The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-10-12
GEN. ALGER AROUSED.
He Will Look After the Case 81
Private Hammond.
BARDARITY AT FORT SHERIDAN.

L
PEELED to Work Prisoner l. Dragged by
His Heels from the Gaardaouse to Head.
quarters "A Case which Presents some
Queer Phases The Whole Post Thrown
into "a Fermeat of Excitement.
Chicago, oct. i2.-Fovt Sheridan has
had lot Of gossip regarding the treat
ment metcC cut 10 Private Charles
| Hammond. Upon refusal 70 obey the
orders Of Captain Leonard a. lowering
officer Of the day. Hammond was
dragged by a rope tied to his feet, from
the guardhCuse 10 headquarters. where
he was to have been tTied for refusing
TO work while a prisoner. Hammond's
case presents some queer phases. and
his acquaintance with the interior of
Fort Sheridan guardhouse came about
in a strange manner. The young fell
low enlisted but a short time ago and
was stationed at the barracks at Platts-
burg. y. Y. Recently he asked for q
two weeks leave Of absence, having
some important business TO attend To
which would call him to Chicago. His
request was refused by his commanding
officer and Hammond determined upon
taking French leave" Under the mill
tary code a soldier If absent ten days
without leave. is accounted a deserter
and treated as such.
Surrendered at Fort Sheridan.
The private had been nine days out
from the Plattsburg barracks when he
bethought himself Of this section of the
code and he FASTENED to Fort Sheridan,
gave himself up and was placed in the
guardhouse TO await developments Fri
day morning Hammond, along with the
other prisoners, was ordered to perform
some work about the fort. He refused
asserting that under the existing con-
ditions he did not believe such an order
legal. The next morning Colonel Rob
ert III. Hall, commanding officer at the
fort, ordered that the refractory priS-
oner appear before the summary court
headquarters Captain Lowering. as Of
ficer of the day, detailed his men TO ex-
ecute the command Of his superior The
prisoner refused 10 walk. Then it was
that Lowering took a hand i'm the affair
with the result which has thrown the
whole post in a ferment Of excitement.
Captain Lowering has said little since
the trouble took place and Hammond
has been kept under guard 50 closely
that his side Of the story could not he
secured. Eyewitnesses were, however,
rather numerous, and all testify to the
brutality Of Captain Lowering,
Dragged to Headq urriers.
When Hammond refused TO walk to
court, asserting that no formal charge
had been launched against him. the OFF,
Ger Of the day ordered that the man he
dragged to headquarters. When the
prisoner was lying on the ground and
while the rope was being knotted about
his feet, it is asserted by several par
ties that Lowering rushed upon the man
and pricked him with his sword The
story then goes on TO the effect that
Hammond was dragged by the rope
down the steps Of the guardhouse. his
back and head humping all the way,
along a road rough and torn up here
and there, and up the steps Of the quar-
ters used for the summary court" OF
Fort Sheridan. All the distance to tho
summary court" il is alleged, Lover
ing kept prodding the helpless man with
his sword and kicking at his head
Hammond protected his head as best
he could with his hands, but received
numerous bruises frCm the stones scat
tered along the road. Lieutenant Col
onel cambridge. before whom Han
mond was to be taken, had gone to
headquarters, and Hammond was
dragged down the steps again to the
adjutants office.
Numerous Bruises and Wounds.
Here he was laid in front Of Colonel
cambridge, who ordered the rope to be
removed. After a brief hearing on the
charges alleged against him Hammond
was sent back to the guardhouse, walk
ing with difficulty. The post-surgeon
examined him and found numerous
bruises and small wounds, many Of
which are said to have been inflicted
by the point Of Coverings sword The
reports of the affair which have reached
Washington are said to have aroused
Secretary Alser. who is expected to or
der an investigation. Secretary Alger
said that he would communicate at once
with General Brooke commander of the
department Of the Missouri, to find out
IL the reports of the act of brutality
are true. General Brooke, when seen
late Monday morning declined to dis