Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-14
IN BELMONT.
W. s TAGGART, CHARGED WITH WHOLESALE
FORGERY OVER THE RIVER,
Brought TO this City Yesterday Afternoon in the
Custody Of Lieutenant Terrill, and Taken
to st. acknowledgement in
Princess Anne CountyVa

Yesterday afternoon at about three
o'clock Lieutenant of Police Walter
Terrill and WILDER Boggs, of st. Glars
Vile, arrived in the City over the Ohio
River Railroad, having in custody w.
S. Taggart, of Belmont County, whose
sudden and mysterious disappearance
ten months ago yesterday created so
much excitement, which was sutse-
uuently added TO when, upon the heels
of his flight, it was discovered that he
had secured large sums OF money
since alleged TO amount to $4,000 or
$50, OOO-through forged notes, con-
siderable number Of prominent Bel
mont people being yictimized. Shan
non was arrested at Providence Church,
half mile from Oceana, Princess
Anne County, Va, and about fourteen
miles from Norfolk, by Lieut.. Terrill,
at the close OF services Sunday even
ing, The prisoner did not know the
officer, but when he came out OF the
church and saw Mr.. Wilbur Boggs, OF
ST. Clairsvile, standing there, ne at
once realized the situation, and said he
would go with the officers.
Lieut. Terrill and Mr.. Boggs arrived
in Norfolk Sunday, and after stating
their business to the police authorities
there. secured covered wagon and
drove 70 Princess Anne Court House.
There they consulted with the Prose
cutting Attorney of the county, and he
went with them to 0ceana, where Tag
CART was known to be. At Oceana it
was found the fugitive was at church,
half mile distant, and the party went
over there. Services were nearly over
when the officer and his companion ar
rived, and they concluded to walt.
Taggart did not see ttem, or know or
their presence, but still he seemed Ill at
ease In the church, changing his seat
several times, and not coming out until
nearly the entire congregation had left.
Then Lieut.. Terrill tapped him on the
shoulder aud told him he wanted TO see
him few minutes. The two went out
of the church, Taggart not knowing
the officers business. AS they reached
the corner of the building Taggart
looked up and saw Mr.. Wilbur Boggs,
and at once saw the fix he was in and
said:-
"Well, gentlemen; I'll go with you"
After securing his effects at Oceana,
where he had been residing for two
months past, the party drove back to
Princess Anne Court House where the
Prosecuting Attorney, who had gone to
Oceana with them, was left, and then
the wagon headed for Norfolk. There
the Chesapeake and Ohio was taken for
home, the party arriving yesterday az
ternoen, as stated.
A REGISTER reporter was at police
headquarters when the travel-stained
trio arrived. After the sand OF Eastern
Virginia and the coal dust of the Kama
Wha Valley had been washed and
brushed of his garments, Mr.. Taggart
talked for short time about his case
and his absence. As preliminary, be
said the publications made about him
were Outrageous" and unjust" and
that he would present his side Of the
case when the proper time came. As to
his disappearance from st. Clairsville,
he said he was in the grave
yard, the evening Of the day he left.
i was there for purpose" said he,
but l could not bring myself to do 1t.
Where l went then, / don't know, but
the next thing 1 knew l was in Balti-
more, several days afterward How l
got there l don't know. You might
think had been drinking, and want
to say that l hadn't touched thing for
a week. wrote to my wife from Bal
timore, just TO let her know that l was
alive, and then | went down to Norfolk
and back in the country. l worked on
a farm until about two months ago, and
since that time l have been canvassing
the county for a publishing house. |
came voluntarily, without requisi-
ton"
Once or twice during his conversation
Taggart came near breaking down, his
lips Quivering very perceptibly, but be
managed to control himself very we'll
He compemented Lieut.. Terrill for his
kind and considerate treatment during
the trip, and said he felt grateful for
The capture of TaRgart is almost en-
tirely due to the persistent efforts OF
Mr.. E. w. Boggs, Of st. Clairsville, who
has been indefatigahle in following up
clues, and who has known OF Taggarts
Whereabouts for some little time. Mr..
Boggs' name was several times forged by
to notes, along with the name
of Taggart's venerable father, John
Taggart, who was eighty-two years old
at the time the son disappeared. The
fugitive was not the father-in-law OF
Mr.. Boggs, as has been enormously pub
lished. but Mr.. Boggs' wife was Tag
CARTS cousin. Boggs was quite loser
by Tsggart's acts, aud followed up all
the information he could obtain with
persistency which resulted in the ar
rest. He was early in communication
with the Wheeling police, and paid sew
eral visits to this city recently, after
learning that TaEgart was in Eastern
Virginia, this knowledge coming
the letter mailed by Taggart
from Baltimore to his wife, and which
got to the public through some litiga-
ton at ST. Clairsville.
THE NEW RAILWAY.