The Washington times., 1905-10-14
For Judge Advocate.
Captain Taggart Granted
Divorce From Wife

WOOSTER. Ohio. Oct 14-The d.
vorce suit of Capt. Elmore f. Taggart,
which for year has been the sensa-
tion of the United States army. has
been decided by Judge Eason in favor
OF the husband. who also was given
custody OF the children, Culver. eleven
years old. and Charles, seven.
Mrs Grace Culver Taggart. who filed
counter petition and fought desner-
ately for her boys. is completely pros
trated- She had indicated that she
didn't care who got the divorce SO long
as 1t left her the children, but the de-
cision permits her only to visit them.
Ihat the sympathy of the children is
with the mother was evidenced when
court adjourned. Mrs. Taggart was too
Ill TO attend when the decision was
read. but her father and children were
present Culver. the elder of the ,u,o
boys. cried bitterly. and as he met bis
father in the corridor he burst ont in
rage and grief:
You won the case by living saw
you throw her down stairs and noint a
revolver at her. Every witness svvora
10 lies against mamma You are a
damned liar, won't go with you.
won't leave my mother. l don't care
what the judge says"
Never Cursed So by a Man.
Captain Taggart. in telling OF the in
cident. said he had never been cursed
by grown man as ne had been by the
boy. He took Master Culver by the
arms and half led and half dragged him
along. the boy all the time clingfng TO
objects in front of stores. pulling back
and trying TO get away. He was finally
quieted and walked toward the home of
ms mother. sobbing as II his heart were
broken.
TaSgart may attempt to kidnap the
poys. II Is said. has hired officers to
SIard the house.
Drunkenness Not Proved.
Judge Eason. before giving his deci-
sion- reviewed the petitions. and said
that the testimony was deeply touching.
The charge of drunkenness against
Captain Taggart. he declared. was not
sustained.
Both Sides he said, ''have made cx-
travagant claims in their pleas" He
declared the evidence showed that it
was love match. There wes not
ripple 10 their matrimonial sea for the
first seven years.
1T appears from the evidence that
there was never any dispute about
financial matters he said. ''and that
all the difficulty thcere was was owing
10 their relations TO Others
Court Room Crowded.
dense throng was brought to instant
attention at the first rap of the judge 8
gavel.
As he came inside the inclosure front
ing the judge Captain Taggart stopped
and shook hands with his wife's attor-
ney. He then passed to a seat at the
side OF his attorneys
Judge Eason talked only a few mo-
ments before 1t became evident that the
decision was TO be in favor of the cap
tain. He held that the charges against
Mrs. Taggart and Captain Bash were
rot sustained, although he said that
their acts would justly engender sus-
picion in the ::.ii..d OF a husband
The incident at the MatanZas saloon
was rapidly reviewed
1t was here" said the Judge, that
cence. first saw the flush OF intoxication
upon the brow OF his young wife"
Scores the Army Wife.
BILLY Taggart Is proven to be a social
outcast." said the Judge in speaking
OF the famous Or-ville correspondent
and yet he seems 10 have been a favor
ite friend of this woman. whose hus-
band was In the Philippines. 1000 miles,
away. 1t has been shown that she ac-
eompanied him 10 Akron. and that they
registered there under assumed names.
II seems to me. that when Mrs. Taggars
left the home OF Captain Taggart's
mother at Orrville. to go TO live at M
Hurd house, that she left that home il,
order that its sanctity might not h.
oiemished by her relatioIs with Billy
TaGgart."
A Judge Eason uttered these wordsi