New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-27
EAGAN DEFENDS HIMSELF.
GREAT PRovOCATIoN GIVEN As EXCUSE
FOR ATTACKING MILES.
DRIVES TO DESPERATION. HE SAYS. Br
THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HIM
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE
COURT MARTIAL
cOrRT- MARITAL
inT TELEGRAPH ~ rHE rninrvEl

first almost wholly 10 Celebrating the manifold
series of extenuatlng circumstances which are
relied upon 10 secure the clemency of the review
INK authorities. The prosecution. which has con-
tented itself 80 far with the production % only
two witnesses. who testified that General Eagan
before tho Investigation Commission used the
gross language published in rhe papers two
weeks ago, has apparently been relieved % the
necessity OF further proof by the admission Il
the accused Officer that the quotations under
each charge are practically accurate. The strict
ly military offence General Eagan Is considered
by the Judge advocate 20 have acknowledged.
although pleading rot guilty 20 the charges.
This course was adopted liz order 10 develop the
argument thar the language could be justified. or
least excused
In addition 90 tho claim adroi,ly put forth by
General Eagans counsel that the testimony o,
every witness before the War Investigating Com
mission possessed immunity by virtue q the
Presidents promise The point emphasized
to-day that the Commissary-General was driven
out of his wits by the terrible accusation alleged
20 have been made against HIN by the Major
General commanding tho Army and that the
subsequent assaults q the press OF The country
had goaded him into an infur.ated desperats
state such as :; was asserted would render any
man unaccountable for his acts
GENERAL EAGANs PASSIONATE TEMPER
The judge-advocate and the court, notwith-
standing the notoriety Of the commissary-Gen-
erals habitual irascibiity. refrained from cross
examining the witnesses who to-day testified
that General Eagan was not himself when hs
deliberately prepared his datribe against his
superior officer The impression that General
Eagan was not frequently dying into a rage was
skllfully spread all over the court-rnartial
record. although a few questions would have
demolished II. The witnesses were not asked II
General Eagan had not written 20 r. 3. Roose-
veit Of NewYork last summer in the same
tone tha,, he adopted toward General Miles. and
whether he had not frequently displayed uncon-
trol.aole passion in the routine conduct of his
Office
The testimony adduced to-day all went n
show that General Eagan 50 deeply in
censcd over the reference OF General Miles 10
the 'embalmed beef which had been FED 10
soldiers that he dared not permit himself 20 go
back 70 th- War Commission and retute the
charges, but took four days % dictate 70 a
young woman in his Office the disgusting foul
ness which he afterward save O. the Commis-
sion as well as 10 the newspapers. T. was SHOWN
that his colleagues urged him 20 amend the
statement to condne mis- recital 70 facts and
arguments instead OF mere abuse and billings
gate; but he was obstinate and toe excited 20
act lntelligently"
General Eagan himself srs-t half hour or
the witness stand telling how ha had tried 20
hold himself In check AID 10 suppress his feel
ings bat he set thai his duty as ar honest SOL
der and an upright man was 20 hull the charges
back with the same violence as they struck him.
Tomorrow Secretary Aiger and sou-in-law
OF General Eagan VIII testify fer the defence 70
corroborate the plea Of General Eagans semi-in-
sanity a. the time he was concocting his
vituperatior and unless the Judge advocate
alters his determination 70 call 70 witnesses IN
rebuttal the case viii end.
GENERAL EAGANS TESTIMONY
The following is stenograDhic report OF the mors
important parts a General Eagan's testimony:
Q Do YOU remember how .oas before you sp-
peared before the Commission 70 make your state
-rent in reply 70 General Niles you had received
notice that you could appear? =. do 10, recall It
exactly. sr
Q was the day fixed when you were 70 sppesrT
A Yes. sir.
@ Do YOU remember the date? a. No, sir.
O. Did you take any steps looking toward havirg
the question which was rals.d between you ard
General Mlea by his siateraeat adjgdcatei By
court-mart.a? A. Yes. sir.
0. What was II? A 7 mad q conversation with
the Secretary OF War 90 no. remember his exact
language, but u Impressed NE as peremptory tlat
General Miles covered oy the immunity grant
ed by the President as to all svitnesses wno tesu-
fed before the Commission.
Q Before you 20 on. I will ask you what you said
70 the Secretary. A. That desired 70 correct these
grave charges that I murderer and thief.
wholesale
@. You took some action Ga you not, With reia-
ton % an article which appeared IN the newspa-
pers7 A When I the alleged interview with
General Miles in The New-york Journal {, drove
me nearly crazy because II emphasized thing that
affected ne most. Il emphasized prstcnce % ex-
pertinent II emphasized 70 my mind that was
willing and had been guilty OF feeding poisonous
food 70 soldiers for gain. ! addressed etter % the
Adjutant-General. and asked that action be taken.
believing at that time that the Immunity granted
BY the Presiden; dd not extend outside % ihe
courtroom. 7 believed that the immunity covered
any and every body there. and I believed tha, T.
was a very good thing az the time because the
meaning OF that. Far li wo-ld read from th4.
papers. that II necessary 10 satisfy the
country that the investigation was honest.
complete and that everybody would be given ar
opportunity 10 come forward and testify 70 every
thing he knew was not astonshed that General
Miles should covered by the immunity granted
by the President but aid not believe u extended
to his going into newspapers IN this alleged inter
view. and 20 ! sough, 10 ascertain by addressing
a letter 10 him through the Adjutan;- General. and
there was returned 70 me what considered 70 be
evasiye answer.
EFFECT OF MILEs's TESTIMONY
O. VIII you state 70 tae Court what impression
the testimony o. General Niles before the Comns-
sion made upon you. to what he meant oy the
statements that he made, and especially by his
words "pretence OF experiment. A The effect on
me sir was that he mad taken away from me my
character. the honorable position that had OBJ
tained after all these years OF service. He stated
that I was corrupt ! could prefer charges
AGAINST him. ! could go nto any court. civil
or military and Tor time felt It better 10 DO
dead ard in me gutter than 10 have such an sc-
cysation made When the press clippings came 20
nne-North South. East and West-sAiins they
helteved General Miles o, them saying he had
made out a case. and some OF the editorials de.
-araing nv dismissal and disgrace for IL. I felt