The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-12-03

Officers Must Not Treat rrisatc- as Serfs
The Reputation of the Army at s'a@s'
CHICAGO. Nov %. In the Lowering
rourt-martial case at Fort Sherldan
Lieut.-Col. J. A. Hunter, of Fort
Smelling. department OF Dakota, act
ing as judge-advocate. severely ar
ra gned Capt. Lowering for his treat
ment OF Private Charles Hammond.
When the testimony was all IN ana
Attorney Blair had addressed the court
in defense OF Capt Lowering. Judge
Advocate Hunter arose.
After speaking oi the Importance OF
the case. he took up the specification of
the charges, saying that Lowering was
first accused Of failure 10 use legiti-
mate means to get garrison prisoner
before II summary court, and second,
that he cruelty abused and lll-treated
the prisoner lie reviewed the general
evidence against Lowering, saying that
the testimony showed beyond douO t
that Lowering, as officer OF the day,
kicked Hammond, prodded him with
his sword and cursed him.
'GENrLEMEN: | submit that in our military
community anything IN the nature OF pun sh-
"and that a general use OF arbitrary power or
punishment without legal trial is calculated 10
hasten our disbandment a. an organization not
restrained by law and in opposition 10 the spirit
Of our free Institutions
Between the Officers who exercise power
In the manner the accused did and the en-
listed men who are liable to become their
victims. there can be no other relation ex-
cept that OF master OF slave The general
exercise in the service OF power and means
such as the evidence shows the accused to have
employed would necessarily result in our on
GERS owning the enlisted men, There would
then bc little necessity for military tribunals
and Judge-advocates for either system OF disci-
| piine would be a revival OF one in vogue before
the civil war on the plantations OF the south.
where the right OF the master b. the obedience
and submission Of his slave IN all lawful IN lng>
was perfect and the power belonged to tne
master TO infict any punishment on his slave
not affecting life or limb which mi ht DC con-
sidercd ne essary for the purpose OF enforcing
obedience"
Col. Hunter here noted from several
casas. showing that the power OF The
officer aboard ships was limited u
such reasonable force rs was necessary
to carry out the commands, aud con
tinuing said:
For II sou establish the fact that an ofiicer
may with npunity order any punishment be
pleases 10 be inflicted on "a sold er. you reduce
enlistment To a condition OF segvitude. That d
what is meant by the false doctrine Of beiD.
masterful. But it is law that should be GU
master There are rules published for tn
guidance Of those who may command as well a.
those VINO may serve. These rules are wei
considered appropriate 10 the cond ton OF on
service. and strict observance OF their prluci-
pies would 90 far TO prevent catastrophes lik
the one we have investigated.
THAT Hammond should have been produces
in court do not deny. but that his obedicnc
and stubbOrnes> justified his beiug ropct an
dragged there in Il helpless condition, kicke
and prodded with the sword. do III o~t emphat
icaly deny. The position in which the accused
was placed by the disobediencc OF lammon
does not appear TO have been apeTilousy tryin
one for he had about him IN the guard sol
diers who were able to lift Hammond an
carry him 10 court. The conjecture does nc
appear to have been so extraordinary a. I
Justify military oficer either making
mistake OF Judgment or losing his temper. IN
law military makes no allowance for the il
hrmities Of human temper. 1t perceiyes Ia.
loss by soldiers OF seize ,ntrol is loss Of pow'
to command respect No circumstances OF irr
tation will justify a soldier In breaking from u
, established rules of discipline.
In concluding Col. Hunter said:
!, I'm this trial | think there is somethir
more than n serious accusation involved.
think the reputation OF the army officers 4
good Judgment. for command OF self for hi
manity and Just consideration is also on tri
here This Is time OF peril TO your order an
TO your tribunals / think the things which th
accused has done tyranncally ought - appea
TO you who have heard them just "A, bitter an
scandalous as they dill to him that felt then
The finding rendered By this court will 1--we Ion
3 after taps have been sounded over the grave
Z Il Tho mon who cnmnls.l the court. Y