The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-22
HEELS DRAGGING.
Court of Inquiry Assemblies at
Ft. Sheridan
To Hear the Case Against Cap
tain Lowering.
HAMMOND is CALLED
HAMMOND is CALLED
And Relates Under Oath the
Circumstances
Of His DisObedience and Inhu-
man Punishment.

Chicago, Oct 22.-Private Charles
Hammond. U. S. A, gaunt, pale and
showing plainly the effects of his con-
finement on a bread and water diet in
the guard house at Fort Sheridan ap-
peared before a court of his superior
officers today and told them of the cir
cumstances of his disobedience of Cap
tain Lowering and of the subsequent
and drastic measures taken by that Of
fetal to enforce his commands.
When Private Hammond was usher
ed into the presence of the court two
holes in the back of his jacket were re-
minders of the alleged dragging on the
morning of October 9 Under oath he
testified as follows: "On Friday l re-
fused to go to work and was ordered
from the guard room into a cell. Sat
urday at $50 was told that 1 would
have to appear before a summary
court I told the officer of the guard
that if he wanted me he must carry
me there. Captain Lowering came there
with two members of the guard, the or
der was given to the sentries to step in
and drag me out so that my back would
strike on the door sill The SentrieS
took hold of me and threw me to the
floor and as I was dragged out Sar-
gent Barnard tried to hold me down
onto the sills so that my back would
be Scraped. 1 was dragged to- the
guard room outside and as I went
through the door Captain Lowering put
his heel over my head and threatened
to stab me in the face. Then I was al
lowed to walk back to my cell.
Later Captain Lowering returned to
my cell with four sentries and gave the
order Go in and jerk that man out
THE door was unlocked and two SEN
tries stepped in and threw me. Captain
Lowering kicked me in the side While 1
was down, four times with his foot and
as I went over the sill again he gave
me a violent kick in the shoulder. He
slapped me over the right side to the
Ia NJ will
his foot and gave me three more violent
kicks about the shoulders. During this
scene he cursed me constantly using
the VIleSt kind of OathS as he Sneered
now will you get up. viii you walk
now? Lowering then ordered a rope
and gave orders to have my feet
crossed and tied at the ankles. I
placed my hands behind my head, then
then Lowering and the sentries began
to drag me He prOdded me in the
right hand with his sword and then in
the shoulder. 1 was dragged to the
guard room and then out to the porch
where with one hard jerk they started
me down the stone steps, on my back
and across the road. The Sentries
were reinforced by two others. 1 was
then dragged over pavements and
roads to D cOmpanys steps, up the
steps then down again across the pave
ment and under the lower AZ COM
pany's step and finally up into the ad-
jutant'S office. Then Lieut.. Col. Balm
bridge ordered the ropes united lust
as was called DGIOr6 the court AT
o'clock asked to be taken to the hos
pital where the doctor Sponged the
blood from the sword stabs. On Mon
day 1 was called before Captain Rich
ards and have since been in solitary
confinement on bread and water"
Colonel Snyder asked him why he left
his barracks at Plattsburg, N. Y. the
witness replied: L had some private
business in Chicago. AS the inspector
general was at the barracks I knew the
request for release would be refused
had no intention of deserving and re-
ported at Ft. Sheridan so as not to be
so ranked. I expected to be confined
but thought I would be returned under
arrest and after sentence restored to
duty
Capt. Lowering was then called. He
made no attempt to deny any of the
accusing witnesses statements He
admitted that by his orders Hammond
had been dragged from the guard
house and he also admitted that he had
struck the soldier and pricked him with
his sword. None of this treatment.
Capt. Lowering said, had injured Ham
mOnd in the least, as was proven by the
report, and the methods used,
were, in his opinion, necessary for the
discipline of the army. Lieutenant
Bernard, in charge of the guard at the
time of the affair, was then called, but
his testimony introduced no new feat
ure. The court then adjourned until to-