The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-27
He Had Been Goaded Into an ex-
tremeIy Nervous Condition.
HIS HONOR HAD BEEN ASSAIle0
And Hc Felt That He Had Better Bc
Dead aud in the Gutter-Hc Had
Never Received any Gain
Through Army Contracts.
His Evidence Made
Good Impression.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 2s.-The feature
Of the proceedings before the Easan
Court Martial to-day was the testimony
dramatic I'm many parts. OF commissAry
General Eagan himself. Not more than
fifteen or twenty people outside OF the
court, and a dozen or so newspaper cor
respondents were admitted to the trial
room.
Several witnesses preceded the chief
figure IN the trial
General Eagan listened intently TO tho
testimony OF these witnesses and occa-
sionally held brief whispered conferences
with his counsel He was dressed in full
uniform without sword and his norid
face. white hair and moustache and sol
diery bearing recalled to many the late
General sheridan 10 whom he bears =
distinct resemblance. Ills call % the
stand this morning was something ~ a
surprise. as Il had been thought that II
he testified al an It would be later.
his DEFENSE.
As he proceeded I'm his testimony it
became apparent that the line OF defense
would be justification and extreme prov
ooation finally bringing on q serious ner-
vous condition. which rendered the wit
ness unfit for business and made him 10
degree irresponsible for his acts. The
Presidents order OF immunity. IL was
also made evident would be relied on as
applicable 10 General Eagan's testimony
before the War Commission and that
therefore the court martial had no proper
jurisdiction OF the case
After the court adjourned several mem
hers shook his hand and in a friendly
way asked after his health
Ihe witnesses for tho defence who pre-
ceded General Eagan on the stand We're
Colonel ". l.. Alexander. L. :. A. or
tho subsistence department: Colonel
George h. Davis. assistant to Commits
sary-General Eagan; Miss Millard. Cen
eral Eagan's stenographer. and Mr.. Rod
gers clerk In the ofiice OF the Com
missary General. They testified that
General Eagan lad been laboring under
a great mental strain ever since General
Miles appeared before the War Investi-
eating Commission.
The day before General Eagan appear
ed before the commission he read mis-
statement over 70 the witness. who urged
him 10 modify II somewhat. but he would
not listen, and. walking up and down
the room. said he would not change A
word in a. lie was then I'm n very ner-
Nous state. General Eagan followed Mr..
Rodgers.
IN SELF-DEFENCE.
During the war with SPAIN he said. he
had been in his office every day. with
one exception. and had worked early ami
late. He had given HIS testimony before
tho commission under oath (preferably
so). flo had read General Miles state
ment in the Washington papers For \
H.. 80
bo called before tho commission. but he
finally received a summons 10 attend. Even
then he was not fully prepared. AS his
statement necessarily involved tho pre-
paration OF records. etc.
He had held A conversation with the
Secretary OF War In the course or which
he told the Secretary that he desired 20
defend himself by bringing proceedings
against General Miles. but was told that
the immunity granted by the President
would prevent any such action. Witness
accepted this as the fact but he did not
think that this immunity covered the
newspaper interview in which General
Miles by inference declared him 20 be
murderer FOR gain. Witness said he be-
came greatly excited.
HIS HONOR ASSAILED.
This statement Of General Miles IN
the opinion Of the witness had taken
away his (Eagan's) character lie could
not proceed against General Miles in tho
courts or otherwise and he felt that he
might better be dead I'm the gutter.
His honor. as a soldier. he continued.
has been attacked. and a soldiers honor
should be as sacred as the honor OF
woman lie had kept his sorrows fo
himself. he had kept away from the
clubs and very soon he found that he
could not sleep lie felt that the people
Of this country had como 20 believe that
he was a dishonest man. But am an
honest man." said the General with feel
ing "aud ] believe that no one who
knows ne will believe that I am dis
honest man. My record Is clean my
uniform Is unsullied but l have boen
slandered and wrOnged.'
In answer to a question by his counsel
as 20 whether he had ever received any
benefit for any contract he had made.
General Eagan said with great feeling,
mo: on my honor and before my God.
not one cent OF profit or gain did ever
receive and yet my Otfice has disbursed
Sl9 10000 and ! am now a poor man, 80
poor that | have not now sunicient
money with which 20 pay your Zee. ne
was goaded 10 death and was very glad
OF chance 10 appear before the com
mission and through them ,o'oo.v" OF
paople In the defence OF his honor.
Mr.. Worthington then read from "A
large number OF newspapers. cAplings,
many Of which spoke OF General Eagah
as a scouncrel and demanded his dis
mssal from the army
At u o'clock Mr.. Worthngton an
nOunced that he was unable 10 proceed
with this case as the Secretary or war.
whom he desired TO call as witness
was now before the War Investigating
Commission and could not appear, otner
witnesses could not appear untl To-
morrow. thereupon tho court ADJOURNED
untn 10 o'clock tomorrow.