The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-10-17
Judge Eason Grants Captain a Divorce
and Gives Him Custody Of
the Boys.
COURT SEVERELY ARRAIeNs
OFFICERS OF THE ARMY
Billy Tsgsart Is Described as a Social
outcast--Fortesque and General
Miner Condemned.
DISPOSAL OF THE CHILDREN
One Of the Hardest Tasks for Judge
to settle-Mother May See
Them.

10 ocVic-WotnoT way occ
Them.
Wooster, O., Oct. 13.--Captain FL
more F. Taggart, U. s. A., was tonight
granted divorce from his wife, Grace
Viola Culver Taggart and awarded the
custody of their two sons.
Judge Eason began the reading of
his decision at 2 o'clock this afternoon
and conluded at II D. m. tonight.
The judge held ,-at the adultery
charge involving Capt. Bash was not
sustained, although he said that Mrs.
Taggart and Bash were very indecent
and their acts would Justly engender
suspicion in the mind OF a husband.
The incident at the Matanzas saloon
was rapidly reviewed. 1T was here"
said the judge, that Capt. Taggart,
according to the evidence, first saw the
flush of intoxication upon the brow of
his young wife"
Billy Taggart is proven to be So
cial outcast," said the Judge, in speak,
ing of the famous 0rrville correspond
ent, "and yet he seems to have been a
favorite friend of this woman, whose
husband was in the Philippines, 10000
miles away. 1t has been shown she
accompanied him to Akron; that they
registered there under assumed names.
II seems to me that when Mrs. Tag
gart left the home Of Captain Taggart's
mother at Orrville, to go to live at
the Hurd House, that she left that
home in order that its sanctity might
not be blemished by her relations with
Billy Taggart."
AS Judge Eason uttered these words
John Manville, the aged father Of Mrs.
Taggart, bowed his head upon his
hand, with sad gesture. The father
Of Mrs. Taggart was the only relative
present
The court arraigned Lieut.. For
tesQue, President Roosevelt's nephew,
and Gen. Miner.
with Fortesque and Billy Taggart,
there is proof that Mrs. Taggart COM
mitted adultery. She may have been
guilty of the same act with Gen. Min
err" the Judge said.
There is a difference between For
tesque and Billy Taggart. Fortesque
was intelligent; Billy Taggart was not.
And yet this woman seems to have
been deeply enamoured of both: but
find that Fortesque was the last man
to enter this house ana sting to abso-
lutte death the once beautiful and
chaste life OF this woman.
For there is no question but that
once in the life Of the couple there was
great love and confidence between
them. When Fortesque came, his
and unholy love for this mar
ried woman snapped the final chord
that could have held her to a pure
life.
"At the ball. when Fortesque stood
upon the cellar steps holding the can
die for Mrs. Taggart to light her to the
ice chest, he had to come to the Rubi-
con which he could not pass. He testi-
fed that his natural discretion pre-
vented him from going into the cellar.
''There is not particle of testimony
to show that this plaintiff has been dis
loyal to this defendant in word,
thought or deed"
The judge then disposed Of the chill
dren in the following words:
"The most delicate part of this case
is the disposal of the children. l have
never had a more touching duty to per-
form. These children must be placed
In the custody Of some one, yet it is
plain to me that the court must not re-
linquish entire control over them II
would be glad to have the plaintiff and
defendant in this case, together with
their attorneys, make some satisfac-
tory arrangement between themselves
as to the disposition of the boys, II it
can be done SO in an intelligent man
ner. If the parents want to divide the |,
children, ! will consent to this ar
But IL have to manage the matter
Of their disposal entirely, without con-
sulting the wishes of either parent, my
rule is that the children remain In the
schools of Wooster under the jurisdic-
tion of the court. Their custody will
be principally vested in Capt. Taggart,
30 long as lie does not offer to take
them beyond the bounds of my juris-
diction, and the mother shall have ac-
cess to them at all times"
In his verdict, Judge Eason did not
sustain the charge of cruelty alleged
against Capt. Taggart by his wife.
The charge OF gross neglect against
Mrs. Taggart was sustained.
According to the findings Of the
court, evidence TO sustain the adultery
charges against Miner, Bash and Rith-
er are wanting. In the case of Billy
raggart and Fortesque, he regarded
lhe allegations Of Capt. Taggart fully
sustained.
The letters written by Capt. Taggart
from the Fort Leayenworth hospital
we're held to have been written under
duress.
An hour was consumed in reading