The San Francisco call., 1905-08-14
SEQUEL to the Tag
CART Divorce
Scandal.
Series of Courts Martial
Are Certain to Be
Convened.
husbands Charges Against
Fellow-0ficers Cannot
Be Ignored.
Special Dispatch to The Can

WASHINGTON. Aug. 13.-Several
courts martial will certainly grow out Of
the Taggart divorce proceedings IN view
of the charges of drunkenness made
against his brother officers by Major Tag
CART when on the stand last week I'm
less the officers involved request that
courts of inquiry make Investigations re-
garding the charges President Roosevelt
will order an inquiry into conditions ex-
isting in the army, especially in relation
to those officers who drink intoxicating
liquors to excess.
The testimony Of Taggart has caused
quite q. sensation in army circles, and
many officers take the ground that. in
justice TO them. the President should or
der an investigation for the purpose of
disclosing how extensive the habit of
drinking to excess prevails in the army
and whether or not this practice Is re-
sponsible for conduct unbecoming Of
ficers and gentlemen on the part Of Of
hcers of the army. AS a matter Of pro-
such conduct. and for the good name OF
the service, these officers believe this
habit should be stopped.
Even if the President does not act. sew
eral court martial viii result from the
testimony of Major Taggart He has
testified under oath that q number of
army officers whose names he gave. were
manly conduct. Under the regulations 1t
is the right and duty Of an officer when
charges of this kind are made against
him to demand court of inquiry. and II
he does not any other officer Of the ser
vice who witnesses conduct which was
to the detriment of the service is re-
quired to call the matter TO the attention
of the department with the view or order
ing a court-nartial
In the absence of such request from
the officer directly involved or from those
who witnessed infractiOns OF the rules
and regulations, the President or Secre-
tary of War generally orders an investi-
CATION This probably will be the course
pursued in the Tasgart case
WOOSTER. Aug. 13.-Major Taggart
will be on the stand when the taking OF
evidence is resumed tomorrow in the d.
vorce proceedings. Counsel on both sides
seem 10 agree that the trial viii take at
least ten days longer and that the de-
fense will not be heard before Thursday.
That General Charles A. Miner, retired.
will be here is said to be certain Wnen
he goes on the stand some sensational
testimony will be given as to the alleged
habits. OF Taggart and as to the charges
nm which Taggart was held in prison at
Fort I,eayenworth Some family secrets
also will come to light in showing what
Mrs Taggart did for the brothers OF
Major Taggart when they were IN trou-
bic. =.
Major Taggart's counsel claim tnar IL
has been shown that Mrs. Taggart was
guilty with Lieutenant Rither Clinton n
Sneencer. Lieutenant Granville r. Eos
tescue. General c. A. Miner, Captain
Louis Bash and William Taggart OF Oro-
vile: also that she was guilty or crueity
i'm having her husband arrested on raIse
charge and placed in prison: that she
abandoned him when she believed ne was
on his deathbed: that she associated Win
nersous to whom he objected: tnat
tbat she smoked cigarettes, told we
that she smoked ticarettes. told we
S,se.as ,rassnca of her children and gave beer to
the boys.