The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-23
Corporal Who Has Been Re
duced to the Ranks
Since TeStifying Regarding
Captain LOvering's Cruelty.
REPEATS THE STORY
All the Horror of the Dragging
Stabbing and Kicking
Of Private Hammond Gone Over
Before the Court Martial.

Chicago, Nov. 23.-Capt. Leonard A.
Lowering of the Fourth infantry, sta
toned at FIT. Sheridan, appeared be
fore a court martial at that post yes
terday to stand trial on the charge of
conduct prejudiciaI to good order and
military discipline"
The specific charge is, causing Pri-
vate Hammond to be dragged over the
ground by the heels from the guard
house to the office of the regimental
adjutant after Hammond had refused
to walk.
The court was an hour late in con-
vening, because of a delay in the ar
rival of Brigadier General Wade, the
presiding 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 ul-
sters, shivered while his teeth chatter
ed and his face turned blue from the
cold. The four men stood in the falling
snow for almost an hour, the guards
with their bayonets leveled toward the
prisoner, until Lieut.. Williams, who
had been notified of the delay, took
pity on Hammond and ordered him
back to the guard house. Hammond
was thin and pale and his appearance
indicated that his Imprisonment had
told on his health. His army Overcoat
was at Plattsburg, N. Y, where he left
it when he absented himself without
leave and there was none for him at
Ft. Sheridan.
The first witness was Lieut. John J.
Bernard, the officer of the guard on
the day Hammond was dragged. He
testified that he ordered Hammond to
appear before the summary court and
that the latter refused to go. He ex-
hausted all means to get the private to
go before the court, and these being
Ha fod TT70Y tor. 70
Capt. Lowering, who was officer of the
day.
Did you hear Capt. Lowering use
oaths in his language to the prisoner"
Judge Advocate Hunter asked in QueS-
tioning Lieut.. Bernard.
Il heard him say: 'D-n 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 October 9, but who has
since been reduced to the rank of
private, was the next witness called,
and stated that Lowering, as officer of
the day, sent three men to Hammond's
bayOnets if he would not walk
''FIe said he would die before he
would walk said New, "and I then
saw 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 felt it
and rubbed his side" was the answer.
How hard did Lowering prod the
prisoner with his swOrd?'' was the next
The sword must have passed
through Hammond's clothing" said
Private New, for he cried: Don't do
that When the prisoner had been
dragged down the guard house steps,
I saw Lowering prod him again. That
time it was in the hand. and l saw
the blood tricl1le from the wound"
Sergeant Brainard was called and
gave a minute description of how
Hammond 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 to opposite curb,
UP the steps to D company's quarters
then down over the curbS and finally
up the steps to the adjutants office
How did Hammond look when he
arrived at the court?" asked Col. Hun
ter.
He was crying when the rope was
taken from his feet, answered the cor
poral His trousers were torn
through to the skin, and when I re-
turned with him to the guard house,
he showed me the cuts made by Capt
Coverings sword They were all
bleeding and We're Deep
Corporal Ward was the last witness,
Corporal New. An adjournment was
then taken.
The tbree-year- old boy of J. A John