New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-27

not so on the streets. felt that there IN that
Commission. IN that chair. on the identical spot
where the false charges were made. was the place
for me to hurl It back in such language that the
American people would believe me- did not stop
to think OF any dsrespect any of'cer. 1t ola not
to In that way at ALL. For the first time
IN my life had not been able 10 sleep could not
eat. II was all could do In my ONCE TO prevent
myself from going and doing what when was
boy men did and were considered right IN DONG
but I thought that when went there before the
Commission and before the country should answer
IN some such way that whoever heard 1t, even IN
the utmost corner OF the earth. would know that
honest man.
q. I think your answer has covered the question:
What I am PARTICULAR about is what you under
stood TO be meant by the words 'pretence of expert
ment" A. That had furnished such meat. not as
an experiment. but with the pretence Of an expert
ment: that had used II TO cover corruption ana
had FED II TO the soldiers; that II had made them
sick as General Miles said in his alleged statement
that the people believed hal poisoned them ana
had furnished them with improper food under
pretence Of experiment. when In truth ana In iaet
IL was no experiment. still less pretence OF ex-
perirnent. II was part OF the regular Army ration
G General. as perhaps in part accounting for tho
feeling that you had In this matter let me ask
you what pressure was brought TO bear upon you
by the contractors who were trying 10 sell you
material and were after some Of these appropr.a-
ttons. A. There few days that there were
not people in my Office backed by various persons
OF influence. wanting 10 purchase this. that
and the other for the Army have been a soldier
long enough, have been the plains. have
been with the soldier. fought with him and eaten
with him long enough to know what ne wants.
knew that tho ration was better than any con-
tracted or imitation food ! worn out with
resisting the efforts OF various people 10 force on
NEON the Army through me-these foods Nari-
Gus persons came and offered 10 furnish process
beef, I replied politely that the Commissary-Gen-
eral not buying them nor experimenting with
them. have resisted ever since have been COM
missary General any experiment whatsoever in fur
n.shing food the soldier because he was my first
care all the time. I could not sleep at night for
thinking of him. and would permit nothing what
ever but what my brother officers would know was
right and proper 10 he sen; their commands.
TOOK NO MONEY FROM CONTRACTORS.
@ You will pardon for asking the question
as 10 whether or not during the time you
administered tn. Office OF Commissary Gen
eral you accepted any compensation at any
time from any of the different contractors? A.
On my honor and before God. rot the color OF one
cent has ever touched me. nor so far as know.
any officer 81 the department have not to-day
enough money 10 paw you your fee
O. What do You recollect as 10 how soon after
you received the notification from the Commission
that you should certain day you
began the preparation or the paper A ] began
almost Immediately to gather data, the dates
Of purchase the orders for shipment the arrival Of
steamers and on. II required good deal OF
reference 10 the records and consumed some time.
because sometimes the papers had to he hunted
UP. dictated IL all. and realized az the time that
did not have time enough My motive for die
tating for having Il typewriter instead Of giving
II verbally before the Commission. that
realized that It was utterly impossible 10 furnish
complete a proper answer 10 General Miless state
ment from my memory. That is what prompted
me TO have it typewriter The greater part of the
Aota
O. I. was dictated entirely. ~ Did YOU
write any part Of II? A. J did not write n line Of IT.
Q. When was the preparation OF the paper act
ually completed? A. 1t was completed Just before
went 20 the Commission.
O. On the same morning? A. Yes, air.
ALMOST DRIVEN MAD.
@ DO you desire to say anything TO the Court as
70 the state OF your mind on that day and the day
preceding? A. I into the court feeling. as
had been feeling for days. that had been charged
as say; that had put out dignihed statement
10 the press and IT was not believed; that had to
say something and I had nowhere else TO say 1t;
that had TO say something In some such way that
the press and the people would know that was an
honest man That is what actuated me. and the
charges were foul that l rent in pieces l
felt burning up inside all the time. Every day that
the clippings TO mo 1t was reiteration OF
the same thing Each day would bring clippings
showing that was still further condemned.
O. What did you feel 10 be the state Of the pub
lie mind in regard to your being honest or cor
rupt man? A. I believed the press and the public
mind 10 be that l a wholesale murderer for
tho purpose Of gain. That was what possessed my
mind.
O When YOU were giving your testimony before
the Commission will you state to the Court
whether or not there was any interruption by any
member or any suggestion by any member Of the
court or any person present that II was improper?
A. No sir: there no interruption. There was
no action indicating that anybody thought 1t was
improper absorbed in indicating myself TO
have the honor Of all vindcated. was wholly OBJ
ivious OF anything else.
Q Was there anything else that TOOK place there
that gave you hint or suggestion while you
were reading that paper that there was anything
improper? a. ] had nothing whatever 70 indicate
20 me hut what each and every member OF the
Commission thought that right. l knew in
my heart that every member OF the Commission
ought to know. from examinations Of five hundred
witnesses in all the camps, that was an honest
man and that | had been goaded and driven 10
death and especially by the statements OF the press
regarding the statements Of General Miles.
During this impassioned recital each MEMBER OF
the court listened iHtentiy 10 every word spoken
and every eye fastened on the speaker Inc
scene was dramatic in the extreme. General
Eagan's eyes filled with tears his voice ,remoed
and he spoke with intense feeling.
Mr. Worthington then read large number OF
newspaper clippings many OF which spoke OF Cen
erel Eagan scoundrel and demanded MS dis
missal from the Army.
when the court-martiai reassemb,ed Judge-Ad-
vocate Davis said that he wished 20 submit
formally tho testimony Of General Miles az read
yesterday. an exhibit in this trial and with
this statement the prosecution rested its case
Mr. Worthineton. counsel for General Eagsn.
read several exhibits in connection with the tesu-
mo1y read at yesterdays session Of the court
These Included the correspondence between Cen
eral Niles and General Eagan through the Adju
tnnt.General. In which the latter asked as 10
whether the interview published in New-York
newspaper in which General Miles IS alleged 10
have severely crhicised the Commissa ~ Generals
Department was authoritative. Extracts from the
alleged Interview were also read and submitted as
IF the record