Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-01-28

Impression II That His yIruIent Attack,
on His Superior VIII Meet With Dis.
mIssaI From the Army-An Insanity Plea
Attempted.
Washington, Jan. 2S.-Col. Davis,
judge advocate of the Eagan court
martial. is engaged in going over the
record of proceedings in hope of be-
ing able to deliver the papers to the
secretary of war today. Officially
nothing is vet known of the nature of
the verdict. 1t is not thought, in the
course of the regular routine, the
papers will reach the president be-
fore the expiration of u week or 10
days
A general impression nevertheless
prevails that the finding of the court
martial places Eagan's penalty at dis
missal from the service.
Washington. Jan. 2s. The case Of
Commissary General Charles =. Eagan.
charged with conduct un5ecoming an
officer and a gentleman and with con-
duct tending to the prejudice OF good
order and military discipline. is now in
the hands of the couTt-martial appoint
ed to try him. Yesterday the taking OF
testimony was closed and arguments
of counsel submitted. TIE tIial had
lasted three days and consumed less
than eight hours Of actual sitting. y
session behind clcsed doors OF an hour
or so suficed fer the court to reach Q
conclusion and e-lbOdy it in 4 report.
What the verdict was is altogether Il
matter Of speculation. and. offioia ly, c.
least, Will not be made public by the
Trial board. military Tegulat oas rsquir-
ing tEat its finding shall go through
prescribed channels ana be kert SCI ret
until action be had and promulgated
by the proper rzvi wing G1thoiiti 5.
Purpose of tile Closing Testimony.
The testimony ct the closing session
OF the court was directed largely to es-
tablishinS the fact that the general had
lost his mental balance as a result of
the Charges made against him by Gen.
Miles. His daughter and her husband
told OF the generals changed condition.
and intir1ated that they had great fears
that he might at any time kin his ac-
suser. AIr. Mckee. a lifelong friend,
,tatsd taat at that time he believed
aim actually iBxaRs.-'Tae faets-fff-tffts-
connection We're brought OUT strongly.
dramatic incident OF the triai yes:er-
tny WAS the test mcny of the generals
laughter. Ms. Mckee. in. which she
described her fathers appearance on
:he day he first read General Miles
1tatcme1t. Standing in the door of his
',ouse with the newspaper containing
The evidence in his hand re had ex-
claimed vildI-: Il have been crucified
by General Miles" The secretary OF
war IVES witness 70 prove that Eagan
was debar-Ci by the presidents irr-
munity order from prosecuting Miles in
q military court.
WOrthIngtnn's Argument for Eag gan.
Worthirgton opened his argument
for EaSan b. contending that by the
law of this country: civil. criminal or
military. the defendant could rot be
called to account for wha- he said be-
fore the war Investigating commission.
Counsel then called attention u the
presidents public statement that wit
resses were given immunity and de-
clared that this guarantee was Gained
by the accused. He had been accused
OF a heinous crime. and in n $ statement
TO the investigating commission had
defended his honor and innocence. as
he had a perfect right TO do. worthinG-
ton next quoted from authorities To
show that to convict the accused Of con-
duct unhecoming ar officer and a
gentleman. the offense must be such
that any brother officer who should.
after his conviction. take him by the
hand or visit his home. or be on inti-
Terms WIFI NOuiu HA-IlSelf Ds
disgraced thereby and render himself
unit 10 associate with gentlemen and
men or honor
Counsel then reviewed the statement
made by General Miles and charac-
terized il as without n parallel in the
history Of the country. He commented
upon the statement that General Miles
pretended to have known about the
so-called beef frauds for three months
before he had sprung them upon the
country in his testimony before the
war investigating commission. During
that time. said counsel. General Miles
had not communicated the alleged facts
TO the responsible officers. nor taken
any steps to put stop TO them.
Judge Advocates Closing speech
Colonel Davis, the judge advocate. l
closed the argument. He said that he
had no other idea from the beginning
th.n tEct all the facts. and tSe whole