The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23
DRAGGED ABOUT FORT
SHERIDAN.
JABBED WITH HIS SWORD,
BUT BELIEVED HIS ACTION WAS
FOR THE GOOD OF THE
SERVICE.
COURT OF INQUIRY IN SESSION.
Private Soldier Tells His Story of
Brutality on the Part of His
Superior.

CHICAGO, Oct. 22.-Private Charles
Hammond, L. S. A, gaunt and thin and
showing plainly the effects Of his four
teen 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 DISC
bedience of the orders of Capt. Lover
ing and of the subsequent and drastic
measures taken by that officer to en-
force his commands. But few specta-
tors were present to witness the open
ing of the court of inquiry's proceed
ings, as the officers at the time of con-
vening were engaged in the regular
drill on the parade ground. Reporters
chiefly constituted the audience when
the court opened.
When Private Hammond was usher
ed into the presence of the court two
small holes in the back of his Jacket
were visible reminders of the alleged
dragging on the morning Of Oct. 8.
Under oath he testified as follows:
"On Friday 1 refused to go to work
and was ordered from the guard room
into cell. Saturday at $50 l was told
that I would have to appear before a
summary court. 1 told the officer of the
guard that if he wanted me he must
carry me there. Capt. Lowering came
there with two members of the guard,
the order was given to the sentries to
drag me out so that by back would
strike on the door sill. The sentries
took hold of me and threw me to the
floor, and as 1 was dragged out Ser
9a9 Mt Rarnar5 tried n hold down
onto the sill so that my back would be
scraped. I was dragged to the guard
room outside, and as I went through
the door Capt. Lowering put his heel
over my head and threatened to stamp
me in the face. Then I was allowed
to walk back to my cell. Later Capt.
Lowering returned to my cell with four
sentries and gave the order: Go in and
jerk that man out The door was un-
locked and two sentries stepped in and
threw me. Capt. Lowering kicked me
in the side while I was down four times
with his foot, and as 1 went over the
sill again he gave me a violent 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
shoulders.
During this scene he cursed me con-
stantly using the vilest kind of oaths
as 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. I placed my
hands behind my head, then Lowering
and the sentries began to drag me He
pl odded me in the right hand with his
sword and then in the shoulder. fwas
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 across the road. The
sentrieS 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 finally up into
the adjutant's Office. Lieut. Col Balm
bridge ordered the rope united just as
[ was called before the court. At 2
o'clock L asked to be taken to the
hospital, where the doctor sponged the
blood from the sword stabs On Mon
day was called before Capt. Richards
and have since been in solitary con-
firement on bread and water"
Col. Snyder asked Hammond why he
left his barracks at Plattsburg, n. Y.
The witness replied: Il had some pri-
vate business in Chicago, and as the
inspector general was at the barracks
L knew the request for release would
be refused. 1 had no intention of de-
serting, and reported at Fort Sheridan
so as not to be so ranked. 1 expected
to be confined, but thought 1 would be
returned to my post and, after SEN
tence, restored to duty
Can't. Lowering was then pa1Iad He
made no attempt to deny any of the
accusing witnesses statements He ad-
nitted 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 treat
ment, Capt. Lowering said, had injured
Hammond in the least, as was proved
by the surgeons report, and the meth
ods used were, in his opinion. neces-
sary for the discipline of the army.
Lieut.. Bernanrd, in charge of the
guard at the time of the affair was
then called, but mis- testimony intro
duced no new feature. The court then
adjourned until tomorrow.