Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-08-17
STILL MISSING.
SHANNON TlaGARr has NOT YET BEEN
FOUND.
he was Seen in This City Monday AfernOon-A
Warrant Issued for His Arsst-Ihe Theory
Tia. He was Murdered Abandoned
by Els WiA

There is one thing tOlerably certain
about the disappearance Of w. 5. Tag
CART, Of Barton, Belmont county, and
that is that he fed through fear that
his crookedness in financial matters was
on the eve Of exposure.
Yesterday a warrant was issued for
him at st. Clairsville, on the charge Of
forgery, and thenceiorth the officers
will keep an eye open for his possible
capture.
For day or two Mrs. Taggart firmly
believed that her husband had been
murdered, but yesterday it was stated
in St. ClairsviIe that she had abandon
ed that idea, and was Of the opinion
that the missing man had skipped out
to avoid impending trouble.
A gentleman who knows Iaggart
well stated yesterday that he saw MIN
in this city on Monday afternoon, In the
vicinity OF the Second ward market
house, and that be took q drink at the
bar room Of Green's hotel He noticed
nothing unusual in his personal APP
pearance. and he did not have the
actions of a mau who was out or cash.
II is possible that he came TO Wheeling
Sunday morning, aud that he IS either
here still, or lett Monday night Tor
some distant point. 10 was also deYel-
oped yesterday that Iaggart made an
attempt on his life severa. months ago
last winter, 10 tact-and from this 10
is surmiSed that even that long ago bis
financial troubles and possible rascal
ties were having their effect upon his
mind. Ii is certain that Taggart has
forged at least three notes, in one or TWO
of them his father being the victim,
while Edward Boggs, who swOre out the
warrant FOR the fugitive's arrest yester-
day, is also caught TO the tune OF niue
hundred or thousand dollars. Tag
CARTS father lives about two miles
northeast OF St. Clairsville, and Is re-
puted 20 be quite we'll of In this worlds
goods. He is upward of eighty years
OF age, and the disappearance Of his son
and the knowledge of the forgeries has
troubled him not little.
The matter is still the leading topic OF
conversation az ST. Clairsyil,e, and there
are those who predict that when all the
facts are known 10 will be found that
Taggart was not only heavily involved,
but had been guilty Of q number of un-
lawful acts, and there are whispers that
there is also a woman In the case, hall
ing from this city, who extracted a good
deal of cash from him which was surely
needed in another direction.
Last evenings Beliaire Independent
said
"He was regarded as an excellent cit
izen and good business man. But he
wasn't. The sequel shows that be was
a rascal; william who committed his
crimes after careful study, design and
practice. He committed forgery and
the amount of bis paper with forged
names TO 10 now outstanding is said 20
be about ST., 600. He used the name Of
his father and his brother-in-law, so far
as known. That he counterieited their
signatures so well is evidence that he
-Dracticed writing them, and his FOR
ceres were committed after due
collaboration. The first discovered
was at Bridgeport. He borrowed
$500 Sud gave as security his aged
father, Joseph Taggart, now past s.
wears Of age and almost an invalid, and
his brother-in-law. By some means the
signature Of Joseph Taggart was
doubted and George c. Mckee, who
looks after the affairs OF the building
association, quietly paid friendly visit
to Mr.. Taggart to see how he was get
ting along and IN the course Of the
friendly talk with the old gentleman he
was asked about the note of his son.
He knew nothing OF it aCali; had never
signed or been consulted about, it but
said he would see that the association
was made whole. Then followed a
quiet tip and Clerk OF theNCourt Davies
who had loaned Taggart 5000 on
the same kind OF a note, acted upon the
first intimation he got by inviting the
maker OF 10 90 call and see him. lie
called promptly with the cash and
lifted the note, shutting of any room
for discussion as 90 the signatures.
still matters seemed TO have remained
quiet for q day or two, very few persons
knowing that shannon Taggart was
ouilty OF such q crime. But he him
self knew 70, and "a guilty conscience
makes towards OF Us ALL He could
detect in the note from Davies
the sign of suspicion. He could
see in his payment OF 10 the cOnhrma-
tion OF the suspicion, and he above all
others knew OF the amount of that kind
OF paper that was ont. He stood IL Till
the last moment and fed. No doubt he
was dazed at his own acts and hardly
knew what to do, and this may account
FOR his visiting the cemetery, where he
was last seen about ~. Clairsv.lle. He
may have contemplated suicide, for he
had stood well Ia the community, and IL
he took a thought Of the effect OF his
methods upon his aged father, his
own family and relatives, 10
must have been hard for him 10
bear. The exact amount of his fOrger-
les is not known. Some banks may held
the worthless paper, and If they do
they'll keep quiet about it. The total
amount is placed at about $4,000 from
information so far obtained, aud II this
is correct Taggart must have left with
some money in his clothes. The last
seen Of him was in the railroad yard az
4 Bridgeport Saturday night about IL
, O'Clock. He had travelled on foot and
under cover Of night toward the river.
4 Where be went from there no one
KNOWS IS yet"
REAL ESTATE MARKET
- - 7~-.,,-r.- q ,rt To- Rorord Yea.