Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-09-29
MILITARY PUNISHMENTs.
Death Is Resorted to Only in Extreme
Cases Except In War.


The systems of deciding the various
military punishments in the United
States is by court-martial. Certain off,
GERS are appointed by the military au-
thorities to hear the facts in the case
and whatever defense the culprit may
care to make, explains the Philadel-
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 Snail
be. The punishment used in the. Am
erican army and navy are: Death,
confinement in the guard house or IN
military prison, hard labor (for some
of the worst offenses with ball ana
chain), forfeiture of pay, dishonoraple
discharge from the service and con-
lnement on bread and water, but the
latter cannot be for more than 1our-
teen days at a time. II the cuiprlt Is
an officer, sergeant, corporal, etc, he
may be reduced to the ranks, Death
is seldom resorted to except in very
extreme cases, but in time OF war lhls
mode of punishment Is more frequent.
A soldier who falls asleep when on
picket duty and thus gives the enemy
chance 10 surprise the camp may DC
sentenced to be shot. Great cowardice
in hattie 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. inc
thought that death will come by hang'
ing is much dreaded. Desertion also
is frequently punished in war time by
death. During our civil war II SOL
die. or sailor was caught stealing rrcr
his comrades he was severely punlshed,
more so than he would have peen hau
he not been in the army. mover way
CT furnishing coward was to march
him through the camp with placard
bearing the word coward fastened
about the neck. The officer in charge
Of military prison once adopted q
peculiar way Of furnishing man VINO
tried to escape. The fellow found a
ladder and one night placed 1t against
the wall of the prison, intending 10
climb over and get away. lie WAS
caught, and the commander ordered
that for five hours he should climb up
the ladder and down again. The SOL
dier laughed at the punishment, but
pretty soon his back began to grow
lame, and at the end of the five hours
he had to be taken to the hospital. III
any of the boys who read this article
care to visit Governors Island, or any
military station, he will see number
Of men digging about the grounds,
wheeling dirt and stones and doing he
work of a 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-
ber may be wearing a chain about one
ankle, and small cannon ball will 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 oi
absence. In both the American and
English service probably the worst
punishment next to being sentenced tc
death IS dishonorable discharge, wher
the culprit loses not only his profes-
sion. but is disgraced in the eyes Of hi:
friends and acquaintances.