Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1897-11-27
CAPT.LOVER|NG' BRUTALITY
IS BEFORE A COURT MARITAL.
Private Hammond Kicked ana PROD
ded with the Sword-DrnRSed
Feet First over the Sill OF HIS
Cell.

toned Mt Fort Sheridan, appeared before
a court martial at that post yesterday To
stand trial on the charge of conduct
preiudicial to good order and military
discipline The specific charge Is caus-
ING Private Hammond to be dragged over
the ground by the heels from the guard
house to the Office of the regimental adj
utant after Hammond had refused to
walk
The first witness was Lieutenant Der
nard. the officer of the guard on the day
of the alleged otlense. He testified that
he ordered Hammond TO appear before
the summary court, and that the latter
refused to 90. He exhausted all means
to get the private to go 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
oaths in his language to the prisoner?
Judge Advocate Hunter asked i'll ques-
tioning Lieutenant Bernard
II 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 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 if he did
not walk
He said he would see if he would
walk" said New. "and | 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, so hard,
at least, that Hammond fell in and rub
bed his side" was the answer.
How hard did Lowering prod the pris
ones with his sword?"
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 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
a minute description of how Hammond
was dragged feet first over the sill of his
cell. then down the guard house stone
steps, Il hundred yards along the walk,
down again and across the road, over the
opposite curb, up the steps to d com
pany's quarters, then down over the
curbs, and finally up the steps to the adj
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 Coverings sword
They were all bleeding and were deep"
Corporal Ward was the last witness,
and his evidence corrobomted that of
Corporal New.
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 nj
Fort Sheridan in order to keep himself
within the 10 days limit, to have exceed
ed which would have made him n 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 a prisoner. Thereupon it
was ordered by Lieutenant Colonel Balm
bridge that he 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 mem
bers of the guard bound Hammond S
legs with ropes and dragged him across
the lawn, macadamized roads, sidewalks
and up flight of stairs to the court. Cap.
tain Lowering, who walked III the rear,
accentuated his cruel order by Cursing 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 insubor-
dination and sentenced to a long term
on bread and water
The story of Coverings brutaliay, how
ever, got out the same day, and at the
instance of Secretary Alger court OF
inquiry was ordered by General Brookes
TO investigate the case On its finding
the commanding general founded the
charges on which Major General Miles,