The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-08-11
WOOSTER'S PERIL
saloonkeeper Fears the Tassart Case
VIII Result In the Town
Going "pry."

IL. rHr"AH - .MaNa.FN 49,
WOOSTER. O.. Aug. io.-There'
have been many references to drink
ing during the trial of the Taggart
divorce case. both on the part OF the
wife and on the part of the husband.
Mrs. Taggart has been accused of
drinking beer and whiskey and high
balls with divers OF her acquaintances,
and as for the Major It has been said
by n OF the lawyers on his wife's
side that his whiskey bill for four
months included 40h gallons. These
statements r known in Wooster.
and many of them have been printed
In out-of.town papers. Here then Is
the reflex OF this testimony:
YES" said a saloonkeeper. 81 have
been up to the Taggart cas- and I
do not like the evidence that is being
made public. Why, II this keeps on
don't you know that some of the tom.
perance people may be wrought to
such a pitch that we'l have an cleo.
ton. and the first thing you know this
old town will be declared dry
Wouldn't that be awful? But you see
what publicity will do"
Wooster is a university town and
is Jealous of its reputation. Its main
hotel has no bar. but there are about
forty to supply the wants OF the
thirsty 5000 or so people. The sa.
loonkeeper voiced the fears of those
thirsty ones as to the fear OF the
outcome of the trial as affecting the
legal sale OF booze.
Major Taggart is more marked in
his appearance on the street than is
his wife, for she has been here n
year. Last night his leave of absence
expired. but he was granted an extern
sion. He considered this fortunate,
for he wishes to have the question at
issue with his slender and vivacious
former wife" settled as soon as pos.
sible. This term may be used, al.
though not legally true, for Mrs. Tag.
CART says that nothing e a bring
them together again. But the Major,
while he helps his attorneys as much
as possible in the summoning and ex.
animation of witnesses. finds time to
attend to his duties as an officer.
Nearly every day comes a parcel OF
papers from Washington under por.
tentous government seals. These re-
late to his term as quartermaster on
the Sherman and are in the settling
OF his accounts of the last voyage. He
expects to be assigned to an infantry
regiment when the trial is over.
Wooster is a city of magnificent
distances" when a witness is needed
in the court room. Mr.. Bailiff pro
ceeds to the window INT sends his
voice to the East and West and the
North and South. The absent John
I, Smith," or what his name may be
seems to hear the sound as well as
those in the court rooom, for he ap
pears shortly, sometimes putting as 4
he had run some distance.
) There is a wealth Of secret histor,
in this divorce case that Is attracting
attention the country over. The law
yers give in to some extent, but al
ways with that injunction, mot to b,
used till l tell you" That is the mos
cruel Injunction an anxious write
can have placed on his pen.
One of the odd features of relation
skip in the Ease is that the wife o
. Captain Taylor once taught Majo
Taggart in a Sunday school class, an
that Smyser recommended Taggar
for appointment to West Point upol
being asked by President McKinle,
to pick out a likely man. Both Q
these men daily have pilloried hir
in the court room, and Smyser ha
made a few furnace retorts the top
of which have not been taken off l
hiding. a..-e,si III 9I.a;,
Wooster is a quiet town. and afte
11:30 P. NJ. settles into that ineffabl
condition which induces sleep n
: matter what has been the turmoil
the day. There is a night Marsha
8 but he is not kept busy. The fe,