The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-01-19
GEN. EAGAN'S JUDGES.
The Court Martial Selected to Try
General Miles Traducer.
OOUlT ToMEET NEXT WEDNESDAY
Or as Soon Thereafter as Practicable.
-Four Major Generals, Five Brigadier
Generals, Four Colonels and u Lieu
tenant Colonel Compose the Court.

Or as Soon Thereafter as Practicable.
-Four Major Generals, Five Brigadier
Generals, Four Colonels and Lieu
tenant Colonel Compose the Court.
Washington Jan. 19.-The detail for
the court martial which is to try Com
missary General c. P. Eagan on charges
growing out of his statement before the
war investigating commission last week,
in which he severely attacked General
Miles, was made public at the war de-
partment last night. The court is made
up of 13 army officers. of whom Major
General Wesley Merritt is at the head,
and judge advocate, and 1t is to meet
in this city OH Wednesday next, or as
500 thereafter as practicable. this quail
ification being necessary because
number of the members are at distant
points and will require some days to
adjust their affairs and reach this city.
All the officers composing the court
save one are from the regular army.
a number of whom, however, during
the war accepted volunteer rank and
still hold those commissions. Major
General Butler is the only one who is
not connected with the regular army. D.:
The members of the court are Major
Generals Wesley Merritt, James F.
Wade, Matthew C. Butler and Samuel
B. M. Young, Brigadier Generals Royal
I. Frank, Alexander c. New. Penning-
ton, George M. Randall, Jacob Kline
and Richard Comba, Colonels Peter C.
Haines, George D. Gillespie, Charles r.
Suter and Francis l.. Guenther and
Lieutenant Colonel George b. Davis.
deputy judge advocate general, Judge
advocate of the court.
General Corbin stated that the order
for the appointment of the court mar
tial would be delivered to General
Eagan today. This. it is expected, will
be done by an officer or an employe of
the adjutant generals office. Its re-
ceipt and acknowledgement by the
commissary general will be tantamount
to the relief of that officer from his
present duties and he will turn over it's
affairs either to some one designated to
act by the secretary Of war or to the
officer next In charge in the depart
ment. Lieutenant Colonel George B.
Davis, of the commissary department,
is now on duty with General Eagan,
and 1t may be that he will be detailed
to take charge of the office.
II the course indicated by an officer
Of the adjutant generals office last
night is followed the probability is that
General Eagan will not be placed under
actual arrest and deprived of any of
his liberties pending and during the
trial, but will be subject only to con-
strusive and technical arrest during
that time. In the case of officers of
high rank this is occasionally, but not
often done, and this course does not in
any way invalidate the trial or findings
of the court. General Eagan will be
expected to remain away from his office
and make himself inconspicuous until
his appearance before the court to
answer the charges, when he will be
placed under constructive arrest to re-
main so during its proceedings.
This is believed to be sufficiently car
rying out the intent of the law for all
practical purposes and may be allowed
in the case of an officer of the general
rank who has borne good reputation.
We're the defendant a younger officer
of an obstreperous character and in the
field with his regiment the usual course
of placing him under arrest and de-
priving him of his sword would no
doubt be followed. While the above is
believed to be general outline Of Sec.
retary Alger's idea Of what should be
done, yet no positive statement to that
effect has been made, and 1t may be
subject to change.
Adjutant General Corbln refused to
make any statement regarding the
form of charges and specifications to
be brought against General Eagan, OF
to say when they would be published.