The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-23
TORTURE OF A SOLDIER
PRIVATE HAMNOND's STORY OF THE
FORT SHERIDAN OUTRAGE.
Says He Was Dragged About by the
Heels and Kicked and PrOdded
by Captain lowering.

CHICAGO, Oct. 22.-Private Charles Ham
mond, United States army, gaunt and thin
and showing plainly the effects of his four
teen days confinement on bread and water
in the guardhouse at TT Sheridan. appeared
before the court of his superior officers to-
day and told them of the circumstances of
his disobedience of the orders of Captain
Lowering and of the drastic measures taken
by that officer to enforce his demands. But
few spectators were present to witness the
opening of the court of inquiry proceed
ings, as the officers at the time of conven-
ing were engaged in the regular drill on
the parade ground. Reporters chiefly con-
stituted the audience when the court was
opened.
When Private Hammond was ushered
into the presence of the court two small
holes in the back of his jacket were ex-
hibited as reminders of the alleged dragging
on the morning of Oct 9. Under oath he
testified as follows: Friday 1 refused to
go to work, and was ordered from the
guardroom into a CELL Saturday at $50
l was told that 1 would have to appear
before a summary court. / told the officer
of the guard that if he wanted me he
might 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 sentries took
hold of me and threw me to the floor, and
l was dragged out Sergeant Barnard
tried to hold me down on the stills so my
back would be scratched. | was dragged
to the guardhouse outside, and as l went
through the door Captain Lowering put
his heel over my. head and threatened to
stamp me In the face. Then l was allowed
to walk back to my cell.
Later Captain Lowering returned to my
cell with four sentries, and gave the or
der. Go in and jerk that man out. The
door was unlocked, and two sentries
stepped in and threw me out. Captain
Lowering kicked me in the side, while l was
down, four times with his foot and as l
went over the sill again he gave me Vo-
lent kick in the shoulder. 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 Shout
ders. During the scene he cursed me con-
stantly, using the Vilest kind of oaths,
he sneered, Now, will you get up?' Will
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 Lowering and the sentries be-
gan to drag me- He prOdded me in the
right hand with his sword, and then in the
shoulder. / was dragged to the guardroom
and out to the porch, where, with one hard
jerk they started me down the stone steps
on my back across the road. The sentries
were reinforced by two others. / was then
dragged over paVements and roads to Com
pany DIS steps, up the steps. then down
again across the pavement and under the
tower to Company AS steps and finally up
cambridge ordered the rope united just as
| was called before the court At o'clock
/ asked to be taken TO the hospital, where
the doctors sponged the blood from the
sword stabs. Monday l was called before
Captain Richards. and have since been in
solitary confinement on bread and water"
Captain Lowering was then called He
made no attempt to deny any of the az
cusing witnesses statements. He admitted
that by his orders Hammond had BEEN
dragged from the guardhouse, and he also
admitted that he had struck the soldier and
pricked him with his sword None of this
treatment Captain Lowering said had in.
iured Hammond in the least as was proven.
by the surgeons report, and the methods
used were, in his opinion necessary for the
morrow.