The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-24
COLD. FLOODED LOWERING.
Treatment Of Hammond Not the Re.
suit Of Passion.
TESTIMONY BEFORE coURTMARTiAL.
Most Of the witnesses Regarded
Force ~ Necessary, but Not the
Brutality-still In Progress.

who was In charge Of the guard house on
the day OF Private Hammond's inutiny,
was the first witness al today's session.
Sergeant Bralnard Is the man whom
Hammond accused In his testimony Of
holding his QHammond's) back down
against the door sill as he was being
dragged out. SO that Captain Lowering
command "scrape him" might be obeyed-
The sergeant testified that he had been
ordered to TAX, Hammond to the sum-
mary court and the prisoner refused to
move from his cell. II asked him II he
was sick" said the witness. land he re-
plted that he was not Then / asked him
II 1t was simply a case of won't walk,
and lie said 1t was. Then 1 went away
and reported to Lieutenant Bernard, the
officer of the guard, who put the same
questions to the prisoner and received
the same answers. Captain Lowering was
notified and 1 was sent to get rope.
Having 10 search for some time before
found one 1 saw nothing of what hap
pened till the party was ready to start
for the guard house. Then l stood ON the
step and watched them drag Hammond
till they disappeared behind the drill
hall"
ibid Captain Lowering kick Hammond
or prod him with his sword?' asked Cap
tain Moon.
~ saw him make several attempts,
was the reply.
How many times did Captain Lowering
kick the prisoner"
IL saw him attempt to stab him in the
corridor of the guard house, and also Kick
at him ait the head of the stairs. / heard
no vile language"
Colonel Snyder then interposed and ask
ed the witness If he thought It was neces-
sary to convey Hammond to summary
court In that manner.
II do" said Brainard, because he re-
fused TO SO and knev that force would be
used"
Corporal Ward testified that he had
seen Captain Lowering kick Hammond
twice and prod him with his sword sew
erdl times.
Private Wardell told the court that AZ
ter guard mount he was in the guard
room with other soldiers. when they
heard the sound Of scuff.ng outside the
door. Hammond was resisting the efforts
of the sergeant to drag him from his cell
CAPTAIN lowering. was standing close by.
Prick him up little" said Captain Low
erdng. according to the witness.
AT this Hammond Strengthened up and
replied: You can run that bayonet
thu cug.h me. but will never walk to that
court"
81 then helped tie his feet" said tho
soldier. and while was at work Captain
Lowering stabbed Hammond with his
sword. Hammond said DON'T do that;
stop and after that did not see ,ns
Colonel Snyder asked If Lowering kick
ed HAMMOND.
He k.cloed hsn pretty hard" said War
DELI below the ribs and in the side. Then
he cut his hand with the sword"
Corporal Claude News, the orderly. who
walked behind the prisoner, detailed the
Gil sumstances Of the march and said he
nau seen Captain Lowering both kick and
stab the prisoner as he was being dragged
ahng. Il took the prisoner back to his
ceal." News said, and ne showed me the
an inch deep. Besides fhis, he showed me
two wounds. one on each leg and they
were as deep as the one on the shoulder"
News ~ was asked what Hammond mad
bound
sha when ,he &c col9 9g Hall asked What wa.
nave been misused. ! have been kicked
and stabbed by Captain Lowering
captain Snyder here reverted to his Oft
repeated question, do YOU think force |
Yes, but not that kind Of force"
10 MAJ would you have done in sima- |
Il should have secured a cart and con-
EYED the prisoner to the court: / never
would have dragged him"
Major Henry L.ppincott. the surgeon OF |
me rost. made light of Hammondss in1u-
res IN MS testimony He said he had |
been unable to iinl n sign of a cut or |
lnrasion on the mans body, except u
shsht, cut ON the shoulder and a Similar
woiuld on each leg.
ro ooioS 81 Robert Hall. in. command OF
M n, the trial Is st!ll in progress
me nSlitary court of inquiry which has
zen ZEE, anvestigat'ns the alleged brutal
!, r.ea.ment OF Private Hammond a, Fort
,h,cridah,. on October 8, concluded the
nSins OF Testimony this evening. IL
Ky Ky ,estimony is yet TO be tabulated.
ne case which Will he sent TO General
t'po ns commanding the department Of
he M 1i,sem, Geaeral Brook viii forward
IN sbi,p otn 10 me war department at
ny never become public '' p''''-