The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-27
nesses, but that ne hoped to be able to
proceed in the matter in the civil courts
THE STENOGRAPHER'S STORY.

nesses, but that ne hoped to be able &c
proceed in the matter in the civil courts.
THE STENOGRAPHER'S STORY.
Miss Miliard. General Eagan's stenogra-
pher, was then called. She had taker
nearly all of the generals dictations since
September 13 last and testified that she
took the dictation of the generals state
ment before the commission. From the
time General Miles gave his testimony
before the commission. General Eagan was
greatly excited, and while he was die
tating his statement he walked the hoor
in an excited state. 1t had never been his
| habit to walk the floor while debating.
| The statement was not fully completed
| until the day il was presented to me COM
| mission. She saw General Eagan only a
| few minutes before he left 10 appear 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, as a whole. from the time it was
begun until it was read to the commission.
a MURDERER FOR GAIN"
Mr.. Rodgers, clerk in the office Of the
commissary general, was the next witness.
He had been in the Office since 1891 and
| since General Eagan came to the office
| ne had seen him frequently every day.
After General Miles statement had been
made public General Eagan's appearance
was greatly changed He looked haggard
and worn and at times was greatly ex-
cited. Witness thought that General Ea-
gan had come to believe that public senti-
ment was strong against him and that the
:
ment as true and this worried him greatly.
As the days passed his nervous disturb
ance greatly increased until he appeared
before the commission. On one occasion
the witness went to General Eagan's desk
and spoke TO him on a matter Of office
business. AS he approached the desk the
general said, apparently TO himself, "I am
a murderer. and for gain" This he re-
peated several times IN an absent-mnded
way He did not appear to notice the
witness.
EAGAN ON THE STAND.
General Eagan himself was the next wit
ness. He said he entered the volunteer
army in 1861 and in 1856 was made Sec
ond lieutenant in the regular army. He
then briefly gave history of his military
aglnst the Indians. He received a wound
in the Modoc war, for which he received
brevet During the war with Spain he
had beer in his office every day with one
exception. and had worked early and late
He had given his testimony before the
commission under oath preferably so. He
had first read General Miles statement in
the Washington papers. For long time
he feared that he might not be called be-
fore the commission, but he finally receiv-
ed a summons to appear. Even then he
was not fully prepared. as his statement
necessarily involved the preparation of
records. etc.
NO CHANCE TO GET EVEN.
He had held a conversation with the sec
rotary of war. in the course OF which he
told the secretary that he desired to de-
fend himself by bringing proceedings
against General Miles. but was told that
the imrkInity granted by the president
would prevent any such action. Witness
accepted this as a fact, but he did not
think that this immunity covered the
newspaper interview in which General
Miles had by inference declared him to be
a murderer for gain. Witness said he be-
came greatly excited. This statement of
General Miles. in the opinion of the wit
ness. had taken away his (Eagan's) char
acter. He could not proceed against Gem
eral Miles. in the courts or otherwise. and
he felt that he might better be dead in
the gutter
HIS EYES FILL WITH TEARS.
During this recital General Eagan's ewes
InI ,,-;t, = ~.
spoke very feelingly. His honor as a SOL
der. he continued. had been attacked. and
a soldiers honor should be as sacred as
the honor of a woman. He had kept his
sorrow to himself. He had kept awav
from the clubs and very soon he found he
could not sleep. He felt that the people
OF this country had come to believe that
he was dishonest man.
But am an honest man" said the gen.
eral with feeling. land I believe that no
one who knows me will believe that am
a dishonest man. My record IS clean. my
uniform is unsullied. but have been slam
dered and wronged."
In answer to a question by his counsel
as to whether he had ever received any
benefit for any contract he had made. Cen
eral Eagsn said with great feeling:
NO: on my honor and before my God.
not one cents profit or gain did ever r.
ceive. and Vet my Office has discussed SO
06o0 oo and I am now poor man. 50 poor
that have not now sufficient money with
which 10 nav your fee"
As he CEaganl understood public senti-
ment, the public believed him to be mur-
derer and for gain. and he was greatly
Tacked in body and brain in consequence.
He was goaded 10 death and was very glad
OF a chance To appear before the commits
sion an. through them, 100000 people. in
the defense "a his honor.
DRIVEN NEARLY DISTRACTED
During this fmpassioned and impressive
recital each member of the court llStsned
intentIy 70 every word spoken and every
eve was fastened upon tbs speaker The
incident was dramatic in the extreme. The
witness spoke az his mental and physical
condition between the time General Miles
gave his testimony and The time he him
self had appeared He could not get I'd
q the thought that the country believed
him 70 be a murderer ard for gain ard Il
drove him nearly 70 distraction
M Worthington then read 2 large 1Una-
Der of Newspaper clippings. many 90 which
spoke OF General Easan IS = scouudrei.
and demanded hIs dismissal from the
army.
At = o'clock Mr worthington announced
that he was unable % proceed with his
case. as the secretary % Ear- whom Re
desired 20 cali as a witness. vas noR a@
fore The war Investigating commission ard
ccgid rot appear Other witnesses s-s3
could rot appear until ;eDcTroS. There
upo- the court adJoorne5 MIX le a'elock
tomorrow morning