The record-union., 1897-11-25
Colonel Hall Approves Of the Treatment Of
Private Hammond.
The Taking Of Evidence Conclud-
ei-The Court Expected to
Reach a Decision To-day-Gen-
era1 Opinion That the Verdict,
if Not for Acquittal, Will be for
Light Penalty.


reached tomorrow. The court-martial
to-day closed the hearing of testimony
covering the incidents of Private Ham
monds involuntary appearance before
the summary court at Fort Sheridan on
October 9th.
There will be a protracted meeting to-
morrow, as all the evidence taken dur
ing the last two days sessions must be
read for the second time to the court In
order to follow out the red tape of court
martial proceedings. The entire morn
ing session will necessarily be taken up
by these last duties of Judge Advocate
Hunter, and then the twelve officers and
the court will settle down to private
discussion of their opinions OF Captain
Lowering and his method of enforcing
military discipline. The general opin-
ion is that the verdict, if ii is not for
acquittal, will be for light penalty.
The chief witness of the day was Cap
tain Lowering, who admitted that the
stories of previous witnesses were sub
stantially correct He claimed, how
ever that he did not use excessive force
with Hammond. II only stirred him up
with my foot and sword" was the way
he put it.
Colonel Hall of the Fourth Infantry
took the stand and declared that he ap-
proved of everything Captain Lowering
had done.
The arguments for and against Lover
ing were very brief, and at their conclu-
sion court adjourned for the day.
The hearing began to-day with the
testimony of the last witness for the
prosecution, Post Surgeon Henry Lip
pincott. The surgeon said that he had
been called upon professionally to at
tend Hammond.
L found no bruises to speak off, said
he There was a slight abrasion on
the shoulder, and a few scratches on
the thighs, but they were insignificant,
and after sponging them with iodoform
/ reported the man as fit for light
work.
The surgeon stated that the wounds
appeared to have been made with an
instrument of a sharp point, and could
have been caused by the use of a
sword.
Judge Advocate Hunter requested
that the court visit the guard-house
and go over the route travelled by the
members of the guard, when they drag
ged Prisoner Hammond to the sum-
mary court, after which the prosecution
rested.
Attorney Blair, for Captain Lowering,
presented four letters from various Off
GERS under whom the defendant had
served. These letters referred to Low
ering as an efficient officer and a good
soldier. They were placed on file.
Colonel Hall was then called.
no ny@t a in T,0U
make to you in regard to this affair.""
asked Attorney Blair of the command
ing officer.
He told me of Hammond's refusal
TO appear before the court in direct dis
he had dragged him from the guard
house with rope"
What comment did you make?''
II commended him highly for his ac-
lion, but first cautioned him to remove
the rope from the prisoners feet be-
fore he appeared in court"
Had there been any trouble with
prisoners during the year you have
been there?" the attorney asked.
There has been almost constant
trouble" said Colonel Hall. Prisoners
have refused to work, and there have
rules. I commended Captain Lover
ing's action especially because l was
Informed that the prisoner had defied
five prison officers in succession"
Colonel Hall told the court that there
was no CONVEYANCE at the fort that
could be used to convey prisoners from
the guard house, if they refused TO
walk.
Attorney Blair closed his questions by
asking if a report had been made that
Captain Lowering had kicked and
stabbed the prisoner.
"Wen. now. that you recall 1t, said
the witness, Captain Lowering did tell
me that he had stirred Hammond up
"a little. and also approved that.
Colonel Hunter interposed here with
D question.
Colonel Hail." he said, 'if a report
had been made to you that Hammond
had refused to walk to the summary
court, would you have ordered him
dragged?"
.'wen. not specifically" said the Col
onel. but I would have used force
Colonel Hall was then excused.
Captain John w Bubb Of the Fourth
Regiment testified to the good charac-
ter of the accused officer Then Ser
geant Wooten. one of the prison officers,
gave some new information by max
ing the statement that before Captain
Lowering ordered Hammond dragged
he himself had dragged the prisoner
around the guard house by the heels.
Then Captain Lowering took the
stand in his own behalf. He was very
nervous and blundered several times
while going through the formaiities
preceding his examination.
rs the testimony thus far given be-
fore this court correct?" asked his at
forney.
TT is substantially correct said
Lowering. only the amount of force
,sed has been exaggerated. l stirred
Hammond with my sword and foot, but
7 nut only a small fraction of strength
snto ii. 1t did not hurt him. I kicked
rim TO make him open his eyes"
Then the details of the entire affair
.vere repeated, to the evident aversion
nf the members of the court, who plain