The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-31
THE IAMS INCIDENT.
The Details of the Occurreuse-A Letter
From snowdeB.

The Details Of the Occurreuse-A Letter
From SnowdeB.
The correspondent of the New York Sun
telegraphs to that paper from Washington.
Penn. the following account OF the lams
case as given by an eyewitness of the oc-
cuTrence:
"Adjutant Sheldon b. Hayes, of the Tenth
regiment. who was present at the punish
ment OF Private w. l.. 1ams Tor calling On
the soldiers of the regimeHt 10 cheer tor the
man who shot Chairman Il. c. Frlok, OF the
Carnegie Company, has returned 10 his
home in this place. He gives the following
details OF the occurrence, from when II
will be seen the punishment OF lams has
been grossly exaggerated:
"Adiutant Hayes began by quoting the
soldiers oath 10 defend the Constitution Of
the United States and the state or Pennsyl-
yania. and that he would not give aid or
comfort TO the enemies Of either. The
strikers at Homestead. he oontended. had
assumed the powers Of government, and any
utterances OF sympathy for them bY the
guard was treason and perjury. lams' self
confessed act he said stamped him as a
traitor and q perurer. Iams was ordered 70
be tied up by the thumbs under the dlrec-
ton of Major-Surgeon Neff and Drs. Ullom
and Grim. The order from Colonel StreatOr
MAS that he be made % suffer, but that no
physical injury be done him. Adj
iutant Hayes. who stood by all the time.
SAYS that Jams was tied up. but was not
lifted from the ground. lie was able at any
time so loosely was be suspended, 10 have
borne his full weight upon the ground. He.
however. shifted his weight from one foot
70 the other. aud the punishment simply
consisted of the culpri's having 70 keep his
arms suspended. After being strung up he
asked one of the surgeons for chew OF to-
bacco, which request was granted, and at
the end OF nineteen minutes, when released.
Iems said:
II wish had not swallowed that tobacco
Juice: II has made me sick"
Adjutant Hayes says that at no time was
Iams unconscious On Sunday morning
Adjutant Hayes read all the communications
in regard 30 the matter 10 the brigade on
dress parade. Colonel Hawkins general
orders defining the acts of perjury and trea-
sou and the penalty therefor were also read.
He GAYS no trial was necessary. because
Iams had confessed. Had ne denied the
charge he would have been court-martialed.
General Snowden has written 70 the New
York Herald. under date OF July 9th; In
view OF your leader OF the 2jth instant [
write 10 say that Private lama was sus-
pended by the thumbs without my know
ledge or concurrence. | have had no occa-
sion officially u express approval or dlsap-
prevail of II. and j have not done SO.
"A report of the circumstances after they
occurred was made 10 me aud / was asked
what disposition should be made of the
man. when | ordered. Discharge him from
the service in disgrace; drum him out Of
camp and send him home
You will observe that the manner of
sending him of. outside of drumming him
out. is not prescribed. | have authority
summary TO discharge enlisted men, but
no disqualification follows.
Sober minded people will remember that
the punishment inflicted was in the face of
revolution, treason and anarchy.
Very respectfully.
"GxoRaE K. SowDEN."
"HOmestedd Pa, July 81. 1892"
A telegram 10 the Herald from Pittsburg.
July 18th throws the following light on the
legal aspects of the case:
The attorney for William L. IAms. in his
action against Colonel. Streator. struck a
snag to-day in section of the statutes OF
Pennsylvania relating 10 the National
Guard. The section reads.
NO civil process shall issue or be en-
forced against any person mustered into
the service OF this State or OF the United
States during the term for which be shall
be engaged in such service. nor until thirty
days after he shall have been discharged
therefrOm."
The attorneys in the Iams case say they
will at all events wait until thirty DAYS
after Lieutenant Colonel Strsator takes OH
his uniform, although they say the effect OF
that section OF the act on its face naturally
protects him during his entire time OK ser
yice-hve years. The attorneys say tue ac'
is unconstitutional as well as infamous.