The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-08-15
TACCART TELLS HIS TROUBLES
How He Tried to Keep Other Men From Visiting
His Wfe---Mrs. Taggart Laughed When
the Major Told Things.

legal authorities, from which he at
times extracted opinions of the higher
courts, in rendering his decisions as to
the admissibility of testimony con-
cerning the affair at Silver lake. After
talking over the arguments for some
little time he refused to admit the tes-
timony and the two detectives or sell
ers of stock" must go unheard.
AS soon as Judge Eason had rendered
his decision Major Taggart again took
the stand. The Matanzas incident was
again taken up. Taggart said he CEN
sured his wife severely, and suggested
that Mrs. Saffrons be sent home. He
remembered having received an anony-
nous letter at Fort Thomas at the rife
range concerning the alleged relation
ship between his wife and Lieut.. Ri
ther. He sent the letter to his wife.
The witness knew Spencer, hereto
fore mentioned in the case as a civil
Ian at Highland Park, Chicago. His
nway Spencer had taken her to some
social functions at Chicago
Witness told his wife that she should
not have anything to do with Spencer,
as he was man who could not be fully
trusted. He said that she should not
go with him again. She promised. He
learned within the last year that she
had been with Spencer again. Mrs.
Taggart came to her husband In the
spring of 1901 at Manila, P. |. The
children, Emma, the Nurse, and Miss
Shields came with his wife. The eX-
aminer then led up to the Bash affair
in Manila. Capt. Taggart knew Capt
Bash. Knew him in the states and
met him in the Taggart home in Ma
nila. Il told Mrs. Taggart that as l
left the house one day that one of the
servants said to me, Why don't you
stay at home in the afternoon" The
third time the servant said that If
you would come home at 8 O'Clock you
would find things that were not right;
that q man came to his house after he
went away and left before he came
lome'"
"What did Mrs. Taggart say in re-
Donse?"
Nov you are putting the servants
10 watching me-, she said
81 asked her." the captain said, ''if
there was any intimacy between her
and Bash. She said, No, that she did
not care for him tBash).' I told her
that hereafter not to receive gentle
men in the afternoon. She became
angry and refused to speak to me for
several days"
About 10 days after this saw Bash
ut my front door. He came in his car
Iiage as we were starting for drive.
Mrs. Taggart and one of the children
went with Capt. Bash. Miss Shields,
the other child and | went in the other
carriage. We went to the band con-
cert and after that to the officers mess.
Was there about 20 minutes, and then
/ went home. Bash's carriage was at
the gate. Some words passed, and |
ordered Bash to leave and not come
back. Mrs. Taggart said If she had
Leen Mr.. Bash she would have given
be a good thrashing for talking as |
lid We became very angry, and /
forbade her having anything more to
do with Capt. Bash. She became hys-
terical She promised me afterwards
10 keep away from Bash. Again, early
In August, came home late from the
Dffice. Mrs. Taggart had gone driving.
fretired about 10 o'clock. About a.
m. / was awakened by a knocking on
the front door. ] heard Mr.. Bash say
Good night She admitted it was he.
! questioned her about where she had
been. She refused. / shook her and
slapped her on the left cheek with the
tips Of my fingers.
"She said she had been driving.
told her | now believed what | had
heard about her relations with Bash.
She then promised never to go with
Bash again"
The Miner affair was then taken up.
He was the captains superior officer at
Ft. Thomas. 1--WE were not on speak
ing terms. At Leayenworth he was my
commanding officer, colonel OF the
Sixth infantry"
Here witness attended dinner party
at Col. Miners home with his wife.
She related the next day to Miss Berry
q story of very improper conduct OF
COl. MlHeT tOWuru MID loe5oi' "a
terward offered her rose. Asked to
come and see her sometime when the
captain was away. The captain was
in one room and his wife and Miss
Berry were in another. About an
hour after this l asked her about the
truth of the story. She admitted the
truth, but said the old fool was drunk.
/ then threatened to take gun and
blow his brain out MRS. Taggart
laughed heartily at this remark) At
ter some further conversation we
agreed to say nothing about 1t and
protect Mrs Miner and the family.
Q "At a conversation afterwards be-
tween my wife, Miss Berry and myself,
Miss Berry said" said Major Taggart,
"she thought the wise thing was done