Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-25
FORT SHERIDAN COMMANDANT SAYS
HE DID RIGHT.
COMMENDED HIS BRUTALITY.
DECISION IN THE CASE WILL BE
REACHED TO-DAY.
General Opinion Is That the Verdict,
II Not for Acquittnl, Will
BE for u Light Penalty
Plenty of Red
Tape.

martial OF Captain Leonard A. Lowering,
of the Fourth infantry, will be reached to-
morrow. The court martial to-day closed
the hearing of testimony covering the in
cidents of Private Hammond's involutary
appearance before the summary court at
Fort Sheridan on October .. There will
be protracted meeting tomorrow, as all
the evidence taken during the last two
days sessions must be read for the sec
ond time to the court in order to follow
out the red tape of court martial proceed
ings. The entire morning session will be
necessarily taken up by these last duties
of Judge Advocate Hunter, and then the
twelve officers of the court will settle down
to a private discussion of their opinions
of Captain Lowering and his method of en-
forcing military discipline. The general
opinion is that the verdict, If it 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 SUBJ
star Mstantially correct: He claimed, however,
Hammond-"only stirred him up with my
foot and sword" was the way he put
it. Colonel Hall. of the Fourth infantry,
proved of everything Captain Lowering
had done. The arguments for and against
Lowering were very brief. and at their con-
clusion court adjourned for the day.
The hearing began to-day with the tes-
timony of the last witness for the prosecu-
ton, Post Surgeon Henry Lippincott: The
surgeon said that he had been called upon
professionally to attend Hammond.
II found no bruises to speak OF" said he.
There was slight abrasion on the shoul-
der and also scratches on the thighs, but
they were Insignificant, and after spong-
ing them with iodoform. I reported the
Attorney Blair for Captain, Lowering
GERS under whom the defendant had served.
These letters all referred to Lowering as
an efficient officer and good soldier. They
called.
What report did Captain Lowering make
to you in regard to this AFFAIR."" asked At
torney Blair of the commanding officer.
He told me of Hammonds refusal to ap-
pear before the court in direct disobedience
him from the qua guard oh house use with VII IA ropes sse'
What comment did you maker?
commended him highly for his action,
the prisoners feet before he appeared in
HAS there been any trouble with pris-
here?" the attorney asked.
~, There ere, has , been almost constant trou.
70
daily infractions of the rules. commend
ed Captain Coverings action. especially be,
defied five prison officers in succession
Colonel Hall told the court that there
was no conveyance at the fort that could
house il they refused to walk Attorney
Blair closed his questioning by asking If a
report had been made to him that Captain
'.Well, now that you recall it, said the
witness, Captain Lowering did tell me
/ also approved that"
Captain John "; Bubb Of the Fourth
off ThnY Qnf
en-. one of the prison officers, gave some
new information by making the statement
that before Captain kovering & ordered d Ham. I'M
prisoner around the guard house by the
heels.
blundered several times while going
through the formalities preceding his ex-
animation.
us the testimony thus far given before
this court correct?" asked mis- attorney.
1T is substantially correct" said Lover
ing, "only the amount Of force used has
been exaggerated. l stirred Hammond up
with my sword and foot, but put on the
smallest of strength into it. did not hurt
him. I kicked him to make him open his
eyes"
Colonel Hunter asked Captain Lowering
why he had not reported to his command
ing officer the prisoners refusal to go to
ceived orders from Colonel Hall.
II should have been ashamed" said Cap
tain Lowering, Ito have reported to any
person that allowed a prisoner to get
the better Of me-"
"Could you not have secured a wagon?"
continued the judge advocate.
"I would not have done so under any
circumstances" answered Captain Lover
ing. 1T would have been bad example
for the men,"
After Captain Lowering had told of his
twenty-five years service in the United
States army without ever having been
court-martialed before he was excused
and the taking of testimony was over.