The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-01-28
VERDICT In EAGAN CASE
RE4 CHED BY THE COURT IN ABOUT
IN HOUR.
Reen Subjected to Considerable Mill
tary Red Tape-May be Reviewed by
Mi1es-Trial Lasted but Three Days
Less Than Eight Hours Actual Sitting.

Washington, Jan. 27.-The case oi
Commissary General Eagan, charged
with conduct unbecoming an officer and
q gentleman and with conduct tending
to the prejudice of good order and mil
itary discipline, is now in the hands of
the court martial appointed to try him.
To-day the taking Of testimony was
closed and arguments of counsel were
submitted The trial has lasted three
days and consumed less than eight
hours of actual sitting. A session be-
hind closed doors of an hour or so suf-
hced for the court to reach a conclusion
and enbody 1t in a report. What the
verdict was Is altogether a matter OF
speculation and officially at least, will
not be made public by the trial board,
military regulations requiring that it's
finding shall go through prescribed
channels and be kept secret until action
be had and promulgated by the proper
reviewing authorities. The attendance
at the court martial was much larger
to-day than at any other time since the
trial began and among the spectators
was a score or more Of ladies'.
The testimony at the closing session
was directed largely to establishing the
fact that the general had lost his ment-
al balance as a result of the charges
made against him by General Miles. His
daughter and her husband told of the
generals changed condition and inti-
mated that they had great fears that
he might at any time kill his accuser.
that at that time he believed him actu-
ally insane. The facts in this connec-
tion We're brought out strongly by Mr..
Worthington In his efforts to show that
General Eagan at times was wholly IT.
responsible. A dramatic incident of the
trial to-day was the testimony of the
generals daughter in which she de-
scribed her fathers appearance on the
day he first read General Miles state
ment Standing in the door of her
house with the newspaper containing
the evidence in his hand, he had ex-
claimed wildly: "I have been crucified
by General Miles"
Throughout the three days of the trial
the members of the court sat in their
places and attentively listened to every
word of the testimony. Only on two or
three occasions did they ask the wit
nesses any questions and then an an
swer of Yes, SIR" or mo, SIR suf-
feed Where their sympathies were or
what was passing in their minds was
not disclosed by even the slightest
change of expression. Immediately up
on the case being closed the room was
ordered cleared and the court went into
executive session to deliberate upon It's
The court was in executive
session for little over an hour, and in
this brief space of time reached it's con-
for it soon became known
when the doors were reopened that the
ourt-martial had made its findings.
The fact was confirmed by the an
from the Judge advocate
that the court had adjourned without
day. 1t can be recalled only to correct
a fault in the proceedings, which is
rare occurrence. OF the nature of the
findings nothing is known positively
outside of the members of the court
This secrecy Is maintained for all time
by the court.
In the regular order the findings and
must now be carefully
gone over by Judge Advocate Davis. |
He thought this afternoon that it was
possible to conclude his task tomorrow
)r Monday. He will place the papers
n the hands of Judge Advocate Cen
3ral Lieber, whose duty it will be to !
make a most careful examination of |
svery part of the record and findings |
With view to the detection of any ir-
'egularities. He will forward the pa
)ers to the secretary of war with his
if he sees fit to add one,
md the secretary will act finally, "by
direction of the president according
o the form of practice adopted in Sec
etary Lamonts time. 1t is possible
or the papers to pass through the
lands of General Miles at some stage
n the proceedings, he acting also in the
apacity of reviewing authority, but
his is not uniform practice and there
vas notable exception in the Garter
ourt- martial.