The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-10-23
BdFHIfYN7fEaRnY
Private Hammond fsls His Story
to Bis Superior officers.
CAPTAIN LOWERING ADMITS IT.

Declares That the Methods Used Were
In His Opinion Necessary For the
Discipline Or the Army-Insists Ham,
mond Was Not Seriously Injured.
Chicago. Oct. 2s.-Private Charles
Hammond. U. 9. A., gaunt and thin.
and showing plainly the effects Of his
IA days confinement on bread and
water diet In the guard house at Fort
Sheridan. appeared before a court Of
his superior officers yesterday and told
them of the circumstances Of his dis
obedience Of the orders of Captain Low
ering and of the subsequent drastic
measures taken by that official TO en-
force his commands Under oath he
testified as follows:
''On Friday I refused to 60 to work,
and WIS ordered from the guard room
into cell. Saturday at $3.50 l was told
that l would have to appear before
summary court. / told the officer of
the guard that II he wanted me he
must carry me there.
Captain lowering came there with
two members of the guard, and the
order was given to the sentries to step
In and drag me out, SO that my bach
would strike on the doorsill. The SEN
tries took hold Of me and threw me 10
the floor, and was dragged out. Ser
geant Barnard tried to hold me down
onto the SILL so that my back WOW be
scraped. ! was dragged to the SN,rd
room outside. and as went thro h
the door Captain Lowering put his MI
over my head and threatened to stab
me in the face. Then was allowed to
walk back 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
sentries stepped in and threw me-
Captain Lowering kicked me in the
side while was down four times with
his foot, and as went over the sill
again he gave me violent kick in the
shoulder. He slapped me over the right
side to the left and prodded me twice
with his foot and gave me three more
violent Kicks about the shoulders. Dur
ing this scene he cursed me constantly,
using the vilest kind of oaths as he
sneered Now will you get upT VIII
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 Lover
ing and the sentries began to drag me.
He prodded me in the right hand with
his sword and then In the shoulder.
l 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 company's steps. up the
steps, then down again across the
pavement and under the tower to
cornpany's steps and finally up into
the adjutant's office. Lieutenant Col
onel cambridge ordered the rope united
just as I was called before the court.
At 2 o'clock asked to be taken to the
hospital. where the doctor sponged the
blood from the sword stabs. On Mon
day I was called before Captain Rich
ards, and have since been In solitary
confinement on bread and water"
Colonel Snyder asked Hammond why
he left his barracks at Plattsburg, N.
Y. The witness replied: IT had some
private business In Chicago, and as the
inspector general was at the barracks |
knew that the request for release
would be refused. had no intention
of deserving, and reported at Fort Sher-
idan so as not to be so ranked I ex-
pected to be confined, but thought I |
would be returned to my post, and
after sentence restored to duty"
Captain Lowering made no attempt |
to deny any of the accusing witness
He admitted that by his or
ders Hammond had been dragged from
the guardhouse by his heels, and he also
admitted that he had struck the SOL
der and pricked him with his sword. |
None Of this treatment, Captain Lover
ing said, had injured Hammond in the
least, as was proven by the surgeons
report, and the methods used were in |
his opinion necessary for the discipline
of the army. The court then adjourn
ed until today.