The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-22
The OTHER SIDE.
Taking of Testimony on Behalf
Of Mrs. Taggart Begins.
Witnesses Swear That the Cap
tain Abused His Wife.
SAW HIM BEAT HER.
One Woman Says 1t Was of
Frequent Occurrence.
General Miner and His Wife
Ready to Testify. $3.50.

Wooster. o., Aug. 22.-That Captain
Gilmore F. Taggart has at various
times beaten, kicked and otherwise
abused his wife was brought out in
the testimony offered by the defense
in dispositions and by the testimony of
two witnesses. Captain Taggart was
recalled TO the stand and asked two
questions in regard to the circum-
stances under which his first petition
for divorce was fled On Captain
Taggart's leaving the stand, the de-
Tense took up the deposition of Captain
B. e. Poor.
The captain remembered the party
of June 80, 1903, very we'll Captain
Poor said he tried to get Captain Tag
CART to come to the party He refused
but Mrs Taggart came. After the
festivities were over Captain and Mrs.
Poor took Mrs. Taggart home. The
party could not get in the house. Mrs.
Iaggart returned to the Poor home. A
little later telephone message came
from the captain asking his wife to
come home. Captain Poor took her
home. On the way Mrs. Taggart said
she was afraid to go home. that her
husband had not been nice to her. but
had pointed a pistol at her. Il laugh
ed at that and said I had never seen
anything mean about the captain and
he would not hurt her. 1 was certain"
He stated that after he had left
Taggart'S house and had gone a few
hundred yards toward his house, he
heard some screams proceeding from
the house and heard Emma crying
from an upstairs window, For Gods
sake, he is killing her.
Appealed for Protection.
He thought so long as she could
scream she was alive and did not go
back Afterwards, the next day, Mrs
Taggart asked Captain Poor to appeal
to Colonel Miner for protection. He
went to Miner and reported the entire
matter. Colonel Mecum then brought
Taggart to Miners office. He was
asked what he had done to his wife the
night before. Taggart said he did not
know exactly what had happened, but
was worried over his wife's conduct
with a young officer. The captain
promised that if he were permitted to
go, he would not use violence toward
his wife again. He was not permitted
TO go Colcnels Hof and Miner then
called on Mrs. Taggart to see what she
would consent to in the matter. Col
onel Miner then directed that Captain
Taggart hold no further communica-
ton with his wife and that he be con-
fined in the post hospital.
Il saw Mrs. Taggart," said Poor, 1.-THE
afternoon of July /. Her face was bruis-
ed, there was a mark on her shoulder
and l think her hands were bruised.
afterwards had a talk with Taggart, in
his prison, under the orders of Miner.
1 told him his wife and children were
going to San Francisco and that he
should hold no communication with his
family for period of four months.
Taggart Cried.
He cried and insisted that Culver be
not taken; that he was the apple of his
eye and he did not see how he could
get along without him..
1t developed, on cross-examination,
that the captain was in the post hos
pital when the pledge was signed
Poor admitted that he and his wife and
Mrs T1OO9rf IoI Oh
sorbed considerable LIQUOR the eventful
night Questioned further Poor had not
made any effort to get help when he
heard the cries of help
And you went home and went to bed
when you heard this trouble?''
Yes"
Poor being asked if Mrs. Taggart met
young officers at his house, said: 'She
met guests at my house,
On direct examination Poor said Mrs
Taggart's reputation for chastity was
above reproach.
Mrs. Adelaide Poor, wife of the cap
tain who had testified and whose name
has become very familiar in this case
then deposed and gave her version OF
the affair of June 80 Her story differed
but little from that of her husband and
Nortescue as what occurred that night
according to Mrs. Poor's story Mrs
0aggart was in an awful shape" Sale
she was speeches. and dazed. Her body
was covered with bruises. She had beer
kicked, her arm was black and blue
her hair was pulled out and her dress
all torn to pieces.
did she make any request of you?'
Yes, sir; she asked me if I would ash
Captain Poor to do something about it.
'sHave you seen Mrs. Taggart anC
Lieutenant Fortescue together"
Never alone"
All Drank Whisky.
Upon being cross-examined she saiC