The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-11-25
BRUTALITY IN THE ARMY
Captain Lovering's Court ltartial
For Abuse of Private Hammond.
VICTIM. STILL BEING PUNISHED.

While Captain Lowering Struts About
In Uniform, Entering the Court
Room at VIII, Poor Private Ham
mond Shivers on the Outside.
Chicago. Nov. a3.-Captain Leonard
A. Lowering. of the Fourth infantry.
stationed at Fort Sheridan, appeared
before a court martial at that post yes
terday to stand trial on the charge of
conduct prejudicial to good order and
military discipline" The specific charge
Is causing Private Hammond to be
dragged over the ground by the heels
from the guard house to the officers
regimental adjutant because Hammond
mad refused to walk. The court was an
hour late in convening, because of u
delay In the arrival of Brigadier Gen
, eral Wade, the presiding officer.
A cold wind from the northwest blew
across the parade grounds. and Pri-
vate Hammond, who stood without an
overcoat on the porch of the officers
club, where the court was held, under
guard of three soldiers. wrapped in
heavy army ulsters. shivered, while
his teeth chartered and his face turned
blue from the cold. The four men
stood in the falling snow for almost an
hour, until Lieutenant Williams took
pity on Hammond and ordered him
back to the guard house. Hammond
was thin and pale and his appearance
indicated that his Imprisonment had
told on his health. His army overcoat
was at Plattsburgh, n. Y. where he
left it when he absented himself with
out leave. and there was none for him
at Fort Sheridan.
While Private Hammond shivered
outside Captain Lowering entered the
comfortable court room In uniform,
but with an empty sword scabbard
dangling from his belt, in Difference to
the rule that no officer under arrest
may wear side arms. He was accom-
panied by his two attorneys, Frank P.
Blair and Murray Nelson.
The first witness was Lieutenant
John ]. Bernard, the officer of the
guard on the day Hammond was drag
ged. He testified that he ordered Ham
mond to appear before the summary
court, and that the latter refused to
go. He exhausted all means to get the
private to go before the court, and
these being unavailing 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?'
| Judge Advocate Hunter asked in Ques-
| tioning Lieutenant Bernard.
Il heard him say, 'D-n you, come
OUT"
The lieutenant was unable to state
positively to the court whether Lover
ing kicked or stabbed the prisoner.
Private New, who was corporal of the
day on Oct. 9. but who has since been
| reduced to the rank Of private. was
the next witness called, and stated that
| Lowering. as officer of the day. sent
| three men to Hammond's cell with Or
| ders to prod him with bayonets II he
| would not walk.
He said ne would die before he
would walk" said New. "and then
saw Lowering kick him twice and prod
him with his sword"
| How much force did the officer
use?" asked the judge advocate.
| He kicked him pretty hard, so hard
at least that Hammond felt it and rub
| bed his side" was the answer.
| How hard did Lowering prod the
| prisoner with his sword?" was the next
question.
"The sword must have pierced Ham
mond's clothing" said Private New
| for he cried, Don't do that When
the prisoner had been dragged down the
| guard steps / saw Lowering prod him
again. That time it was in the hand
and / saw the blood trickle from the
wound"
Sergeant Barnard was called, and
| gave minute description of how Ham
| mond was dragged feet first over the
| sill of his cell, then down the stone
steps hundred yards along the walk
| down over the curb, up again to the
walk, down again and across the road,
| over the opposite curb, up the steps to
Company DIS quarters, then down over
the curb and finally up the steps to the
adjutant's office.
How did Hammond look when he
| arrived at the court?" asked Colonel
| Hunter.
He was crying when the rope was
| taken from his feet" answered the
| corporal. His pants were worn
| through to the skin, and when / re-
| turned with him to the guard house he
| showed me the cuts made by Captain
| Lovering's sword. They were all bleed
! ing and deep"
Corporal Ward was the last witness.
| and his evidence corroborated that of
| New. An adjournment was then taken
until today.
-.