Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-10
CAPT. COVERINGS CASE.
A Former OhRcer's Comment on His
Action.

4 Former Officers Comment on His
Action.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
I have read with interest the progress of
the Investigation of the Lowering case.
Corpl. News answer, that he would have
used cart Or litter, and would by no
means have dragged the man in Il time of
peace, shows that he, at least, understood
the proper method of procedure in such
cases. Corpl New is far better qualified,
in that respect, at least, to wear the double
barred insignia Of a captain, than Capt.
Lowering is to wear the double chevron of
a corporal.
Capt. Edward H. Brownies attempt at
justification of the outrage perpetrated by
his superior officer, Capt. Lowering, is sur
prisng to say the least. Both of these Of
ficers were mere boys during the war. They
must not assume that thousands of civil
ians who were battle-scarred war veter-
ans when they were too young to know a
camp kettle from a snare drum, are SO ig-
norant of army methods and army dis
cpline as to fail to understand the Lover
ing case in all its cruel, wicked, unjuStift-
able details.
There may be occasions when an officer
would not only be justified. but 1t would be
his duty to shoot or cut down a subordinate
as in case Of an open mutiny accompan-
led with violence or threats of violence. 1
was very near being forced to such eXtrem-
tiles on the occasion of my first being in
command of company on detached SER
vice; but the prompt. vigorous support rem
dered by my sergeants put an end to the
trouble before 1t had progressed far.
In the Lowering case no such extremity Is
presented. Hammond was a prisoner, in
confinement. He did not offer violence but
merely refused to walk to the place where
the court-martial was to be held. He could
have been carried, and that was the only
proper course to pursue. Had any one
vol dnc ~ NJ oh I
was through our streets. the officers of the
law would soon have given him severe
lesson for cruelty to animals Is a man
less than a dog. that he should be treated
thus? But that is not the worst of it..
What possible excuse can be offered for the
cowardly assault made by Capt Lowering
on man tied and helpless as Hammond
was.
man refusei to walk, but, as l have said
before, he could have been carried, and, If
Captain l.. desired to punish him for "dfso-
bedience of ORDERS" in not walking. and
for '.disrespectEto his superior officer"
based on the same fact, and for Conduct
prejudicial to gcbd order and military dis
ciplne," based On the same fact he could
have done SO byripreferring charges cover
ing said facts, az basis for another trial
There is 7noI military offense without a
legal remedy. fRhe old 99th article of war
was a ver1tabie omnibus that carried
everything smct otherwise provided for
10 Hot hHoN nn, Pieseut NUMBER out Such
an article still exists, so there can be 10
excuse for suchbsummary, disgusting, dis
graceful performance as that unblushingly
acknowledged by Captain Lowering and as
unblushingly igStified by Captain Browne,
his junior. The army is deeply disgraced
by 1t, and s'unfees Captain Lowering and
ali other cowardiy brutes of his class are
given at oR9e ajPrompt and effective yarn-
ing by dismissal from the service of such
an unworthy officer, It will be a national
disgrace that will make self-respecting
officer hesitate to acknowledge In other
countries, as well as at home, that he be.
longs to an army where such q thing II
tolerated. - REGULAR