The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-24

Brigadier General Eagan will p'eai
guilty to the charges to be brought against
him tomorrow for using foul and yitupsr-
ative language against his superior officer
before the Alger Relief Commission. pro-
vided he is satisfied with the wording of
the charges and specifications upon which
he will be tried.
Easan had long conference with Coo
mel Davis. judge advocate OF the court. at
the War Department yesterday. the ques-
tion under consideration being, it is said,
such wording of the charges as wOu d en-
able the Commissary General TO make the
plea of guilty. 1t is claimed by some army
officers that an attempt is being made in
this manner 10 cut and dry the whole af-
fair in order that after the court sentences
the culprit, the President. upoa recom-
mendation of the War Department, may
commute the sentence to d reprimand
without further punishment
II it be found Impossible to make The
charges satisfactory TO General Eagan, Lis
friends declare he viii contest the matter.
setting up proTocation as a defence. This
unusual proceeding of a man constructive
ly under arrest and awaiting trial practi-
cally drawing up charges against himself
TO suit his proposed plea, as is alleged
caused no end of comment among army
officers who were aware of the transaction
yesterday afternoon.
II was stated that if this can be proven
TO the satisfaction of the court the charges
duly approved by Eagan. will be thrown
out and new ones ordered drawn up by
the proper authority.
As a significant coincidence in connec-
tion with the above allegation, Judge Ad-
Vocate Davis yesterday afternoon denied
the correctness of the so-called Eagan
charges and specifications which were pub
lished in certain newspapers. He said
with emphasis:
The charges and specifications will not
be made public until they are read before
the court-martial.
Another officer connected with the law
branch Of the department stated that the
Terbiage of the specifications would be of
little interest, as they would be but ex-
cerpts from Eagan's typewriter statement
read before the Alger Relief Commission
which have been so widely published and
Tepublished.
= ''Clothe those extracts with certain legal
phraseology," said the officer, and you
VIII have the specifications. The charges
are already known from ocean to ocean"
Another phase of the Eagan matter
which is causing indignant comment is
his open violation of army regulations and
precedent in appearing from day 10 day,
since and including last Friday, at his
desk in the War Department, and ap-
parently acting in directive capacity as
Commissary General. 1t is known TO even
privates in the ranks that when an officer
is placed under arrest, constructiyely or
otherwise, it is required of him that he
refrain from making himself conspicuous,
especially at the place where he had here
tofore been on duty.
In ignoring this regulation General
Eagan is regarded as insulting the au-
thorities and emphasizing his own indeli-
cecy- and should be disciplined severely
by the higher powers.
The allegation that the affairs of the
Commissary Department are in such shape
as 10 require his advice and judgment, Of
ficials declare is no excuse for his unmili-
tsry conduct.
sGeneral Comba reached this city last
night and registered at the Ebbitt His
arrival makes five members OF the court
now here. They are Generals Butler
Wade Randall, and Combs, and Colonel
Davis judge advocate. Colonel Gillespie
and other members Will reach Washington
today.
Colonel Weston. who is to succeed Cen
eral Eagan as Commissary General ad
interim and probably permanently,
telegraphed TO the department yes
terday that he was unable. owing to i'll
ness. 10 come TO Washington at the ex-
pec;ed time, but If he is better he will
reach here today and relieve Lieutenant
Colonel Davis, who is now acting under
General Eagan's supervision, it is stated
The trial of the Commissary General,
which will probably begin tomorrow, will
be held in the handsome red parlors on the
first floor Of the Ebbitt House
These apartments viii be supplied today
with writing material and other necessaries
from The War Department.