The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-25
Admissions Of Brutality United
With Standardization.
SWORD PROBING DEFINED
JUST A LITTLE STIRRING UP"
OF 4 PRIVATE.
Colonel FALL Approved the Conduct
of His Subordinate, But Cautioned
Film to Remove the Rope from
Hammond Before His Appearance
in Court.

Chicago, Nov. PA decision in the
ourt-martial OF Captain Leonard A.
Lowering. of the Fourth infantry, will
be reached tomorrw. The court-martial
today closed the hearing of testimony
covering the incidents of private Ham
mond'S involuntary appearance before
the summary court at Fort Sheridan
on Oct 8. There will be a protracted
meeting tomorrow, as all the evidence
taken during the last two days seS-
sions must be read for the second time
to the court in, order TO follow out the
red tape OF the court-martial proceed
ings. The entire morning session will
necessarily be taken up by these last
duties of Judge Advocate Hunter. and
then the y officers OF the court will
settle down to q private discussion of
their opinions of Captain Lowering and
his method of enforcing military disci
pine. The general opinion is that the
verdict, if it is not for acQuittal, will
be for a light penalty.
The chief witness of the day was
Captain Lowering. who admitted that
the stories of previous witnesses were
substantially correct. He claimed, how
! ever, that he did not use excessive
! force with Hammond, "only stirred him
up with my foot and sword" was the
way he put it.
SOlOHGl Hall, VI Inc Il curtin lUldulIy,
| took the stand and declared that he
approved of everything Captain Lover
| ing had done. The arguments for and
against Lowering were very brief, and
at their conclusion court adjourned for
the day.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
Chicago, Nov. 24.-The hearing of the
Lowering court-martial at Fort Sheri-
dan began today with the testimony
OF the last witness for the prosecution,
Post Surgeon Henry Lippencott. The
surgeon said that he had been called
upon professionally to attend Ham
mond.
Il found no bruises to speak Of" he
! said. There was a slight abrasion on
the shoulder and a few scratches on
the thighs, but they were insignificant,
and after sponging them with iodo
form, reported the man as fit for
! light work.
| The surgeon stated that the wounds
appeared to have been made with an
instrument of sharp point and could
have been caused by the use of a
sword.
Judge Advocate Hunter requested
! that the court visit the guard house
/ and go over the route travelled by the
dragged prisoner Hammond to the
summary court after which the prose-
/ cution rested.
Attorney Blair, for Captain Lover
ing, presented four letters from va
riOus officers under whom the defend
ant had served. These letters all re-
| ferred to Lowering as an efficient and
a good soldier. They were placed on
/ file.
DEFENDS LOWERING
Colonel Hall was then called.
What report did Captain Lowering
make to you in regard to this affair?'
asked Attorney Blair Of the command
! ing officer.
/ He told me of Hammon9's refusal
/ to appear before the court in direct
disObedience to M orders, and said
/ that he had him dragged from the
! guard house vita rope
/ What comment did you MAKE"
1 II commended him highly for his ac-
ton, but first cautioned him to remove
| the rope from the prisoners feet be-
! fore he appeared in court"
Has there been any trouble with
prisoners during the year you have
been there?" the attorney asked.
There has been almost constant
( trouble" said Colonel Hall Prison
! ers have refused TO work and there
/ have been almost daily infractions of
the rules. | commended Captain Low
ering's action especially, because was
Informed that the prisoner had defied
! five prison officers i'll succession
| Colonel Hall told the court that
! there Was no conveyance at the fort
/ that could be used to convey prisoners
from the guard house if they refused
to walk. Attorney Blair closed his
/ questioning by asking if a report had
been made TO him that Captain Lover
ms had kicked and stabbed the pris-
oner.
APPROVED STIRRING up
We'll, now that you recall it," said
the witness, Captain Lowering did
tell ne that he had stirred Hammond
up httle, and l also approved that"
Colonel Hunter interposed here with
= question
Colonel Hail. he said, ''if a report
mad been made to you that Hammond
had refused to walk to the summary
court, would you have ordered him
dragged?'
Wei, not specifically" said the Col
onel, but / would have used force"
Colonel Hail was then excused.
Captain John w. Bub, of the Fourth
! regiment. testified TO the good char
acter of the accused officer. Then Ser
geant Woote-, one OF the prison Of
] hcers, gave some new information by
making the statement that before Cap
tain LOFGIiHS OfOefeC hammond
dragged, ne himself had dragged the
prisoner around the guard house by
the heels.
LOWERING NERVOUS.
Then Captain Lowering took the stand
in MS owa behalf He was very ner-
vous and blundered several times
while going through the formaHties
preceding his examination
rs the testimony thus far given be-
fore this court correct?' asked his at
torney.
ut is substantially correct" said
Lowering, only the amount of force l
used has been exaggerated. [ stirred
Hammond with my sword and foot, but
l put only small fraction OF strength
| into it. 1t did not hurt him. kicked
him to make him open his eyes,
Then the details of the entire affair
were repeated to the evident aversion
! of the members of the court. who
! plainly showed that they were tired Of
| the story. Colonel Hunter asked Cap
tain Lowering why he had not reported
to his commanding officer the prisoners
refusal to go to the court, postponing
action until he received orders from
! Colonel Hall.
II should have been ashamed" said
| Captain Lowering, ito have reported to
any person that I allowed a prisoner to
get the better of me-
Gould YOU not have secured q
wagon?" continued the judge advocate.
II would not have done so under any
/ circumstances, answered Captain Low
i