Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-02-02
EAGAN PUT ON TRIAL.
Court Martial Begins It's Sessions
in Washington.
The Accused Enters Plea of Not
Guilty to Charges of Conduct
URbecominE an OfHcer and
PrejudiciaI to Discipline.

Washington, Jan. 26.-Ihe board of
army officers designated by the secre-
tary of war to sit as a court-martial in
the case of Brig. Gen. Charles Z. Eagan,
commissary general of subsistence,
charged with conduct unbecoming an
officer and a gentleman, and conduct
to the prejudice Of good order and milf
tary discipline, in connection with his
testimony before the war investigating
committee, met in the Red parlor of
the Ebbtt house at ten o'clock Wcdnes-
day morning and almost Immediately
proceeded to the business in hand.
During these preliminary proceed
ings Gen. Eagan exhibited no signs of
nervousness, but the expression of his
face and his manner clearly indicated
that he realized that the trial involved
consequences to him of the gravest
character. While he stood listening to
the charges and specifications his face
seemed somewhat paler than usual. At
the conclusion of the reading, on be-
ing requested to plead to the speci-
fications to the first charge, he said:
Not guilty." not denying, however,
that the specifications set forth cor
rectly part of the language used.
To the second charge he pleaded mot
guilty"
The Judge advocate then arose and
said that the case in hand was pc
culiar one, but presented no unusual
difficulties. The accused had seen fit
to add to his plea of not guilty some
words tending to qualify it, but he did
not think the plea relieved the court
from the necessity of proving the facts
alleged. Judge Worthington respond
ed briefly and explained why the quail
flying words had been used upon his
recommendation. The specification
did the accused great injustice in
that it selected particular expressions
without giving the context, and in one
or more instances the specifications
quoted beginning the middle of
sentence. Continuing Mr. Worthing-
ton said that he desired to state briefly
to the court the substance of Gen.
Eagan's defense. Whatever. said he.
the court may think of the propriety
of the language used by Gen. Eagan
before the war investigating commit
tee, there was no doubt in his Worth
Iington's) mind that he was fully protect
ed in using that language by the laws
of the land. In no court, civil or mill
tary, he said, could the accused be held
accountable for his language, even If
| it could be shown that the speaker was
actuated by malice. The language
which Gen. Eagan used under these
circumstances was the natural OUT
burst of an honest man suffering un-
der an unjust accusation.
In closing Judge Worthington said
that Gen. Eagan could not be held ac-
countable for his language before any
tribunal in this country, civil or mill
! tary, and particularly under the presi-
dents order of immunity.
Mai. S. C. Mills was called to testify
on behalf of the government He said
ga ting commission and was present and
heard Gen. Eagan's testimony before
| the commission. The manner of Gen.
Eagan in giving his testimony, he said,
! was hat of a man laboring under great
excitement, but trying to control his
excitement.
! Mai. Gen. McCook, retired, member
of the war investigating commission,
was the next witness. He was present
and heard part of Gen Eagan's testi-
mony before the commission. "Th'
| impression | had" he said, was tn. t
Gen. Eagan must be laboring under
| great nervous excitement"