The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26
1AGGAR1S
WIFE FILES
HER ANSWER
Accuses the Major
OF Continued
Cruelty.
Says He Frequently Beat
Her While Under In
1uenCe Of Liquor.
Charges Contained in Army Mans
Petition for a Divorce Are
Denied in Too.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


WOOSTER, Ohio, June 25.-Mrs.
Grace Viola Culvert Taggart of San
Francisco, wife of Major E. F. Tag
gart, transport quartermaster, reached
this city this morning and filed an an
swer to the petition of her husband for
divorce. Mrs. Taggart came determined
to see her boys, aged 9 and 6 years,
whom she charges Taggart spirited
away from her in San Francisco. She
learned that the children were at the
home of Taggart's parents, and after
considerable trouble managed to have
talk with the little chaps. The latter
were overjoyed to see their mother, the
younger boy crying bitterly to go with
her when she left.
Mrs. Taggart filed an answer and a
cross-petition to the application for di-
vorce, denying the majors allegations
in toto. Mrs. Taggart says that on two
occasions, while in Manila, Taggart,
without cause or provocation, struck
her on the face with his fists. The first
of these occasions was about Septem-
Der l, 1901, and the second a week later.
Taggart, she says, was intoxicated.
Later, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas,
she says, he threw her against a chif-
fcnier. dislocating her jaw A short
time afterward he struck her repeat
edly and so violently that she, was COM
PEELED to have medical assistance for
many days.
She alleges. further that on the oc-
casion hereinbefore mentioned she was
invited out to a social gathering, of
which Major Taggart knew, and that
she attended this gathering at his re-
quest and with the understanding that
he would call and take her home. Tag
gart did not call, although friends tele-
phoned to his home. In company with
Captain Poor and wife and Lieutenant
Fortesque she went to her home, but
was unable to gain admission, and she
then went to the residence of Captain
Poor. accompanied by Mrs. Poor.
While at Captain Poor's, Major Tag
gart telephoned and wanted to know If
ii would be necessary to send an am
bulance for Mrs. Taggart, meaning
thereby that she was intoxicated. Cap
tain Poor told Major Taggart Of their
failure to gain admission to the house
and that she would again return, which
she did, in company with Captain Poor
This time Mrs. Taggart alleges, Tag
gart seized her and in his anger and
rage tore the clothing completely from
her body and beat her so that her en-
tire body was discolored and bleeding
and her condition such that it was be-
lleved she would die. She says that he
desisted in his beating only because of
the pleading Of the eldest boy Taggart,
she alleges, was drunk on this occasion.
Mrs. Taggart says that her husband
was guilty of other extreme cruelty,
falsely accusing her of infidelity, which
he knew was untrue. She asserts that
Major Taggart's conduct became
known to his superior officers, that he
was threatened with court-martial and
for q time was actually confined, with
a sentinel over him.
Mrs. Taggart charges that Major
Taggart upon his discharge began writ
ing scandalous letters to army officers
and threatening proceedings for di-
vorce.
Major Taggart, about May 81, 1904.
pretending to want to take the chill
dren on a transport, got possession of
them and came to Ohio, according to
the wife's statement. She declares that
Major Taggart is not a suitable person
TO care for them, that he gets intoxi-
Gated and uses vile language before
them. Mrs. Taggart insists that she is
entitled to the possession of the children.