El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-25
"ASGOODAS CONVICTED'
1t Is Said That West Pointers
Are Particularly
Bitter Against
Eagan.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-The red
room of the Ebbit house, known in
Washington as the ''army and navy
headquarters, on many former occa-
sions the scene of incidents that went
down in the history of the country, was
again the center of interest today.
The General Eagan courtmartial be-
gan its session there shortly after 10
O'Clock. Lieut.. Colonel George r.
In attendance early. The preliminaries
were in his charge, and besides look
ing after these details, he is having
matters put in shape to bring charge
against the effervescent commisssry
general of subsistence.
"There will be no trouble In prov
Ing all that the charges maintain" he
said. 1.-THE language as directed
against General Miles is on record
and If it were not the members of the
board would testify as to what he
said.'
''Eagan is as good as convicted" said
an army man who came up, s'without
West Points assistance. Have you
observed the West Point complexion
of the court? They regard Eagan as
an 'interloper.' His pie is all dough-"
At 10:15 Col. Davis called the roll.
The full court was in attendance,
Major General Merritt presiding. Gen.
Esgan, sttired in full regimentals sat
beside his counsel. Col. Davis read
the order calling the court by the Sec
rotary of war, pronouncing General
last syllable.
''Do you desire 10 object to the Or
der?" Davis asked the accused.
II do not;'' was his clear response.
and the court was sworn by Col. Davis.
One form Of the oath was a promise
not to divulge the finding of the court,
except to the proper authorities.
Gen. Eagsn then arose and faced his
accusers. Colonel Davis read to him
the charge of conduct unbecoming an
officer and gentleman. He read to
him the language used, referred too
as disgraceful, grossly insulting and
ungentlemanly,i in which Esganbranded
General Miles as 'liar who lies in his
throat, in his heart, in every hair of
his head and pore of his body"
Esgan stood unmoved as:the billings
gate which he had used was repeated
to him. "Your pies. general, ''the
Judge advocate demanded. "Not gull
ty," he answered, ito the Specification
of the first CHARGE" not denying how
ever, the truth in a part of the Ian
guage quoted.
Colonel Davis in presenting the case
to the court briefly reviewed its
history, with the organization of the
war board, and leading up to the occa-
sion of the vituperative attack on Gen.
Miles, the rejection of Esgan's testi-
mony by the war board, and the re-
vision of same.
Attorney Worthington in his ad |
the law of the land his client could not
be prosecuted for the alleged offense, |
for he had right to testify before the |
court on relevant matters even If his |
language implied malice. without
fear of prosecution. More than that, |
he referred to the promise of immunity |
made 10 witnesses by President Nc |
Kinleyl Irrespective of these safe
guards, he said, he would show provoca- [
tion and justification for Eagan's re-
marks.
At this juncture, the judge advocate
that the president would re-
ceiye the court between IL and IL, and |
a recess was taken, the court repair
inp in q body to the white house.
At the conclusion of the reading of
Eaean's war board testimony, after re-
firing from the white house at :55 p.
m :. the court adjourned until 10 o'clock
tomorrow.
The court then called by invitation
ON Secretary Alger.
Sessions will be held daily from IL
q