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Once the cylinder has been loaded (or unloaded), do NOT just release the hammer from the half-cocked position down to the uncocked position. Pull it all the way back to the full-cocked position, then let it down (gently) from there.
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To add a little more information. You cannot just pull the trigger and have the hammer fall from the half cock position, unless the parts are damaged/broken.
The gun is built to prevent that, because, you don't want the hammer to fall when the cylinder is not properly lined up and locked into place, so the trigger is actually "captured" by the half cock notch to prevent this from happening.
You should pull the hammer all the way back to full cock, which finishes rotating the cylinder into lining up and locking into place. THEN, holding the hammer, pull the trigger and ease it down.
when the hammer of a Colt patter SA is fully down, in contact with the frame, the firing pin tip actually protrudes slightly into the chamber. With the hammer lowered on a live round, the tip of the firing pin is in contact with the primer and the hammer is about 1/16 inch short of contact with the frame, so a blow to the hammer has the force directly transmitted to the primer, firing the round.
With the hammer in the "safety notch" it is a bit further back, the pin is off the primers, HOWEVER, its not all that safe, as a blow to the hammer in that position can force the hammer off the notch, and going forward to strike the primer.
From what I've read, Colt thought carrying the gun fully loaded with the hammer in the safety notch was a safe way to do it, in 1873. By the next year, after several accidental discharges and a few deaths, they changed the instructions with the gun to "hammer down on an empty chamber" as the safe carry method.
The "safety notch" still has a valid function, just not safe carry with a live round under the hammer. Its there to catch the hammer if the hammer slips before reaching the half cock position. PROVIDED you do not have the trigger pulled!! If you are holding the trigger back (intentionally or without knowing you are doing it) the hammer will fall all the way down from where ever it is when you release it.
If you think your gun was damaged by what your friend did, either take it to a smith who knows the Colt system and have it checked, or send it back to the maker for evaluation.