The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1897-11-27
CAPT. COVERINGS BRUTALITY
Private Hanmeaa kicked ana Pred
aed wfsh the swssa-Drasrea
Feet First over the saiI "a Ma.
CeII.

Chicago, Nov. 2s.-C Captain Leonard A.
Lowering Of the Fourth infantry. sts-
TONED at Fort Sheridan, appeared before
court martial ut that post yesterday ~
stand trial on the charge Of .conduef
lprejudicial TO good order and mTIiterv
discipline" The specific charge i caus-
ing Private Hammond to be dragged over
the ground by the heels from he guard
house to the Office Of the reeimental al
Intant after Hammond had refused %
walk.
The first witness was Lieutenant Bar.
naEd, the officer Of the guard on the dav
81 the alleged 0ffense. He testified that
ne ordered Hammond to appear before
the summary court, and that the latter
refused TO 60. He exhausted ali means
to get the private to 20 before the court.
and these being unavaiIing. he referred
me 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 oues.
tioning Lieutenant Bernard
Il heard him say, Damn you, come
out " was the answer.
The lieutenant was unable to STATE ma
itively to the court whether Lowering
kicked or stabbed the prisoner.
Corporal New, who was corporal Of The
day on October 10. but who has since
been reduced to the ranks as a private,
was the next witness called. and stated
that Lowering, as officer Of the day. sent
three men to Hammond's cell with orders
to prod him with the bayonets il he did
not walk
He said he would see If he would
walk," said New. sand saw Captain
lowering kick him twice and prod him
with his sword"
How much force did the officer ussfs
asked the judge advocate.
He kicked him pretty hard, 80 hard.
at least, that Hammond fell in and rub
bed his side was the answer.
How hard did Lowering prod the pris-
oner with his swordg"
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 l saw Captain Lowering
prod him again That time it was in the
hand, and ] saw the blood trickle from
the wound
Sergeant Brainard was called and gave
minute description Of how Hammond
was dragged feet frst over the sin Of his
cell. then down the guard house stone
steps, a hundred yards along the walk,
down again and across the road, over the
opposite curb. up the steps to d COM
panyis quarters, then down over the
eurbs, and finally up the steps to the ad-
iutant's Office.
~How did Hammond look when he ar
rived at the COURT" asked Colonel
Hunter
HE was crying when the rope was
taken from his feet" answered the cor
Poral. 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 Loyering's sword
They were all bleeding and were deep"
Corporal Ward was the last witness.
and his evidence corroboEated that of
Corporal New.
story OF the Case.
The private, who was stationed at
Plattsburg, n. Y ran away from his
post and came to Chicago TO attend To
some private business. On September %
he gave himself up TO the authorities at
Fort Sheridan in order to keep himself
within the 10 days limit, TO have exceed
ed which would have made him a desert
er de facto. While confined in the guard
house he was ordered to perform some
mental labor and refused ON the ground
that he was prisoner. ThereupOn il
was ordered by Lieutenant Colonel Balm
bridge that be be brought before a sum-
mary court
1t happened that Captain Lowering was
officer Of the day. When the guard went
to Hammond's quarters he refused to
come outside or to allow himself to be
conducted before the court. Thereupon,
at Captain Coverings dictation. the men,
bers of the guard bound Hammond's
legs with ropes and dragged him across
the lawn, macadamiled roads, sidewalks
, and up fight Of stairs to the court. Cap
, tain Lowering, who walked in the rear,
accentuated his cruel order by enrsing at
the PROSTATE man, striking and kicking
him and prOdding him with his sword.
court room he was almost unconscious,
his clothes were torn and covered with
, dirt. and he was bleeding from numerous
, cuts, surface wounds and abrasions Of the
skin. He was found guilty Of insnbor.
dination and sentenced to a long term
on bread and water
: The story of Coverings brntaliay, how
ever, got out the same day, and at the
? instance Of Secretary Alger a court Of
: inquiry was ordered by General Brookes
; to investigate the case. On its finding
; the commanding general founded the
E charges on which Major General Miles,
win the sanction Of President Mckinley,
ordered today's court martial.
Rank President Indicted.
. ]