Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-01-23

Washington, Jan. 19.-The detail for
the court martial which is to try Com
missary General Eagan on his state
ments before the war Investigating
commission in which he severely at
tackled Gen. Miles, was made public
last night. The court is made up of
Is army officers, of whom Gen. Merritt
is at the head, and a judge advocate,
and it is to meet in this city Wednes-
day, Jan. rs, or as soon thereafter as is
practical, this qualification being nee
essary because number of the mem
bers are at distant points and will re-
quire some days to adjust their affairs
and reach the city. All the officers
composing the court, save one, are
from the regular army, number of
whom, however, during the war ac-
hold those commissions. Gen. Butler
is the only one who is not connected
with the regular army.
Gen. Corbin who returned last night
from New York, where he went to wit
ness the departure of the transport
Grant for Manila, Immediately went
to the war department and signed a
formal order promulgating the detail
for the court which is as follows:
by direction of the president, a gem
eral court martial is appointed to meet
in this city on the 25th day of January
or as soon thereafter as may be practi-
cable, to try Brig.-Gen. Eagan, COM
missary of subsistence Of the United
States army, and such other persons as
may be brought before it. The detail
for the court is: Maj.-Gen. Wesley
Merritt, U. S. A; Maj.-Gen. James f.
Wade, U. S. "; Maj.-Gen Matthew C.
Butler, q. S. "; Maj.-Gen. Samuel NJ
B. Young, U. S. "; Brig Gen. Royal T.
Frank, q. S. "; Brig. Alexander
New. Pennington, U. S. v; Brig. Gen
George M. Randall, =. S. "; Brig
Gen. Jacob Kline, U. S. V; Brig. Gen.
Richard Comba, u. S. "; Col. Peter G..
Haines, corps of engineers; Col
George L. Gillespie, corps of engineers;
Col. Charles R. Suter, corps of engi-
neers; Col. Francis l.. Guenther, 4th
artillery; Lieut.-Col. George B. Davis,
deputy judge advocate general, Judge
advocate of the court. The court is
empowered to proceed with the bust
ness before il with any number Of
members less than the minimum pre-
scribed by the law. Upon final ad-
jouTnment the court members will re-
turn to their proper stations.
r. A. Alger,
Secretary Of war"
Gen. Corbin stated that the order Of
appointment of the court martial
would be delivered to Gen. Eagan prob
ably this morning. This, it is expect
ed, will be done by an officer or an en-
ploye of the adjutant generals Office
It's receipt and acknowledgement by
the commissary general will be tanta-
mount to the relief of that officer from
his present duties and he will turn over
his official affairs either to some one
designated to act by the secretary of
war or to the officer next in charge in
the department. II the course indicat-
ed by an officer of the aGsutant gener-
ability is that Gen. Eagan will not be
placed under actual arrest and de-
prived of any of his liberties pending
and during the trial, but will be sub
ject only to constructive and technical
arrest during that time. In the case
OF officers of high rank this is occa-
sionalIy, but not often, done, and the
course does not in any way inyalidate
the trial or findings Of the court. Gen.
Eagan will be expected to remain away
from his office and make himself incon-
spicuOus until his appearance before
the court to answer the charges, when
he will be placed under constructive
arrest, to remain so during its pro-
ceedings This is believed to be suffici-
emily carrying out the intent Of the law
for all practical purposes and may be
in the case of an officer Of the
generals rank, who has borne a good
reputation. Were the defendant q
younger officer Of an obstreperous
character and in the field with his reg
iment, the usual course of placing him
under arrest and depriying him Of his
sword would no doubt be followed.
Adiutant General Corbin refused to
make any statement regarding the
form of the charges and specifications
to be brought against Gen. Eagan or to
say when they would be published In
view of the early meeting of the court
this must be done very soon and, in
deed. it is altogether likely that the
judge advocate general Of the army
has already given some attention to
this feature of the proceedings. Gen.
Eagan, after the issuance Of the formal
order for the court last night, de-
clined to make any statement in con-