Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-10-22
WAS TERRIBLY BRUTAL
COMMANDER ADMITS ORDERING II DONE.
And as an American oniccr Justincs 1t All
How Private Hammond Was
Treated.

Chicago. oct. 22.-Private Charles
Hammond, U. S. a, Eaunt and thin
and showing plainly the effects Of his
fourteen days confinement on a bread
and water diet in the guard house at
Fort Sheridan, appeared before court
Of his superior officers today and told
them of the circumstances of his dis
obedience of the orders Of Captain
Lowering and OF the subsequent dras-
tic measures taken by that official to
enforce his commands. But few spec
tators were present to witness the
opening of the court, as the officers
were engaged in the regular drill ON
the parade ground.
Two small holes in the back OF Ham
monds Jacket We're visible reminders
of the alleged dragging on the morn
ing of October Q. Under oath he testi-
fed as follows:
ION Friday / refused to go to work
and was ordered from the guard room
to my cell At $3.50 l was told that !
would have to appear before sum
mary court. l told the officer of the
guard that If he wanted me he must
carry me there. Captain Lowering
came there with two members of the
guard. The order was given TO the
sentries to step in and drag me out
so that my back would strike on the
door -sill. The scntries took hold Of me
and threw me to the floor, and as l
was dragged out Sergeant barnard
tried to hold me down on to the sill
SO that my back would be scraped
/ was dragged to the guard room out
side and as 1 went through the door
Captain Lowering put his heel over my
head and threatened to stab me In the
face. Then 1 was allowed to walk buck
to my cell.
Later, Captain Lowering returned
to my cell with four sentries and gave
the order go in and jerk that man out
The door was unlocked and two sem
tries stepped in and threw me. Cap
tain Lowering kicked me In the side
while l was down, four times with his
foot, AID as ] went over the sill again
he gave me u violent kick In the Shout
der. He slapped me over the right
side to the left and prodded me twice
more with his foot and gave me three
more violent kicks about the shoulders.
During this scene he cursed me con-
stantly, using the vllest kind of
oaths as he sneered, Now will you
get up?' VIII you walk now
Lowering then ordered a rope and
gave orders to have my feet crossed
and tied at the ankles. ! placed my
hands behind my head. Then Lover
ing and the sentries began to drag
me He prodded me in the right hand
with his sword and then in the shout
der. ] was dragged to the guard room
and out to the porch where with one
hard jerk they started me down the
stone steps. on my back and across the
rond The sentres were reinforced by
two others. | was then dragged over
pavements and roads to d company's
steps, up the steps, then down again
across the pavement and under the
tower to a Company's steps, and fin
ally into the adjutnnts office.
Lieutenant Colonel BuinbrldEe or
dered the rope united just as ] was
called before the court. At o'clock l
asked to be taken to the hospital,
where the doctor sponged the blood
from the sword stabs on Monday /
was called before Captain Richards
and have since been in solitary con-
fnement on bread and water"
Colonel Snyder asked Hammond why
he left his barracks at PlattshurF.N. Y.
The witness replied: 81 had some pri-
Vate business I'm Chicago, and as the in
spector general was at the barracks l
knew the request FOR release would be
refused. ] had no intention of de-
sorting and reported at Fort Sheridan
so as not to be so ranked. ! expected
to be confined, but thought would be
returned to my post and after sentence
restored to duty"
Captain Lowering was then called He
made no attempt to deny any of the
accusing witness statements, He ad-
mitted that by his orders Hammond
had been dragged from the guard house
| and he also admitted that he had
struck the soldier and pricked him with
his sword. None of this treatment
Captain Lowering said. had injured
| Hammond In the least, rs was proved
by the surgeons report, and the meth
DDS used were in his opinion necessary
for the discipline of tho army. Lieuten-
ant Bernard, In charge Of the guard
house at the time. was called. His
testimony introduced no new feature.
The court then adjourned until to-
morrow.