The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-01-28
EAGAN PUT ON TRIAL.
Court Martial Begins Its Sessions
in Washington.
The Accused Enters n Plea OF Not
Guilty to Charges of Conduct
unbecomlng an Oniccr and
PrcJudiciai To Disc IpIfnc.

Washington. Jan. 20.--The board Of
army officers designated by the secre-
tary of war 10 sii as a couri-ma rtial in
the case OF Brig. Gen. Charles II. Eagan.
commisSary general OF subsistence
charged with conduct unbecoming an
officer and a gentleman. AMI conduct
10 the prejudice OF good order and mill
tary discipline, in connection with his
testimony before the war Investigating
committee. met in the Red parlor OF
the Ebbitt house al ten o'clock Wednes-
day morning and almost Immediately
proceeded 10 the business ia hand
During these preliminary proceed
ings Gen. Eagan exhibited no signs of
nervousness. but the expression of his
face and his manner clearly indicated
that he realized that the trial involved
consequences TO him OF the gravest
character. While he stood listening to
the charges and specifications his face
seemed somewhat palcr than usual. At
the conclusion OF the reading. on be-
ing requested 10 plead TO the speci-
iicatons to the first charge. he said:
Not guilty" not denying. however,
that the specifications set forth cor
reeily part OF he language used.
10 the second charge he pleaded mot
guilty"
The Judge advocate then arose and
said that the case in hand was pc
culiar one. but presented no unusual
difficulties. The accused had seen cit
TO add TO his plea Of not guilty some
words tending TO qualify 1t. but he did
not think the plea relieved the court
from the necessity of proving the facts
alleged. Judge Worthington respond
cd briefly and explained why the quail
flying words had been used upon his
recommendation The specification
did the accused n great injustice in
that IL selected particular expressions
without giving the context. and in one
or more instances the specifications
quoted beginning the middle OF a
sentence. Continuing Mr.. Worthing.
ton said that he desired to state briefly
10 the court the substance of Gen
Eagan's defense Whatever. said he
the court may think OF the propriety
Of the language used by Gen. Eagan
before the war investigating commit
tee. there was no doubt in his Worth
ington's) mind that he was fully protect
cd in using that language by the laws
OF the land. In no court. civil or MILF
tary. he said. could the accused be held
accountable for his language, even IL
il could be shown that the speaker was
actuated by malice. The language
which Gen. Eagan used under these
circumstances was the natural out
burst OF an honest man suffering un.
der an unjust accusation.
In closing Judge Worthington said
that Gen. Eagan could not be held ac-
countable for his language before any
tribunal in this country. civil or mili-
tary, and particularly under the presi-
dents order OF immunity.
Maj. S. c. Mills was called TO testify
on behalf Of the government. He SAID
he was the recorder OF the war inyesti-
eating commission and was present and
heard Gen. Eagan's testimony before
the commission. The manner OF Gen.
Eagan in giving his testimony, he said.
was that of man laboring under great
excitement, but trying TO control his
excitement
Maj. Gen. McCook. retired. a member
OF the war investigating commission,
was the next witness. He was present
and heard part Of Gen. Eagan's testi-
mony before the commission. The
impression | had" he said, was that
Gen. Eagan must be laboring under
great nervous excitement