The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-11-23
BRUTALITY THE ARMY
Captain Lovering's Court Martial
For Abuse Of Private Hammond.
VICTIM STILL BEING PUNISHED.

While Captain Lowering Struts About
in Uniform, Entering the Court
loom 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 a 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 OF the porch of the Officers
club, where the court was held, under
guard of three soldiers, wrapped in
heavy army listers, 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 hin and pale and his appearance
indicated that his Imprisonment had
told on his health. His army overcoat
was at ~Plattsburgh, N. Y, where he
left it when he absented himself with
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 word 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 ]. Bernard, the officer Of the
guard on the day Hammond was drag
ged. He testified that he ordered Ham
mond 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.
Did you hear Captain Lowering use
oaths in his language to the prisoners"
Judge Advocate Hunter asked in ques-
tioning Lieutenant Bernard.
Il heard him say, On you, come
OUT"
The lieutenant was unable to state
positively to the court whether Lover
ing kicked or stabbed the prisoner.
Private New, who was corporal of the
day on Oct. 8, but who has since been
reduced to the rank of a private, was
the next witness called, and stated that
Lowering, as officer of the day, sent
three men to Hammond's cell with or
ders to prod him with bayonets if he
would not walk.
HE said he would die before he
would walk" said New, and then I
saw Lowering kick him twice and prod
him with his sword"
"How much force did the officer
use" asked the judge advocate.
H KICKED him pretty hard, so hard
at least that Hammond felt it and rub
bed his side" was the answer.
How hard did Lowering prod the
prisoner with his sword" was the next
question.
1.-THE sword must have pierced Ham
mond's clothing" sal Private New,
for he cried, Don't do that When
the prisoner had been dragged down the
guard steps 1 say Lowering prod him
again. That time 1t was in the hand
and 1 saw the blood trickle from the
wound"
Sergeant Barnard was called, and
gave a minute description of how Ham
mond was dragged feet first yer the
sill of his cell, then down the stone
steps a 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 t.
Company DIS quarters, then down I'VE
the curb and finally up the steps to thC
adjutant's office.
"How did Hammond look when he
arrived at the court?" asked Colone
Hunter.
HE was crying when the rope was
taken from his feet" answered the
corporal. This pants were worn
through to the skin, and when 1 re.
turned with him to the guard house hi
showed me the cuts made by Captain
Coverings sword. They were all bleed.
ing and deep"
Corporal Ward was the last witness
and his evidence corroborated that o.
New. An adjournment was then takeI
until today.