The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1898-09-24
mlLIrARY puNIsHMENrs.
Death i. Rs.orssa to onis IN Ertrsns
Case. Exc.ps IN wan

Death Il Rssorsed to Only IN Extrsns
Cases Exesps IN Wan
The systems OF deciding the various
military punishments in the United
States Is by court-martial. Certain ON
GERS are appointed by the military an-
thorities to hear the facts in the case
and whatever defense the eulprit may
care TO make, explains the Philadei-
phia Inquirer. When they have heard
all sides Of the subject they decide
whether or not the prisoner deserves
punishment ,and Of what kind 1t shall
be. The punishment used In the Am
erican army and navy are: Deatn'
confinement in the guard house or IN
a military prison, hard labor (ror some
of the worst offenses with ball ana
chain), forfeiture OF pay. dishonoraDle
discharge from the service and con-
nnement on bread and water. out the
latter cannot be for more than lour-
teen days at time. II the culprit Is
an officer, sergeant, corporal, etc' ne
may be reduced to the ranks. Death
is seldom resorted to except In very
extreme cases. but In time OF war this
mode OF punishment is more frequent
A soldier who falls asleep when on
picket duty and thus gives the enemy
a chance to surprise the camp may De
sentenced to be shot. Great cowardice
In battle may be punished In the same
way, and every boy knows that spy
II captured, is apt to be hanged. spies
are very dangerous to the welfare OF an
army. and while being shot does not
seem so bad to some soldiers, tne
thought that death will come by hang
ing is much dreaded. Desertion also
is frequently punished in war time oy
death. During our civil war II SOL
der or sailor was caught stealing Irom
his comrades he was severely punished,
more so than he would have been nau
he not been in the army. A mover way
of furnishing a coward was TO marcn
him through the camp with q placaro
bearing the word coward fasteneu
about the neck. The officer in charge
Of q military prison once adopted
peculiar way Of Furnishing a man VINO
tried to escape. The fellow found
ladder and one night placed 1t against
the wall of the prison, intending 10
climb over and get away. He was
caught. and the commander ORDERED
that for Eve hours he should climb up
the ladder and down again. The SOL
der laughed at the punishment, but
pretty soon his back began 10 grow
lame, and at the end Of the hve hours
he had to be taken to the hospital II
any Of the boys who read this article
care to visit Governors Island, or any
military station, he will see a number
OF men digging about the grounds,
wheeling dirt and stones and doing he
work Of laboring man. These SOL
diers are dressed in brown canvas suits,
and each has a large number fastened
upon his back; some among the num-
Der may be wearing a chain about one
ankle, and a small cannon ball viii be
fastened to one end OF the chain. These
soldiers are being punished for fight
ing with their comrades, disobeying or
ders, or leaving the post without per
mission, or overstaying their leave OF
absence. In both the American and
English service probably the worst
punishment next to being sentenced 10
death is dishonorable discharge, when
the culprit loses not only his profess
sion. but is disgraced in the eyes Of his
friends and acquaintances.