The record-union., 1899-01-27

through the Adjutant General, in which
the latter asked as to whether the in
terview published in a New York news.
paper. in which General Miles is alleged
to have severely criticised the Commits
sary Generals Department, was au-
thoritative. Extracts from the alleged
interview were also read and submitted
as a part of the record
Colonel w. L. Alexander, u. S. A., OF
the Subsistence Department, was the
first witness called by the defense. He
said he returned to Washington from
Jamaica on the morning Of the day
General Eagan gave his testimony be-
fore the War Investigating Commission.
General Eagan, he said, was hastily
going over papers in connection with
his testimony, and Showed signs OF
great excitement. General Eagan nerv-
ously handled the papers, and witness
had rarely seen a man in such nerv-
Gus condition His manner was so ex-
ceptional that he asked Colonel Davis
of the Comnissary Department, who
was present, whether the General was
not ILL., He had been intimately con-
nected with General Eagan, but never
before had he seen him in such con-
dition General Merritt asked whether,
to his knowledge, General Eagan had
consulted any one as to the substance
of his testimony to be presented to
the commission Colonel Alexander an
severed that so far as he knew General
Eagan had not.
Colonel George B. Davis, assistant to
Commissary General Eagan, was the
next witness. He testified that he had
been very closely associated with Cen
eral Eagan during the last several
months. He was in the Office the day
General Miles gave his testimony be-
fore the War Investigating Commits
sion, and as soon as General Eagan
saw the published statement of his
testimony he became considerably ex-
cited, and wrote to General Miles ask
ing as to the truth of an interview
published with General Miles. AS time
went on his excitement increased to
such an extent that he did not and
apparently could not attend to the
duties of his Office. Later on General
Pagan reached such a state that he
could not attend to any business. The
day before General Eagan appeared be-
fore the commission he read his state.
ment to the witness, who urged him
to modify it somewhat but he would
not listen, and, walking up and down
the room, said he would not change a
word of it. Newspaper clippings were
! constantly being received criticising
General Eagan, and these greatly in
creased his excitement Some of these
| clippings carried the idea that General
Eagan was a murderer, and that ne
had acted corruptly in sending unfit
| food to the army.
| During the days, the witness said,
General Eagan was wholly untitled to
perform the ordinary duties of his Of
| fee Up to this time the General had
been a hard worker and nsver before
had exhibited any signs of nervous
strain. In answer to questions, Colonel
Davis said that General Eagan's con-
duct of his Office was perfectly honest,
and he had always had the good of the
service at heart, more so than any other
Conlmissary General of whom ne
had ever known or heard. The wit
mss, again referring to General
Eaean's testimony before the commits
sion, said that he had not consulted in
| its preparation, but at the Generals
request, had supplied some of the rec
ords The General had asked him at
one time as to his judgment concerning
the argument he had prepared for the
commission, and the witness had re-
piled that it was a complete answer to
the criticisms which had been made
against him, but he had advised that
some parts of it be omitted. General
Eagan, however, was greatly excited,
and witness thought he would bring
the matter to his attention more urg-
entity the next morning. but witness
did not then have good opportunity.
General Eagan had told the witness
that he was prevented from proceed
ing in military fashion against General
Miles by the Presidents order of i'm
ruunity to witnesses,i but that he hoped
to be able to proceed in the matter in
the civil courts.
Miss Millard, General Eagan's stem
ographer, was then called. She had
taken nearly all of the Generals dicta-