The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-23

Chicago. Nov. 22.-Captain Leonard
A. Lowering of the Fourth infantry,
stationed at Fort Sheridan. appeared
! before a court-martial at the post to-
day to stand trial on the charge of
! conduct prejudicial to good order and
military discipline The specific
charge is causing Private Hammond
to be dragged over the ground by the
heels from the guard house to the Of
| flee of the regimental adjutant after
Hammond had refused to walk.
The court was an hour late in con-
vening because of delay in the arrival
of Brtgadier General Wade, the pre-
siding officer. a cold wind from the
northwest blew across the parade
grounds, and Private Hammond, who
stood, without an OVercoat, on the
porch of the officers club. where the
court was held. under guard of three
soldiers wrapped in heavy army
listers, shiVered, while his teeth chat
tered and his face turned blue from
the cold. The four men stood in the
falling snow for almost an hour, the
guard with their bayonets leveled
toward the prisoner, until Lieutenant
Williams, who had been notified of the
delay, took pity on Hammond and or
dered him back to the guard house.
Hammond was thin and pale, and his
appearance indicated that his imprison-
44lCllI HciQ tOiOl OIL HIS IGdllu. Ills army
oVercoat was at PlattsbUrg, N. Y.
where he left it when he absented
himself without leave, and there was
none for him at Fort Sheridan.
The first witness was Lieutenant
john ]. Bernard, the officer of the
guard on the day Hammond was
dragged. He testified that ne ordered
Hammond to appear before the sum-
mary court. and that the latter refused
to go. He exhausted all means to get
the private TIC go before the court, and,
these being unavailfng, he referred the
matter to Captain Lowering, who was
officer Of the day.
Did you hear Captain Lowering use
Oaths in his language to the DrisOner?''
Judge Advocate Hunter asked, in cues
tioning Lieutenant Bernard.
I heard him say Damn you, come
out, " was the answer.
The lieutenant was unable to state
positively to the court whether Lover
ing. kicked or stabbed the prisoner.
Corporal New, who was corporal of
the day on Oct. 49, but who has since
been reduced to the rank of a private.
was the next witness called. and stat
ed that Lowering, as officer of the day,
sent three men to Hammond'S cell with
orders to prod him with the bayonets
| if he did not walk. He said he would
die if he did walk" said New. and 1
saw Captain Lowering kick him twice
and prod him with his sword
How much force did the officer use?''
| asked the judge advocate
He kicked him pretty hard. so hard,
at least. that Hammond fell in and
rubbed his side" was the answer.
How hard did Lowering prod the
prisoner with his sword?' was the next
question.
1.-THE sword must have passed
/ fhF0ITOh EIqD1rnOrd'c IO+ col
/ Private New. for he cried don't do
| that When the prisoner had been
! dragged down the guard house steps, [
! saw Lowering prod him again. That
! time it was in the hand, and 1 saw the
I blood tricEle from the wound"
/ Sergeant Brainard was called and
! gave a minute description of how Ham
mond was dragged feet first over the
! sill of his cell, then down the guard
! house stone steps. a hundred yards
| along the walk, down over the curb, up
again to the walk, down again and
/ across the road, over the opposite curb,
! up the steps to d cOmpany's quarters,
then down over the curbs, and finally
/ up the steps to the adjutant's office.
'How did Hammond look when he
arrived at the court?" asked Colonel
| Hunter.
He was crying when the rope was
taken from his feet answered the cor
poral. His pants were worn through
to the skin, and when 1 returned with
him to the guard house ne showed me
the cuts made by Captain Coverings
sword. They were all bleeding, and
were deep"
| Corporal Ward was the last witness,
and his evidence cOrrObOrated that of
Corporal New. An adjournment was
| then taken until 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning.