Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-18
EACAN TO Be TRIED
President Has Ordered a Court
Martial in His Case
ACTION TAKEN YESTERDAY
~ Cabinet Unanimously in Favor
Of Such a Step.
VERY SEVERE CHARGE
coodnct UnbecOminG an Omcer mn"
c.n,rsuao-The Penalty Is Dis
uiSsai-GcneraI Merritt May fre-
.ide over the Trib"nai'
VERY SEVERE


's,~,lv after it assembled for its regular
~..ss,v session that he had decided TO
- court-martial to try Commissary-
-,i voean for the abusive and violent
60 he had used respecting Major
-.i Miles while on the witness-stand
-. ,ne War Investigating Commission
lsa Thursday ,no
r,sr since the sensational event the
v-,.s-t has been carefully deliberating
- che matter and has had frequent
.,,.,,,ons with army officers ana
.-, -srarding the steps that shouiu |
- ...sr for he was convinced at tne
80, ,hat the question Tor cOhsiuela
80 r,s what action should De taheh anu
whether any disciplinary medsuis sS a.
- That he should take some ac-
e. ,-ss vigorously argued at the last
s..ton After the last session ne helo
-oDforence with the Secretary OF war
80 Asiutant-General Corbin. 1t was de-
-t5+s IN discipline General Eagan for his
utterauces.
DECIDED YESTERDAY MORNING..
A. the Cabinet meeting to-day the Pres
fsent said he had decided that there was
rrlv one course TO adopt and tha' was u
o-5e- "a court-martial at once 10 Try Ten
eral Eagan. IL. ,h,s
rho decision was reached only TINS
morning. notwithstanding the reports ina.
a. rad been decided on yesterday IL
~ ,,naninnous approval Of the Cabi-
rst Three Of the Presidents oihcial au-
,,isers-Secretary Alger, Secretary WILSON,
ond Postuoaster-G General Emory smith
4rera absent. but IN each case their views
are known 10 coincide thoroughly WIN
the President 5.
CONDUCT UNBECOMING AN OFFICER
Details OF the action were left with the
Secretary OF War, who had Withdrawn
lust prior 70 the session 10 return 10 lhe
War Department 10 put in mouon the
machinery for the convening OF the
rourt While Il was definitely stated az
- the Cabinet meeting what speciiica-
tions would be made against General
Eaean. IL is understood that the specific
charge on which he will be tried viii be
conduct unbecoming an officer and gen.
tlenan. The personnel of the court was
not taken up that phase of the action
being held to be not a Cabinet matter,
but one that rested between the Presi-
dent aud the Secretary Of War.
General Wesley Il. Merritt, formerly
eommander-in-chief Of the Philippines,
has been mentioned as likely to preside
over the court and a Cabinet member
sid that he would not be surprised at
General Merritts selection.
THE PERSONNEL NOT ANNOUNCED.
contrary 10 general expectation no an
r0uncement Of the personnel OF the court
was made at the War Department up TO
the close of business this evening. Adju-
t4nt-General COrbin at the last moment,
iu reply to a question, said that he had
nothing whatever to make public touch-
i1g the Eagan case Secretary Alger was
"a. W.. II. oil q
The afternoon. and just before the close
taephoned that he would not return to
hls Office during the day. He spent the
morning at the White House, and left
there just before the Cabinet convened.
and went 10 his house with Adjutant-
General Corbin and remained there.
ALGER ISN'T MAD.
u was supposed that he was perfectina
some arrangements concerning the details
of ;he court. But this was only a guess
Secretary Alger is going 10 New York al
r.lnisht, so unless he acts upon thi.
matter before his departure there may be
delay until his return. The fact thai
Secretary Alger was not present at the
t-aiue. meeting was seized at once as
Eel VI trouble in the Cabinet and sOor
tte usual rumor OF dissensions and an in
teluou on the part of the Secretary t,
resign was afioat. There was no foun
cation for these in fact. and Secretar,
"-ers colleagues promptly and emphati
c-.y denied them as soon as their atten
tol was drawn TO the matter.
WHO WILL TRY HIM?
ll the absence Of the announcement o
N lerail for the court martial there wa
auoI deal OF speculation az 20 its com
lsrou. The general practice is for
lrty OF the court TO consist OF IN
Is or superiors in rank OF the deieno
at This would make the task OF selecl
Ig t.e court a hard one, because II
r easy 10 fnd a sufficient number
gleral officers ranking with a brigadiel
i b, au,uae '"sNy is pyApi,ted the appointIn
t-'t0rty in such selections as the mint
article " war reads: NO officer shal
Vh.a .t can be avoided, be tried by on
es-s Inferior in rank"
To viii be noticed that the phrase, y
i can be- avoided" leaves opportunity 10
Il DE appointment Of junior officers.
II THE PENALTY DISMISSAL.
TIE mention OF General Merritt's nam
g. PRECEDENT Of the court was due 10 tn
iact taat be Is the only available major
general of the regular army. the other
bs.lg General Brooke in Cuba and Ger
tfa Miles here. neither regarded as ayai
toe The friends OF General Merritt al
'rfNt mat ne VIII not De sfltcttu, lcdl
te mat he will be accused OF prejudic
tl 0le OF perhaps both sides The pei
sliy Tor the offence on which Gener'
Lagan probably will be tried-condu'
s1lecoming an officer and a gentleman
one OF the most severe known in II
amy being dismissal
Article LXi. reads as follows: "Ar
efeor who Is convicted OF conduct unb
emllg an oficer and gentleman shall
e'mlssed from the service"
y the court shall find General Eaga
tiiiy. even with eXtenuating circur
Stances. they must attach this sentenc
ana then the only hope of the ofiic
would be IN the exercise Of ck(nency
me President.
GENERAL MIIESS ATTITUDE.
Just prior 10 the Cabinet meeting Ge
eral Miles made rather unusual ca
upon two Of the members OF the Qat
As.-secrstaries Hay and Long. He NJ
Just returned 80 the city from New for
and when spoken 20 with reference
tne Lsgan case adhered 10 his origin