Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-11-26
CAP1.LOVER|NG' BRUTALITY
Private Ham maOnd Kicked and Prod
deL With the SwOrd-Dra&gcd
Feet First Over the Sill of His
Cell.

hNiSo. NOV -o.-t aptaih IFoHNIu ~. !
Lowering of the Fourth infantry, sta
toned at Fort Sheridan, appeared before
a court martial at that post yesterday tn
stand trial on the charge of conduct
prcjudicial to good order and military !
| discipline" The specific charge il aus- !
ing Private Hammond to be dragged over
the ground by the heels from the guard
house to the Office Of the regimental adj
jutant after Hammond had refused to
walk.
| The first witness was Lieutenant Ber-
nard. the officer of the guard on the day
of the alleged offense. He testified that
he ordered Hammond to appear before
the summary court, and that the latter
refused to GO He exhausted all means
to get the private to 60 before the court
and these being unavailing, he referred
the matter to Captain Lowering, who was
officer of the day.
Did you hear Captain Lowering use
aths in his language to the prisoner"
Judge Advocate Hunter asked in q,ies-
tioning Lieutenant Bernard
~ heard him say, Damn you, come
out was the answer.
The lieutenant was unable to state pos
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
| x..se hn kuv ~ &c h. A.l
not walk.
He said he would see il he would
walk said New, land l saw Captain
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. 40 hard.
at least. that Hammond fell in and rub.
bed his side was the answer.
How hard did Lowering prod the pris-
Oncr with his sword!"
"rhe 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 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
u minute description Of how Hammond
was dragged feet first over the sill Of hi
cell, then down the guard house stone
steps, u hundred yards along the walk
down again and across the road, over tn
opposite curb, up the steps to d com
mr. IN
curbs. and finally up the steps to the ad
iutant's Office.
GLOW did Hammond look when he ar
rived at the courty" asked Colone
Hunter
He was crying when the rope wa
taken from his feet answered the cor
poral. His pants were worn through L
the skin, and when l returned with hin
10 the guard house he showed me tn
cuts made by Captain Coverings sword
They were all bleeding and were deep
Corporal Ward was the last witness
and his evidence corrobonted that q
Corporal New.
story Of the Case.
The private, who was stationed a
Plattsburg, n. Y. ran away from hi
post and came to Chicago to attend I
: some private business. On September
n, he gave himself up to the authorities q
H. Fort Sheridan in order To keep himse
70 within the 10 days limit. to have exceet
= ed which would have made him deser
er de facto. While confined in the guar
~ house he was ordered to perform son
n. mental labor and refused on the groun
~ that he was u prisoner Thereupon
he was ordered by Lieutenant Colonel Bal
d; bridge that he he brought before Il sur
y; mary court.
rs 1t happened that Captain Lowering w
u. officer of the day When the guard wei
-. to Hammond's quarters he refused
n. come outside or to allow himself to
"a. conducted before the court. Thereupo
m at Captain Coverings dictation, the mel
re- bers of the guard bound Hammond
Cd legs with ropes and dragged him aero
the lawn, macadamized roads, sidewal
and up flight of stairs to the court Gu
tain Lowering, who walked in the rel
accumulated his cruel order by cmrsing
the PROSTATE man, striking and kicki
him and prodding him with his swo
court room he was almost uncOnscio
his clothes were torn and covered wi
dirt, and he was bleeding from numero
cuts, surface wounds and abrasions of
= skin. He was found guilty of insub
dination and sentenced to u long te
on bread and water
The story of Coverings brutaliay, he
ever, got out the same day, aud at
instance Of Secretary Alger court
inquiry was ordered by General Broo
to investigate the case. On its find
the commanding general founded
charges on which Major General Mi
. WIN the sanction Of President McKinl
ordered today's court martial.
Death of Thomas ID. WOrden.
Lewiston, Idaho. Nov. 23.-Ihomas
Worden, prominent citizen and pior
resident Of this city met with a yiol