Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-08-18
THE TAGGART CASE.
The Far-Reachlng Results of Mans
Rascalities.

The Far-Reaching Results OF man
Rascalities.
Each succeeding day, while it throws
no additional light on the whereabou is
of w. S. Taggart, serves to disclose
more fully the far-reaching effects Of
his villainy.
The excitement about Barton and St,
Clairsville has abated somewhat, but
still there is q good deal Of conversation
anent the matter. The theory OF insan-
ity has been advanced TO account for
his disappearance, but it was instantly
rejected by nearly every one conYersant
with the facts in the case. The rumor
that there was a strange woman in the
case is also generally dsCredited.
The date OF the unpaid notes indi-
Gates that he cunningly concealed his
hopeless insolvency for several years.
The encountered assetS-and there are
no other-will not probably exceed 81
600. The farm owned by his father will
have to be sold, whether the defence Of
forgery as to some Of the notes is sus-
tanned or not, as a sufficient amount IS
admitted to cover greater part OF its
value.
Deceiving creditors, betraying friends,
taking the last dollar Of an aged widow
on note pronounced by the alleged
sureties to be forgery, reducing his
aged father and mother from a cOmpe-
tency to what may be awarded them as
exemption, deserving good and faith
full wife; w. S. Taggart, whether sui
eide or q fugitive, has chosen a career
without precedent in Belmont county.
Further disclosures will not be made
until the questions raised by his action
are tried in the Courts.
The Bellaire Independent says;
"The rascality of w. S. Taggart seems
to grow worse the more that IS found out
about it and he is painted now as his acts
come to light as designing scoundrel Of
wears standing He began his forgeries
ten years ago, and yet after committing
crimes Of that kind he posed as a citizen
after whom the Sunday school children
might pattern and was for years superin-
tendent of the Sabbath school at Barton
and also one at Pennington. The lat
ter he let 60 this spring, but occupied the
position at Barton when he left. The
first note he gave with forged names to it
was in 1852, ten years ago. and he has been
keeping it up at intervals ever since. His
success was phenomenal and il seems
strange that he would ever give genuine
note so well did he raise money on worth
less paper. He did give few, but he
stole ABOUT Sl4, 900 as far as heard from by
forging the names not only of his father
and brother-in-law, but numerous acquaint-
ances and friends, among them Dr. l. O..
Cope, j. II. Anderson and G. j..
DUNCAN. And he was clever In getting
rid Of this kind Of paper. He
loaded no one up heavily. He
made the note, counterfeited the signatures
he desired on it, hunted victim, got his
money and continued his bypocritical role.
That ne was smart in his operations is
shown by the way he caught some Of them,
The new Dollar bank at Bridgeport opened
one.day, the next day Taggart called and
filched it out Of $500. He has notes scat
tered all over the county and there may
be some out along the line OF the C., l.. u
w. road and there probably Is.
"Twenty-six OF these forged notes were
known TO be in existence up 10 Tuesday
evening, and it is thought other innocent
holders have paper which they Will never
mention, preferring TO let the matter drop
as il is. On al these notes except one ap-
pears the name Of John Taggart, the aged
father of the fugitive, only three OF which
signatures are genuine, according to MIR.
Taggart, who has no recollection OF sign
ing other notes. The notes on which APP
pears John Taggart'S name as security
and no other, are as follows, as near as
they could be had upon careful inquiry
George Weller. .......................-.S 500
GeorSe Weller 30
First National Ban K. ST. c. Is notes. ...... ll50
Greeley BrRnun .......-...- ....-.-... 30