The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-01-27

sem minded way. He did not appear to
notice the witness
EAGAN TEsTIFIEs.
General Eagan himself. was The next
witness. IIc said he entered the vol
unteer army in 1861 and I'm 1866 was made
a second lieutenant in the regular army.
He then briefly gave "a history Of his
military career which included several
/ campaigns against the Indians He re-
celved wound I'm the Modoc war for
whlch he received a brevet. During the
war with Spain, ne had been in his Of
fee every day with one exception and
had worked early and late. He had given
his testimony before the commission un-
der oath--preferably so. He had first read
General Miles statement in the W ashing-
tn papers For a long time he feared
tnat 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 nee
essarily involved the preparation Of rec
ords, etc. lie has held conversation
with the secretary Of war in the course
Of which he told the secretary that ne
desired Co defend himself by bringing
proceedings against General Miles. but
was told that in immunity granted by
the president would prevent any such
action. Witness accepted this as a fact
but he aid not think that this immunity
covered the newspaper interview in
which General Miles had by interference
declared him to be "a murderer for gain.
Witness said he became greatly excited.
1his statement OF General Miles, I'm the
opinion OF the witness, had taken away
his OEagan) character He could not
proceed against General Miles i'm the
courts or otherwise, and he felt that he
might better be dead In the gutter. Dur
ing this recital General Eagans eyes
filed with tears. his voice trembled and
he spoke very feelingly. His nonor as
a soldier he continued had been attack
ed and soldiers honoh should be as
sacred as the honor of a woman lie had
kept his sorrow to himself
lie had kept away from The clubs and
very soon he found he could not sleep.
He felt that the people of this country
had come TO believe that he was dis
honest man. but am an honest man."
said the genertl with feeling, 'and
believe that no one who knows me will
believe that / am dishonest man. My
record is clean, my uniform is unsullied
but / have been slandered and wronged
In answer TO a question by his counsel
as to whether he had ever received any
benefit for any contract he had made
Gen sral Eagan said with great feeling;
mo. on my honor and before my God
not one cents profit gain did ! ever re-
ceive and yet my office has distributed
SO 900 900 and ! am now a poor man. so
poor that ] have not now sufficient mon
ey with which TO pay your fee
As ne (Eagam understood public sem
tlment the public believed him TO be a
murderer and for gain, and he was great
ly racked In body and brain In consequ-
ence. He was goaded 20 death and was
very glad Of a chance 10 appear before
the commission and through them 10000,
600 of people IN the defense Of his honor.
During this impassioned and impress
sive recital each member of the court
lstened intently 10 every word spoken
and every eye was fastened upon the
speaker. The ineident was dramatic in
the extreme, The witness spoke OF his
mental and physical condition between
the time General Miles gave his testi-
mony and the time Die himself had aD-
peared. Tie could not get r,o of the
thought that the country believed him TO
be a murderer and for gain. ana II drove
him nearly to distraction
Mr. Worthington u1en read large
number Of newspaper clippings, many OF
which spoke Of General Eagan as a
scoundrel and demanded his dismissal
from the army AT o'clock Mr. Worth
ington announced that he was unable 20
proceed with his case as the secretary
Of war whom he desired to call az q. Wit
ness was now before the war investigat-
ing commission and could not appear.
Other witnesses also could not appear
until tomorrow. Thereupon the court ad-
Journed until 10 o'clock tomorrow morn
ing