The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-01-31
DEFENSE BEGINS.
Tears Filled the Eyes of Gen. Eagan as
He Testified in His Own Behalf.
~My Wife, My Children, Myself DisSraced,"
Said Hell Was Burning Up Ia
side" When the Caustic Words
Were Spoken.


ing.
Gen. Eagan had arrived three min
utes before. He looked pale and
troubled. His eye, better than any
thing else, showed the strain under
which he is laboring.
After several witnesses for the de-
tense had testified Gen. Eagan himself
took the stand. He stated his age was
SIS; detailed his connection with the
army and brought out the important
features of his record. He was wound
ed in the Modoc war and breveted
captain for it. He became commissary
general May 4. In his official capacity
he has expended between $4,000, 600
and $40, OOO, 900. Of his testimony
before the war board he said:
Il was summoned before the board
and gave my testimony under oath
preferably so. l wanted to appear be-
fore the board to refute Gen. Miles
statement and was called in response
to my request, but was not given as
much time to make my statement as l
had desired.
Il had had conversation with Sec
rotary Alger. l told him that desired
to meet those charges that l was a
murderer and thief, but was told that
Gen. Miles, under the presidents prom
Use, could not be reached.
THE interview with Gen. Miles,
published in New York, nearly drove
me crazy"
Here the voice of the witness broke,
and with difficulty he restrained his
tears
Il sought to ascertain whether the
presidents immunity extended to such
an interview, as well as to Gen. Miles
statement before the board. The mat
ter is still in the hands of the adjutant
general.
1.-The effect on me of the words, pre-
tense of experiment was that it took
away my character"
Again the voice of the witness be-
came husky.
Il felt that would be better dead in
the gutter than in this position" he
continued. My wife, my children, my
self disgraced! l did not know what to
do. The intimatiOn was that l had
poisoned soldiers under pretense of an
experiment had no redress. l be-
ieved the honor of soldier should no
more be impugned than the virtue of a
- WOMAN -
A tear coursed down the cheek OF
the witness. He restrained himself
with difficulty. He then continued
< dramatically:
Il wanted to hurl back the charges
so that men might believe me.
thought of no disrespect. L only want
ed men to know me honest. l believe
they know it now. Before God, on the
the honor of man, never a cent from
my Office soiled my fingers. 1 have
not money enough to-day" he said,
turning to his attorney, Ito pay you
your fee.
Il could not eat, could not sleep. ]
could hardly restrain myself from do
ing what men did under such circum.
stances, when 1 was boy. l went be.
fore the board feeling that had to say
something in such a way that the
press and the people would believe me
honest. was burning up inside. The
press had condemned me as corrupt, as
wholesale murderer for purposes OF
gain"
After pause he continued: THAI
possessed my mind day and night.
had to get a little extension of time tc
complete my document. I was alb
sorbed in vindicating myself. 1 was
Oblivious to all about me. was talk
ing to 10000, 600 people,
Il had been goaded and driven t.
death. l did not know until the docu
ment was returned to me that any OBJ
lection had been made to any part o.
1t. l then called in Col. Alexander anC
Ca. Davis to help eliminate the matte,
complained Of"
Attorney Worthington then stopped
because of the absence of witnesses
Judge Advocate Davis was authorizes
to invite the secretary of war to APP
pear Friday, and the court adjourned
1t was evident that Eagan's TESTIMONY
had made quite an impression. Wed
nesday they treated him formally
Thursday, at the conclusion of tn,
court session, they pressed forward anC
number shook. him cordially by tn
hand.
Reward of $4,000 offered
HARRISBURG, Pa, Jan. 27.-Senato