The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-27

Inc statement was not fully completed
until the day it was presented to the
commission. The witness thought that
the general had never been able to
read the statement through as a whole
from the time it was begun until 1t
was read to the commission.
Gen. Eagan himself was the next
witness. He said ne entered the vol
unteer army in 1851 and in 1856 was
made second lieutenant in the fegu-
lar army. He then briefly gave a his
tory of his military career, which in
cluded several campaigns against the
Indians. He received a wound in the
Modoc war, for which he received a
brevet. During the war with Spain
he had been in his office every day
with one exception, and had worked
early ana late. Heshad given his testi-
mony before the commission under
oath-preferably so. He had first read
Gen. Miles Statement in the Washing
ton papers. For a long time he feared
that he might not be called before the
commission, but he finally received q
summons to appear.
Even then he was not fully prepared,
as his statement necessarily involved
the preparation of records, etc. He had
held a conversation with the secretary
of war, in the course OF which he told
the secretary that he desired to defend
himself by bringing proceedings
against Gen. Miles, but was told that
the immunity granted by the president
would prevent any such action. Wit
ness accepted this as the fact, but he
did not think that this immunity COW
cred the newspaper interviews in which
Gen. Miles had by inference declared
him to be a murderer for gain.
This statement Of Gen. Miles, in
the opinion of the witness, had taken
away his (Eagan's) character he
could not proceed against Gen. Miles
in the courts or otherwise, and he felt
that he might better be dead in the
gutter.
During the recital, Gen. Eagan's eyes
filled with tears, his voice trembled and
he spoke very feelingly.
His honor as a soldier, he continued,
had been attacked and a soldiers
honor should be as sacred as the honor
of woman. He had kept his sorrow
to himself He had kept away from
the clubs. and very soon he found he
could not sleep. He felt that the peo-
pie of this country had come to be-
lieve that he was a dishonest man. but
l am honest now" said the general
with feeling, land believe that no one
who knews me will believe that l am
a dishonest man. My record is clean,
my uniform is unsullied, but have
D66n ElanQeTeQ ana WrOnBGu.
In answer to a question by his coun-
sci as to whether he had received any
benefit for any contract he had made,
Gen. Eagan said with great feeling:
mo; on my honor and before my
God not one cents profit gain did
ever receive and yet my office has dis
bursed S19,000,009, and I am now poor
man, so poor that have not now suf-
ficient money with which to pay your
Fee"
AS be (Eagan) understood public
sentiment, the public believed him to be
a murderer and for gain, and he was
greatly racked in body and brain in
Consequence. He was goaded to death
and was very glad of a chance to ap-
pear before the commission and
through them, 100000 of people, in
the defense of his honor. During this
irnpassioned and impressive recital
each member of the court listened in
tently to every word spoken, and every
eye was fastened upon the speaker The
incident was dramatic in the extreme
At IL o'clock noon Mr.. Worthington
announced that he was unable to pro-
coed with his case. as the secretary of
war. whom he desired to call as g. wit
ness. was now before the war investi-
getting commission and he could not ap-
pear Other witnesses also could not
appear until tomorrow Thereupon the
court adjourned until 10 o'clock tomor-
row morning.