The age-herald., 1899-01-27
CoMMlSSARX GENERAL. EdAN


 ways had the good opinion of the soldier at heart; in fact, as much as any other com missary- general he had ever known or heard of.
 The witness, again referring to General Eagans testimony before the war invest- gatlng commission, said that he had not been consulted in it's preparation, but at .--e generals request had supplied some of the records Tine general had asked him at one time as to his judgment concerning the argument he had prepared for the com mission, and the witness had replied that IL was complete answer to the criticism which had been made against him, but he had advised that some part of it be omit ted. General Eagan, however, was greatly excited, and witness thought he would bring the matter to his attention more urgently the next morning. but witness did not then have good opportunity. General Eagan had told the witness that he was prevented from proceeding in military fash ion against General Miles by the presidents order of immunity to witnesses, but that he hoped to be able to proceed in the mat ter in the civil courts.
 Stenographer Testifies
 Miss Willard. General Eagan's stenograhh- CT, was then called. She had taken nearly all of the generals dictations since Sep tember 15 last, and testified that she took the dictation of the generals statement be- fore the war Investigating committee. From the time General Miles gave his testimony before the commission, General Eagan was greatly excited, and while he was dctating his statement he walked the floor. Tho statement was not fully completed until the day it was presented to the commission. She saw General Eagan only a few minutes before he left to appear before the commis- sion, and he was then in such nervous condition that his hands trembled. Witness thought that the general had never been able to read the statement through as a whole from the time it was begun until 1t was read to the commission.
 MT. Rogers, clerk in the office of the com- misSary- general, was the next witness. He had been in the office since 1891, and since General Eagan came to the office he had seen him frequently every day. After Gen. eral Miles statement had been made pub lie, General Eagans appearance was great ly changed He looked haggard and worn and at times was greatly excited.
 Believed Sentiment Against Him
 Witness thought that General Eagan had come to believe that public sentiment was strongly against him, and that the public had accepted General Miles statement as true and this worried him greatly. As the days passed his nervous disturbance greatly lHCISdSGu uItil ic dPpSdiCu OSlOAe tuS commission.
 On one occasion the witness went to Gen. eral Eagan's desk and spoke to him on matter of office business. As he approach ed the desk the general said, apparently to himself: 'I am murderer and for gain. I am a murderer for gain" This he peated several times in an absent minded way. He did not appear to notice the wit ness.
 General Eagan himself was the next wit ness. He said he entered the volunteer army in 1861 and in 1866 was made second lieutenant in the regular army. He then briefly gave history of his military ca reer, which included several campaigns against the Ind ans. He received a wound in the Modoc war for which he received brevet.
 Services to His Country
 During the war with Spain he had been in his office every day without one excep- -tion and had worked early and late. He had given his testimony before the commits sion under oath-preferably so. He had first read General Miles statement in the Washington papers. For long time he feared that he might not be called before the commission, but he finally received a summons to appear. Even then he was not fully prepared as his statement neces- sarily involved the preparation of records etc.
 He had held conversation with the sec- retary of war, in the course of which he told the secretary that he desired to de- fend himself by bringing proceedings against General Niles. but was told that the immunity granted by the president would prevent any such action. Witness accepted this as the fact, but he did not think that his immunity covered the news paper interview, in which General Miles had by inference declared him to be a mur- derer for gain.
 Became Greatly Excited
 Witness said he became greatly excited. This statement of General Miles. In the opinion of the witness, had taken away his (Eagans) character. He could not pro- ceed against General Miles in the courts or otherwise, and he felt that he might better be dead in the gutter.
 During this recital Gen. Eagan's eyes filled with tears, his voice trembled and he spoke very feelngly. His honor as a sol dier, he continued, had been attacked, and a soldiers honor should be as sacred as the honor of woman. He had kept his sor- row to hini1e,e. Pc had kept away from the clubs. and very soon he found he could not sleep. He felt that the people of this