The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-28
EA1AN COURT MARTIAL
COMPLETES LIS WORK
The Verdict Agreed Upon in
Less Than Two Hours.
Secretary Alger Called as Wit
ness for the Defence.
Daughter of the Accused Put on the
stand to Portray the Mental
Anguish of Her Father.

Leaning on The arm of Colonel Alexan-
der the faithful, Brig. Gen. Charles p.
Eagan, al 80 O'Clock yesterday afternoon,
left the presence of the court martial be-
fore which he had been on trial for in
sulting the General Commanding the Army
while testifying before the Alger Relief
Commission. From his face was missing
that smile OF confidence with which he
first entered the red parlor of the Ebbitt
House, and his appearance was that of
man detected in mind and broken in heart.
He looked straight ahead and passed with
out notice those of his friends who stepped
forward 10 exchange greetings.
The military tribunal went into secret
session at once. and the result of forty
five minutes deliberation was an agree
ment on verdict, which Will he delivered
TO the Judge Advocate General of the
army some time today After having
been reviewed in the office of the Judge
Advocate General the findings and papers
Will be put into the hands of the Secretary
of War. and if the verdict involves dis
missal from the army the case Will finally
be laid before the President; most likely
It will be, anyway
After having framed their verdict the
members of the court visited the White
House in a body to pay their respects 10
the President and announce the conclusion
of their work and thence they proceeded
To the War Department to exchange SINH
lar formalities with Secretary Alger.
The speedy agreement of the court was
a surprise, and is generally accepted as
evidence that the accused was found guilty
on both charges. II is certain that moth
ing entered into the consideration of the
case 10 necessitate discussion, and that
the court should have so promptly made
fYe SC .g.aR nod a1-5-
dence that its findings will be in strict
accord with military procedure and con-
Vention. uninfuenced by the plea for SYM
pathy advanced by the defendant after
admitting the correctness of the specifica-
tions. The result of the verdict will
probably be made known before the end
OF the week.
The TWO Charges.
1t will be remembered that there were
two charges against General Eagan-the
first. conduct unbecoming an officer and
gentleman, and the second, conduct preiu-
dicial 10 the good OF the service. Dismissal
from the service is the only penalty fixed
for conduct unbecoming an officer and
gentleman. and therefore If found guilty
on the first charge the court had nothing
TO do with determining the degree of pun
ishment TO be visited upon the accused.
But on the second charge of conduct preju-
dicial TO the good Of the service it was diff
ferent, and in such cases the court is in
vested with power 10 fix the penalty. If
found guilty Of both charges the result
will be the same as though convicted I'M
der the first, with the added disgrace Of
having been found guilty Of both.
There was no lack OF dramatic element
in the last session OF the Eagan court
martial. The Secretary of War was called
aUT~N
there was nothing dramatic in his appear
ance nor in his testimony. To Mr.. Aiger
were propounded two questions, neither of
which occasioned him any inconvenience to
answer.
In the records of the Eagan court martial
IL VIII not appear whether or not Secretary
Alger had advance knowledge of General
Eagans insult 10 General Miles. Only
those beyond the pale of bureaucracy ex-
pected that he would be asked such ques-
tion, and they were disappointed. Mr.
Worthington, counsel for the defence, con-
Quoted the examination of Mr.. Alger. and
the prosecution displayed no desire 10 di-
rect at him awkward questions.
Attitude of the Defendant.
The most remarkable testimony of the
session was offered by DR.. William E
Hopkins, son-in-law OF the accused. While
be on the borders of insanity during the
embalmed beef controversy General Eagan
twisted nervOusly in his seat, and seemed
10 be living over again, beneath his uni
form there in the presence OF a military
tribunal, the emotions suggested by the
witness.
Then came the daughter OF the accused
Mrs Clara Hopkins. When she 4eft the
stand there was more than one tear
dimmed eye in the chamber and those who
tried 10 hide these evidences of sympathy
for the witness were not all women OF
whom there were many in the red par
lor.
When his daughter told how General
Eagan had come home in the evening of
the day on which General Miles made his
embalmed beef charges, saying In tones
of anguish, General Miles has crucified
me" her voice gained strength TO portray
the scene and then il betrayed her and
she sobbed. away down in her throat.
That was all, the prosecution said, when
Mr.. Worthington quietly announced that
he was done with the witness, and she
was led away on the arm of her husband
BY this scene General Eagan was moved
TO the verge OF tears, but il was for the
witness not for him that the court and the
audience felt sympathy.
Just one more touch of the dramatic
and the day was done In that part of
his address relating 10 the mental anguish
of the accused, Mr.. WorthiEgton dropped
his voice almost TO whisper and said:
His family were alarmed. They feared
he would rush into the street and shoot
down General Miles the man whom the
accused telt had destroyed his honor
The Last Session.
The last session OF the Eagan court-mar-
tial opened promptly at 10 O'Clock. There
was some slight delay occasioned by
the preliminaries TO The presentation OF
the first witness for the defence David r
Mckee, formerly manager OF the Asso-
ciated Press in Washington.
Mr.. Mckee said he had for nearly forty
five years been close personal friend OF
the accused, the late Commissary Gener-
al. The witness and defendant had been
playmates on the Pacific Coast. Mr.. Mckee
first heard the language used by the defen-
dant in his attack upon General Miles
when he read it in the evening papers
Mr.. Worthington-What impression did
the language used make upon you?
Mr. Mckee, was shocked, grieved as
tonished, and alarmed becaused it seemed
10 me, from my long acquaintance with
him, my knowledge of his character, my
knowledge that he was always courteous
and scTupulously correct in his language
that he had lost his mind. My impression
was one OF absolute fear and belief that un.
der some extraordinary strain he had be.
come utterly insane, because his remark.
were utterly at variance with his usua
language. In the forty years / have
known him ! have never heard him use ;
coarse word or vulgar epithet.
Mr. WorthingtOn-Did you see Genera
Eagan after he had made this statement?
MIR. McKee-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Worthington-Wha took place then
Mr.. Mckee, expressed TO Genera