Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-11-23
lowering COURT MARTIAL.
Witnesses Tell How he Maltreated
Private Hammond.

Witnesses Tell How He Maltreated
Private Hammond.
Dragged Him Upstairs and Down,
Over Curbs and Across Roads,
TIL His Trousers Were Worn
Through--A Rope Fastened About
His Ankles and Four Men to Pull
It-While This Was Going on
Captain Lowering Amused Him.
self and Gave Vent to His Ill-Na-
ture by Kicking the Helpless Man
and Prodding Him With His
Sword.
Chicago, November 22.-Captain
Leonard A. Lowering, of the Fourth
infantry at Fort Sheridan, appeared
before court martial at that post to-
day 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 Of
flee of the regimental adjutant, after
Hammond had refused to walk
The court was an hour late in con-
vening because of the delay in the ar
rival of Brig.-Gen. Wade, the presid-
ing officer. A cold wind from the
northwest blew across the parade
grounds, and Private Hammond, who
stood without an overcoat on the porch
OF the officers club, where the court
was held, under the guard of three
soldiers wrapped in army listers,
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, the guards
with their bayonets leveled towards
the prisoner, Until Lieut. Williams,
who had been notified of the delay,
took pity on Hammond and ordered
him back to the guard house.
Hammond was thin and pale, and
his appearance Indicated that his i'm
prisOnment had told on his health.
His army overcoat was at Plattsburg,
N. Y, where he left it when he alb
scented himself without leave, and
there was none for him at Fort Sheri-
dan.
The first witness was Lieut. John J.
Bernard, the officer Of the guard on
the day Hammond was dragged. He
testified that he ordered Hammond to
appear before the summary court and
that the latter refused to CO. He ex-
hausted 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
Judge Advocate Hunter asked in ques-
tioning Lieut.. Bernard.
81 heard him say d you, come
out, was the answer.
The Lieutenant was unable to state
positively to the court whether Lover
ink kicked or stabbed the prisoner.
Corporal New, who was corporal of
the day on October 8, but who has
since been reduced to the rank of a
private, was the next witness called
and stated that Lowering, as officer of
the day, sent three men to Hammonds
cell with orders to prod him with the
bayonets if he would not walk.
He said he 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 cid 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 trickle from the wounds.
Sergeant Brainard was called and gave
a minute description of how Hammond
was dragged feet first over the sill of his
cell, then down the guard house steps,
hundred yards along the walk, down
over the curb. up again to the walk, down
again and across the road, over the oppo-
site curb. up the steps to D companys
quarters, then down over the curbs and
finally up the steps to the adjutant's
office.
How did Hammond look when he an
rived at the court?" asked Col. Hunter
HE was crying when the rope was ia
ken from his feet" answered the corpo-
raj His pants were worn through to
the skin and when / returned with him
to the guard house he showed me the
cuts made by Captain Coverings sword.
They were all bleeding and were desj,."
Corporal Ward was the last witness and
his evidence corroborated that OF Corfo-al
New.
An adjournment was then taken to 10
o'clock Tomorrow morning