The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-23
CRUELTY TO A PRIVATE
cur AND KICKED AND CURSED
HAMMOND WHILE BOUND.
The EVIDENCE ALL AGAINST HIM
The oor Devil Hammond Brutay Kept SILVER
ifg and Suffering Yesterday For an Hour
in the Cold, While His Guards
Were Warmly Clad.

Chicago, ILL.,, Nov. 22-Capt Leonard
A. Lowering, of the 4th Infantry, sta
toned at Fort Sheridan, appeared be
fore a court martial ut that post to-day
TO stand trial on the charge of 'c0n
duet prejudical to good order and mill
tary discipline" The specific charge
is causing private Hammond to be
dragged over the ground by the heels
fr0nt~ the guard house to the office OF
the regimental adjutant, after Ham
mouG had refused to walk. The court
was an hour late in conyening because
of q delay in the arrivalof BrigadieI
General Wade, the presiding officer. y
cold wind from The northwest blew across
the parade grounds and private Ham
mond, who stood without overcoat, on
the porch Of the officers club, where
the court was held, under guard O1
three soldiers wrapped in heavy army
ulsters, shiyered 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 guard
with their bayonets leveled toward the
prisoner, until Lieutenant Williams
who had been notified of the delay, took
pity ON Hammond and ordered him
back to the guard house. Hammond's
army oyercoat was at Plattsburg. n. Y.
where he left it when he absented him.
self without leave, and there was none
for him at Fort Sheridan.
The first witness was Lieutenant Jno.
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
90 before the court and then reported
the natter to Capt. Lowering, who was
offieerscf the day
Did you hear Capt Lowering use
oatihs in his language to the prisoner?"
Judge Advocate Hunter asked.
Il heard him say d you, come out"
was the answer.
The lieutenant was unable to state
positively whether Lowering kicked or
stabbed the prisoner.
Corporal New, who was corporal of
the day on October 9th, but who has
since been reduced to rank Of private
stated that Lowering, as officer of the
day sent three men to Hammond's cell
with orders to prod him with the bayo-
nets if he would not walk.
HE said he would die before he
would walk" said New, "and then
saw Lowering kick him twice and prod
him with his sword"
How hard did Lowering prod the
prisoner with his swordY'
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 l saw Lowering pound
him again. That time it was in the
hand and / saw the blood trickle from
the wound"
Sergeant Bernard was called and gave
minute description of how Hammond
was dragged feet first over the sill of his
cell and then down the guard house
stone steps, hunderd 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 Company's quarters, then down
over the curb and finally up the steps to
the Adjutants office.
"How did Hammond look when he ar
rived at the courtT asked Colonel Hun
ter.
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 he showed me
the cuts made by Captain Coverings
sword. They were all deep and bleed
ing"
Corporal Ward was the last witness
and his evidence corroborated that of
Corporal New. An adjournment was
then taken to ten Tomorrow morning