same time Iams undoubtedly deserved to be
severely dealt with
Captain Hugh Coleman. Of the Goth Regiment,
did not mince words In dcnounclng Colonel Strcaors
action. said he: al think that Colonel Strcator
is worse than Bcrkman; for the officer Is educated
and knows the law, while Berkman Is ignorant
foreigner who could not appreciate Colonel Strcator
could the majesty of the law. I say this realizing
that the Anarchist. Berlman, is one Of the very
worst men. Iams should have had a trial by court
martial. At the worst, his crime was only con
duct TO the prejudice OF good order and military
discipline. lie should have been put under arrest,
charges should have been made against him, court
martial should have been ordered to try him, and be
SHOULD have been punished according TO the statutes.
do not know the law in Pennsylvania but In
this state, culprit milltlaman could be dismissed
from the service, fined or imprisoned, or all three
Not even court could iIhict severe penalty u
hanging q man up by tho thumbs and shaving half
his head. am not taking Iams's part. but look
ing at the affair from the point of Wow of lawyer
and miuuaman. Iams sue Colonel Streatcr and
the surgeons for assault"
"Tqe infection Of such severe punishment on Private
Ians at Homestead an outrage said Colonel
Dudley F. Phelps deputy collector Of customs In charge
Of the Law Division. 1t would never have been
allowed in the Army In war time, except In cases
OF extreme emergency. l cannot see why Colonel
Streator could not at least have caused drum-hcad
cournsWiol TO be called, and thus make the punish
ment Of the offender 20 10 under due process Of law.
think the officer clearly exceeded his authority.
Physical torture has been abolished from army recI-
lati0ns and not General Snowden himself could have
power summarily to dismiss soldier IN disgrace
General A. p Ketchum. who heard Colonel PhelpS's
expression Of opinion indorsed that view OF the case
Sheriff German said The punishment Of lans
cruel and inhuma treatment such as should never
be inflicted upon any person. such methods OF pm
even Of cOnvicts. lams was deserving Of pun
i,hlDent of some kind for his foolish talk might have
resulted In muilny. which officers sTe bound TO take
summary measures 10 TepresS. But II Ola not nave
This effect and there was no occasion for the Oilccr
commanding the regiment at Homestead 10 resort 70
missed ron the service and drtmmed out Of camp,
thoughtlcss offence. There appear. - b" no reason
Why he could MOI have been tried BY court martial
should have the opportunity Of meeting the charge"
against him and OF facing his acenser. Ihere wa
certainty nothing the military situation AT Home
Stead which made either summary or extreme meas
Police Justice Daniel F. Mcmahon said. "Coloncl
>treito"'s action wholly indefensblc 1t is blot
upon American citizenship .,
District sad General Patterson used 10 have men,
head, shaved and drmmed them out Of camp for sheep
of 'f0iaging' when the troops were hungry Iut mat
was in war time and in the presen.e Of the enemy.
occasion at Homestead for the inhuman cruelty which
mcted out 10 lams'
who ordered Private Iams 70 be treated In 80 3ar6aroTN
possible SticatOr has shown himself n disgrace 10
civilization. ";d hi> name should be erased from the
rolls Of the -ylyania militia
Controller N,cr, aid that The treatment Of Private
lais was g.O.~ outrage. revolving to every sense
Of decencv and ngnprlcfv.
Deputy Controller HtOrrs thought that strcatcrs
action was Infamous. He would hive lhns punished
IN some sufficient WAY, but the treatment visited upon
him a relic OF barbaitsnf.
COmnis sOacr Brennan. Of the Street Cleaning De
uar1Inent said Z" NOu cannO, make the words too
,trong 10 express my abhoTence Of the way they
treated Iams."