The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-27
He Said His Honor as Sol
der Had Been Attacked.

= Washington, Jan. 26.-The feature of
the proceedings before the Eagan court
martial today was the testimony, dra-
matte in many parts in its quiet inten-
sity, Of Commissary Eagan himself.
Not more than Is or 20 people outside
paper correspondents were admitted to
the trial room. Several witnesses pre-
'ceded the chief figure in the trial. Gen
Eagan listened intently to the testi-
mony Of those witnesses, and occasion
ally held brief whispered consultations
with his counsel. He was dressed in
full uniform, without sword, and his
f1orid face, white hair and moustache
and soldieriy bearing recalled to many
the late Gen. Sheridan, to whom he
bears distinct resemblance. His call
to the stand this morning was some
thing of surprise, as it had been
thought that 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 administered 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 provocation, finally bring
ing on serious nervous condition
which rendered the witness unfit for
business and made him to a degree ir-
responsible for his acts 1t was also
do auid bat ba Nj
OF immunity would be relied on as APP
plicable to Gen. Eagans testimony be-
fore the war commission, and that
therefore it would be claimed that the
court martial had no proper jurisdic-
ton in the case. When Gen. Eagan be-
gan the story of Gen. Miles aspersions
on him he raised his voice somewhat
and spoke with great earnestness,
though with perfect enunciation. In
speaking of the criticisms of the news
papers, which he said had been called
forth by Gen. Niles testimony, his
manner was intensely dramatic and
impressive. His eyes filled with tears
and his voice trembled, and the inn
preston he left with many was de-
cidedly favorable. After the court ad-
journed several members shook his
hand. and in friendly way asked af-
ter his health.
When the Eagan court-martial
reassembled today, Judge Advo-
cate Davis stated that he
wished to submit formally the testi-
mony of Gem Miles. as read yesterday,
as an EXHIBIT III this trial, and with this
statement, he said, the prosecution
rested it's case.
Col w. l.. Alexander. III. S. A., of the
subsistence department, was the first
witness called by the defence. He said
he returned to Washington from ia
maica on the morning of the day Gen.
Eagan gave his testimony before the
investigating committee. Gen. Eagan,
he said, was hastily going over papers
in connection with his testimony and
showed signs of great excitement. Gen.
Eagan nervously handled the papers,
and witness had rarely seen man in
such a nervous condition. His manner
was so exceptional that he asked Col.
Davis of the commissary department,
who was present, whether the general
was not i'll. He had been intimately
connected with Gen. Eagan, but never
before had he seen him in such condi-
ton. Gen. Merritt asked the witness
whether, to his knowledge, Gen. Eagan
had consulted anyone as to the sub
stance of his testimony to be presented
to the commission. Col. Alexander an
swered that so far as he knew Gen. Ea-
gan had not.
Col George B. Davis, assistant to
Commissary-Gen Eagan, was the next
witness. He testified that he had been
very closely associated with Gen. Ea-
gan during the last several months. He
was in the office the day Gen. Miles
gave his testimony. He became cons
siderably excited. Gen. Eagan had
written to Gen. Miles, asking as to the
truth Of an interview published with
Gen. Miles.
Mr.. Rodgers, a clerk in the office of
the commissary- general, was the next
witness. He had been in the office since
1881, and since Gen. Eagan had come to
the office he had seen him frequently
every day since Gen. Miles statement
had been, made public Gen. Eagan's
appearance was greatly changed. He
looked haggard and worn and at times
was greatly excited. Witness thought
that Gen. Eagan had come to believe
that public sentiment was strongly
against him and that the public had
accepted Gen. Miles statement as true
and this worried him greatly
On one occasion the witness went to
Gen. Eagan,s desk and spoke to him on
a matter of office business. AS he APP
preached the desk the general said ap-
pain tly to himself II am murderer
and for gain. 1 am a murderer and for
gain This he repeated several times
IN an aosentminded way. He did not
appear to notice the witness.
AS time went on his excitement in
creased to such an extent that he did
not and apparently could not attend to
the routine duties OF his office. Later
on Gen. Eagan reached such a state
ment that he could not attend to any
business. The day before Gen. Eagan
appeared before the commission he
read MS statement over to the witness.
VINO urged him to modify it somewhat,
put ne would not listen and walking
UP anu uoWn the room said he would
NOT cnange a word of it. He was then
in very nervous state. Newspaner
Clippings We're constantly being re-
ceiVeo crlticising Gen. Eaean and tbesa
greatly increased his Excitement So,,,e
of these clippings carried the idea thar
Cen Eagan was murderer and that
he had acted corruptly in sending nm
NJ tood 10 the army. During these DAYS
tue swttnsss ssald Gen. Eagan was who'll
duties Of his office. iti'iS
Miss Willard, Gen. Eagan's stenog.
rapher, was then called. She had talsen
nearly all of the. generals dicta tinns
since Sept. 10 last, and testified tba3
she took the dictation of the generals
statement before the war INVESTIGATES
coz nissitn. From the time Gan
Miles gave his testimony before, tha
commission, Gen. Eagan was aati,5
excited and while he was dictatine hjs
statement he walked the floor in az
excited state. 1t had never bean he
habit to walk the floor while dfctating
MANY PEOPLE CANNOT DRINK
coffee at night. 1t spoils their sleep. You
can drink GRAIN-O when you please ana