The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-23
COURT ARTIAL BEGUN
TRIAL OF CAPT. LOWERING FOR
ABUSING PRIVATE HAMMOND.
Evidence of Lieut.. Bernard, Ex-Cor-
pOraI New. Sergeant Brninnrd
and Corporal Ward.

CHICAGO. Nov. 22.-Captaia Leonard A.
Lowering, of the Fourth Infantry stationed
at Fort Sheridan, appeared before a 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 Ham
naord to be dragged over the ground by the
heels from the guardhouse to the office of
the regimental adjutant after Hammond
had refused to walk.
The court was an hour late in converting
because of delay in the arrival of Brig
adler General Wade. 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 trial 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 81 ow for al
most an hour, the guard with their bay
onets leveled toward the prisoner, until
Lieutenant Williams. who had been notified
OF the delay, took pity on Hammond and
ordered him back to the guardhouse. Ham,
mond was thin and pale, and his appearance
indicated that his imprisonment had told on
his health His army overcoat was at
Plattsburg, N. Y, where he left it when he
absented himself without leave, and there
was more for him at Fort Sheridan.
Colonel j. A. Hunter, who is stationed at
Fort Smelling, near st. Paul, Mimi, is act
ing as judge advocate of the court The
president OF the court is Brigadier General
j. f. Wade, commanding the Department of
Dakota The other members of the court
In order Of rank, are: Colonel A. K Ar
mold, First Cavalry: Lieutenant Colonel j
L. Haskell, Seventeenth Infantry; Major
w. f. Randolph, Third Artillery: Major W.
a. Rafferty, Second Cavalry; Major c. W.
Miner, Sixth Infantry; Major Forse, First
Cavalry; Major w. F. McCaskey, Twen-
tieth Infantry; Captain c. S. Roberts, Sew
enteenth infantry; Captain j. r.. Stretch
Ienth infantry; captain L. 4. Knox, First
Cavalry.
After short secret session it was an
nounced that the hearing would be open
10 the public. Then the reading Of the Tor
NAL call began. Private Hammond was not
allowed a seat in the courtroom but waited
IN his cell until 1t was Time for him to
TESTIFY. Before the call was read Captain
Lowering entered the 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
lie was accompanied by his two attorneys
Frank p. Blair and Murray Nelson. The
members of the court were all in dress uni
The first witness was Lieutenant 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 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.
nriSOnar2'' Judge a IL
vocate Hunter asked in questioning Lieu
tenant Bernard.
II heard him say: DIN you, come out
The lieutenant was unable to state posi-
lively to the court whether Lowering kicked
or stabbed the prisoner.
Corporal New, who was corporal of the
day on Oct. 9, but who has since been re-
duced to the rank of a private, was the
next witness called, and stated that Lover
ing, 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 re would die. before he would
walk" said New, and l then saw Lover
ing 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 rubbed his
side" was the answer.
How hard did Lowering prod the pris-
oner with his sword?" was the next qGes-
tior.
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 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 a
minute description of how Hammond was
dragged feet first over the sill of his cell,
then down the guardhouse 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 d Company's quarters, then
down over the curbs and finally up the
steps to the adjutants office.
How did Hammond look when he arrived
at the court?" asked Colonel Hunter.
He was crying when the rope was taken kI.
from his feet" answered the corporal Ills
pants were torn through to the skin and
when l returned with him to the guard
house he showed me the cuts made by Cap
tain Coverings sword. They were all bleed
ing and were deep"
Corporal Ward was the last witness and
his evidence corroborated that of Corporal
New An adjournment was then taken to
10 O'Clock tomorrow morning.