Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-13
SOLDIERS HOLDING
BACK EVIDENCE:
In Egan Court Martial at Fort Douglas
Only Damaging Testimony is Furnished
By Commissioned Officer.

The court-martal Of Major Egau that
Is In progress at Fort Douglas brought
out evidence today Of d rather sensa-
tional nature, While there was moth.
ing adduced that bore down ON the ao-
cused man particularly hard there
was sufficient to indicate tina there is
much that Is being held back. The
witness whose evidence Ia most apt TO
impair the reputation Of Major Egan
Is that Of Lieut.. Charles Abel dash
ing young officer who has q marked
soldicrly bearing. Another thing that
the trial has revealed is that the phys
zeal condition Of the soldiers at the
post is appalling and while on the street
the boys talk hotly OF grievances sup
posed or otherwise, when summoned
before the military court they have not
one word to say derogatory 10 the ac-
oused. The reason for this ~ no doubt
understood by those who have a knoWl-
edge OF private soldiers position in
the army Il ls a significant fact that
the only disparaging testimony this
morning came from the lips OF an ON
Ger
Major Young does not 80 near the
courtroom and seems To- be taking but
lttle interest I'm the case, It Is rumored
at the post that he preferred the
charges against Major Egan against his
own win, and becau6e pressed tu do SO
by a number of company commanders
ia 90, a aalaft 4nInn a.
nj feelings against the post physician
Whatever tho motive may have been
II Is certain that the testimony hat IS
being elected at the trial against the
accused IL mild and meager compared
to the ugly words that are heard on the
streets
The defendants counsel feel that
nothing has been brought against their
client yet that the best Of army post
physicians could avoid because the sol-
der always thinks he Is abused ANA II
he Is sick. then he Is OUTRAGED The
Judge advocate has one more witness
10 examine. Major Moseley. of depart
mental Headquarters at Denver men
his case viii rest. The defense viii
then Introduce about a dozen witnesses.
The unsatisfactory feature OF he
trial IL that II does not seem to reveal
the true status al the post II Is no
fault Of the judge-adyocae because his
questions are keen aud lncislVe and
cover the entire ground, nor OF the
other members Of the court for they
manifest an anxiety 70 uncover all the
facts. Lieut., Abels testimony gives a
glimpse behind the scenes which would
never have been exposed by the testl-
mony OF the soldiers on ghoae ease
Lieut.. Abel testified. II does rot re-
fleet 20 much, however upon ne be-
havior OF Of the physician as ! does
upon the condition OF the men.
SICK WITNESS HEARD
The FIRST witness called this morning
was james Glover, late cook of Come
pany NJ. He was brought out OF the
hospital TO testify. His raid face and
| glazed eyes together with a weeks
growth OF whiskers made him look al
| most ghastly. He was also 9uMor'rg
from a sore throat which made II DIFF
ficult for him to speak Glover said
| that on Nov / he was taken with se-
| we're pains In the back and about tho
body. He reported to Major Egan and
| received treatment At that time he
explained to the major that he was
suffering from a loathsome disease that
| he had contracted In the Philippines
| After being examined and treated by
| the doctor. the latter marked him "du'
| ty." AT q subsequent visit however,
| the doctor sent him to his quarters and
on November &c. he was admitted TO the
hospital.
on being oss-examined by the de-
tense. witness stated he was admitted
to hosptal on November 80 because of
| an affection of the throat, ears and
eyes. The further evidence was OBJ
tained from him that a civilian special
let was called IN to see him and later
! he was taken down town to receive the
specialists attention,
The defense then asked; Have you