The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-27
General Eagan Denounces Those
Who Call Him Dishonest.
HIS IMPRISONED WORDS
Declares He Might Be Better Dead in the
Gutter Than to Live Under the Inn
putation That He Is Muir
derer for Gain.

| martial to-day was the testimony, ORA
matte in many parts in its quiet inten-
sity, of Commissary General Eagan
himself. Not more than Is or 20 people
outside of the court and a dozen or SO
newspaper correspondents were admit
| ted to the trial rooms. Several wit
nesses preceded the chief figure in the
| trial.
General Eagan listened intently to
the testimony of these witnesses and
occasionally held brief whispered con-
ferences with his counsel. He was
| dressed in full uniform without sword,
and his florid face, white hair and mus
tache and soldier1y bearing recalled to
| many the late General Sheridan, to
whom he bears a striking resemb-
lance.
His call to the stand was something
OF surprise, as 1T had been thought
If he testified at ALL it would be later.
When his name was called he rose and
standing before the witness chair,
raised his right hand, took the oath adj
ministered by the Judge advocate and
at first related his army career. AS he
proceeded in his testimony it became
apparent that the line of defense would
be justification and extreme provoca-
ton, finally bringing on a serious nery-
GUS condition, which rendered the wit
ness unfit for. business and made him,
to degree, irresponsible for his acts.
The presidents order of immunity, it
was also made evident, would be re-
lied on as applicable to General Ea-
CAMS testimony before the war COM
mission and that the court martial had
no proper jurisdiction of the case.
When General Eagan began the story
of General Miles aspersion of him, he
raised his voice somewhat and spoke
with great earnestness, though with
perfect enunciation. In speaking of the
criticisms of the newspapers, which he
said had been called forth by General
Miles testimony, his manner was in
tensely dramatic and impressive. His
eyes were filled with tears and his voice
trembled and at the end the impress
sion that he left with many was de-
cidedly favorable. After the court adj
journed several members shook his
hand and in friendly way asked after
his health. ~
When the Eagan court martial
reassembled to-day Judge Advo-
cate Davis stated that he wished
to submit formally the testimony of
Miles as read yesterday, as an ex-
hibit in this trial and with this state
ment he said, the prosecution rested
it's case. ~
Worthington, counsel for Eagan, read
several exhibits in connection with the
testimony read at yesterdays session
of the court.
Col. w. L. Alexander, U. S. A., of the
subsistence department, was the first
witness called by the defense. He saw
Eagan on the morning Of the day the
latter gave his testimony before the war
investigating commission. Eagan, he
said, showed signs Of great excitement.
EaeanS manner was so exceptional
that he (Alexander) asked Colonel Da-
Wis of the commissary department, who
was present, whether the general was
not i'll.
Col George B. Davis, assistant to
Eagan, was the next witness. He was
in Eagans office the day Miles gave his
testimony before the war investigating
commission and as soon as Eagan saw
the published statement of his testi-
mony he became considerably excited
and wrote to Miles asking as to the
truth of the interview published with
Miles. AS the time went on his excite
ment increased to such an extent he
did not and apparently could not attend
to the duties of his office. Later on
Eagan reached such state he could
not attend to any business. The day
before Eagan appeared before the COM
mission he read his statement to the
witness, who urged him to modify it
somewhat. but he would not listen, and
walking up and down the room, said
he would not change a word of it,
Newspaper clippings were constantly
being received criticising Eagan, and
these greatly increased his excitement.
Some of these clippings carried the idea
Eagan was a murderer and he had
acted corruptly in sending unfit food to
the army. Davis said Eagan's conduct
of the office was perfectly honest and
had always had the good of the soldier
at heart more than other commissary
generals of whom he had ever known
or heard of.
Miss Willard. Eapan's stenographer,
testified to taking the commissary gen
erals statement from dictation. She
had never seen Eagan in such a state
of excitement.
Mr. Rogers, clerk in Eagan's office,
testified to the great change in Eagan's
manner after the publication of Miles
testimony before the war commission.
The commssary general was haggard
and nervous. On one occasion witness
went to Eagan's desk on a matter of
business. AS he anproached the desk
the general said, apparently to himself:
Il am murderer, and for GAIN This.
he repeated several times in an absent
minded way. He did not appear to no
tice witness.
Eagan himself was the next witness
He gave the history of his military ca
reer.
He had tried to bring a proceeding
against Miles, but Alger told him the
immunity which had been granted wit
| nesses before the commission pre-
vented this. The witness accepted this
as fact. but he did not think this
immunity covered newspaper inter-
views, in which Miles had by inference
declared him to be a murderer for gain.
The witness said he became greatly eX-
cited. as this statement of Miles in the
opinion of the witness had taken away
his (Eagan's) character. He could not
proceed against Miles in the courts or
otherwise. He felt he might better be
dead in the gutter.
During this recital Eagan's eyes filled
with tears. He felt the people of this
country had come to believe he was a
dishonest man. But ! am an honest
man" said the general, with feeling,
land I believe no one who knows me
will believe I am dishonest man. My
record is clean; my uniform is unsul-
lied. but I have been slandered and
wronged."
In answer to a question by his coun-
to pbatbar ba had aver received