Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-11-23
PRIVATE HAMMOND.
His Case Looks as Though Il
Would Vet Give Capt. Lover.
ing Much Tribulation.
THE PRIVATE WHO WAS DRAGGED
By the Heels Several Hundred Feet af Fort
Sheridan Because He Would Not Walk
to His Trial = Testimony Asainae the
Captain Is Pretty strong, So Far, In ne
Observation-Disclosures Swear to Kicks
and Sword Cuts.

Captain Is Pretty strong, So Far, In she
Court-Martial-witnes Swear to Kicks
and Sword
Chicago. Nov. 23-Captain Leonard A.
Lowering. Fourth infantry, stationed at
Fort Sheridan, appeared before a court
martial at that post yesterday to stand
trial on the charge of conduct pre-
judicial to good order and military dis
cipline." The specific charge is causing
Private Hammond 10 be dragged over
the ground by the heels from the guard
house to the office of the regimental
ad1utant after Hammond had refused to
walk. Court was an hour late in con-
vening because Of the delay in arrival
OF Brigadier General Wade. the presd-
ing officer. a cold wind from north
west blew across the parade grounds
ana Private Hammond was nearly
frozen before an officer noticed his con-
dition and ordered him to the guard
house.
Testimony of Lieut.. Bernard.
Hammond was thin and pale, and his
appearance Indicated that his imprison-
ment had told on his health. His army
oyercoat was at Plattsburg, n. Y,
where he Left 1t when he absented HIM
self without leave. and there was none
Tor him at Fort Sheridan. When Gen.
erai Wade arrived the prisoner was
| brought from the guard house, and tes-
timony begun at once. The first wit
ness was Lieutenant John J. Bernard.
officer OF the guard on the day Ham,
mond was dragged. He testified that he
ordered Hammond to appear before the
summary court and that the latter re-
fused 10 go. He exhausted all means to
/ get the private to go before the court.
and these being unavai.'ng he reported
the matter to Captain Lowering, who
was officer of the day.
Did you hear Captain Lowering use
oaths In his language to the prisoner p"
Judge Advocate Hunter asked in oues-
tisning Bernard.
Il heard him say 'd-n you, come
OUT" was the answer.
Ex-Corporal Tells What He Saw.
The lieutenant was unable to state
positively to the court whether Lover
ing kicked or stabbed the prisoner. Ex.
Corporal New. who was corporal Of the
day on Oct. 3. but who has since been
reduced to the rank Of private, was next
witness called and stated that Lover
Ing. as officer Of the Gay. sent three
men TO Hammond's cell with orders TO
| prod him with bayonets II he would
rot walk. He said he would die before
he would walk" said New. "and then
I saw Lovert,g kick him twice, and
prod him with his sword"
How much force did the office use?"
asked the Judge advocate.
He kicked him pretty hard: 50 hard.
at least, that Hammond felt 1t and
rubbed his side" was the answer.
How hard did Lowering prod the
prisoner with his sword?" was the next
question.
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 / saw the blood trickles from
the wound"
| Sergeant Brainard was called and
gave a minute description OF how Ham
mond was dragged feet first to the build
Ing where the court was sitting, sew
eral hundred feet.
| How did Hammond look when he ar
rived at the court?" asked Colonel
Hunter.
| He was crying when the rope was
taken from his feet" answered the cor
poraL His pantswere worn through to the
skin. and when I returned with him to
the guard house he showed me the cuts
made by Captain Loverings sword. They
were all bleeding and were deep"
Corporal Ward was the last witness,
and his evidence corroborated that Of
Private New. Adjournment was taken
to today.