The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-01-27
GEN EGAN
Says Niles SANDERS We're More
Than he Gould Stand
Testimony in Full.

Washington Jan c5.-The feature Of the
procee Iings before the Eagan court mar
,iai today was the testimony, dramatic
in many parts, in its quiet intensity, OF
Commissary GEN Eagan himself Not
more than Il or % people outside of the
court and dozen OF so newspaper cores
pondents were admitted To- tne trial
rooms Several witnesses proceeded the
chief figure IN the trial.
Gen. Eagan listened intently % the
testimony of these witnesses and occa-
sIonaily held brief whispered conferences
with his counsel He was dressed i'm fun
uniform. without sword. and his florid
face, white hair and moustachc ald sol-
dierly bearing recalled to many the late
Gen. Sheridan to whom he bears a dis
tinct resemblance His call to the stand
this morning was something of O. surprise
as 1t mad been thought u he tcstihed at
all 1t would be later. When his name was
called, The arose, ana standing before the
witness chair. raised mis- right hand took
the oath administered by the Judge adj
vocatc. and at first related his army car
eer.
AS he proceeded in his testimony it
became apparent that the line Of defense
would be justification and extreme pro-
vocation, finally bringing on serious
nervous condition which rendered the wit
ness unfit for business and made him to
a degree irresponsible for his acts. The
presidents order OF immunity, It was also
made evident. wo be relied on as ap-
plicable TO Gen. L is testimony before
the war commission and that therefore
the court martial had no proper iurlsdlc-
Tion OF the case. When Gen Eaean he
gan the story of Gen. Miles aspersons on
MIN he ,raised his voice somewhat. and
spoke wan great earnestness. though
with perfect enunciation. In speaking of
the criticisms OF the newspapers which
ne said had been called forth bv Cen
Nlles testimony, his manner was in.en
sey dramatic and Impressive. His evea
hHed with tears and his voice trembled
ana the Impression he left with many was
uecidedly favorable. After the court ad-
Jourhed several members shook his hand
ana In a friendly way asked after b,s
health. '''
When the Eagan court marital ro-o, d.
sembled today Judge Advocate Do,t,
stated that he wished to submit fornaIl,
the tesumonv Of General Miles. as read
yesterday as an exhibit in this trial and
win this statement, he said the prose.
Sutloh rested It's case. Mr. Wortbingtot,
'ounsel Tor General Eagan read several
eNhloi's IN connection with tho teetimonv
re"u at yesterdays session Of the court
ihese included the correspondence he
tween GeHeral Miles and General Eap,p
through the adjutant general. on which
the latter asked as to whether the inter-
view published in a New York newenopor
IN which General Miles is alleged 10 havo
severely criticised the commissarv eapor-
ais department, was authoritative Ex-
tracts from the alleged interview were
also read and submitted as a part Of tba
record.
Col. w. l.. Alexander United States
army of the subsistence department. was
she hrst witness called by the defenso
General Eagan, he said was hastily go
ing over papers in connection with his
testimony and showed signs of great ex-
citement. General Eagan nervously han
died the papers and witness had rarely
seen man in such a nervous condition.
his manner was so exceptional that ne
asked Colonel Davis of the commissary
department who was present, whether
the general was not in. lie had been
intimately connected with General Eagan
but never before had he seen him in such
a condition. General Merritt asked
whether, TO his knowledge, General Ea-
gan had consulted any one as to the sub
stance of his testimony TO be presented
10 the commission. Colonel Alexander
answered that so far as he knew Cen
eral Eagan had not.
Colonel George b. Davis, assistant 20
Cimmssary General Eagan. was the next
witness He testified that he had been
very closely associated with General Ea-
gan during the last several months He
was in the office the day General Miles
gave his testimony before the war com
mission and as soon as General Eagan
saw the published staement OF his testi-
mony he became considerably excited and
wrote to General Miles, asking as to the
truth of an interview published with Gen
eral Miles As the time went on his eX-
citement increased to such an extent that
he did not and apparently could not at
tend 20 the duties of his office Later on
General Eagan reached such a state that
he could not attend 10 any business. The
day before General Eagan appeared be
fore the commission, he read ais state
ment over TO the witness, who urged him
10 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 be-
ing received criticizing General Eagan,
and these greatly increased his excite
ment. Some of these clippings carried the
idea that General Eagan was amurderer
and that he had acted corruptly In send
ing unfit food to the army. Luring these
days the witness said General Eagan was
wholly unfit to perform the ordinary du-
ties Of his office.
Miss Mllard. General Eagans stenog-
rapher was then called. She had taken
nearly all of the generals dictatons since
September Is last and testified that she
took the dictation of the generals state
nlent before the commission. from the
lime General Miles gave his testimony be-
fore the commission, General Pagan was
greatly excited and while he was die
tating his statement he walked the floor
in an excited state II had never been
his habit 10 walk the floor while die
tating The statement was not fully COM
pleted until the day II was presented TO
the commission. She saw General Eagan
only a few minutes before he left TO ap-
pear before the commission and he was
then in such a nervous state that his
hand trembled. The witness thought that
the general had never been able TO read
the statement through "a whole from
she tIme il was begun until it was read
a. tha communication