The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-23
BRUTALTYN IHEARNY
Captain Loyering's Court Martial
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. 23.--Captain Leonard
A. Lowering, Of the Fourth infantry,
stationed at Fort Sheridan, appeared
before 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
had refused to walk. The court was an
hour late in converting, because of a
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
laft ,hat, ha hcA tod t.,it
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 j. Bernard, the officer of the
guard on the day Hammond was drag
gcd. He testified that he ordered Ham
mond to appear before the summary
court, ana that the latter refused to
60. He exhausted all means to get the
these being unavailing he reported the
matter 10 Captain Lowering, who was
o...cer of the day.
Did you hear Captain Lowering use
oaths in his language to the prisoner"
Judge Advocate Hunter asked in ques-
tiuning Lieutenant Bernard.
Il heard him say, DIN you, come
OUT
The lieutenant was unable to state
pos lively to tie pourt whether Lover
ing l5ched or stabbed the prisoner.
Priva 'HW. who was corporal of the
day on Orl. ., but who has since been
redu', d t. lie rank Of a private. was
the next witness allied, and stated that
i.,VeruiE. d. e.. car of the day, sent
three men e. Itammond's cell with or
dprs to prod him with bayonets if he
would not walk
he sod he would die before he
would walk" said New, land then I
saw Lowering kick him twice and prod
h.m with u sword"
"iion uH Ii force did the officer
use ' ,u't.u the judge advocate.
ave &:.n"d him pretty hard, so hard
at leas' ha lgammun felt 1t and rub
bed L.' 'r." was tie answer.
'lIow nd cid Lowering prod the
prs, ner with his sword" was the next
que tiun.
- he sword must have pierced Ham
nond's clio hing" said Private New,
for he ciad Don't do that When
the prisoner had been dragged down the
ruaId slers saw Lowering prod him
cain. Ihat time 1t was in the mana,
and ! saw the blood tricke from the
wound"
Sergeant Barnard was called, and
gave minute description of how Ham
mond was dragged feet first over the
sill of E.s cell. then down the stone
steps hundred yards along he walk
do. n 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.
'HrW 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 nth MIN to the Eudrd house he
showed il" he cuts made by Captain
l,"' rings WORD. They were all bleed
IL. nn6 Deep
cor ul, ,"a.d was the last witness,
and hts ...,"uco corroborated that Of
:, b. VA >lyournment was then taken
until tCcrv.
FntGt Fire In Baltimore.