The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-08
Tagsart a Model.
Was Utterly Sober.

" 90 ONN~hiJ SOSSi-
1T is one of the strangest things in
the world to put an officer in confine-
ment," deponent had said on cross
examination. Il never saw it done but
once in my life, when a man was suf-
fering from delirium tremens. 1 saw
Captain Taggart before he was put
in the hospital and he was utterly
sober. / also knew il was recorded in
the hospital that he was there for
alcoholism. That was wholly untrue
and was put there to cover up the real
facts"
In reply to question whether if con-
spired against Taggart could not have
obtained redress through court martial,
deponent said the whole theory of
army discipline was that the presump-
ton was always in favor of the COM
handing officer and that to obtain re
dress Taggart would have TO overcome
that presumption.
Deposition of Surgeon.
The deposition of Colonel John Van
Hoff, assistant surgeon general of the
army. followed He had been at Fort
Leavenworth in July 1903. and had
gone with Colonel Miner to see Mrs
Taggart He did not consider her con-
dition nervous or hysterical, but was
impressed with her self possession
This was July 1, the day of Taggart's
arrest. The quarrel and skirt tearing
On cross examination the surgeon
had testified that he attended Mrs.
Taggart at Colonel Miners request. GO
ing first to the latter's headquarters.
There Miner told him that Taggart had
assaulted his wife and that she was
reported to be in fear for her life.
Miner had called it a very disagree
able occurrence" and asked the sur
geon's advice. Captain Taggart seemed
much distressed and there was a deal
n a = he ffa In I'll IL Too
CART had said he could perhaps per-
suade Mrs. Taggart to withdraw her
complaint and asked permission to go
to see her. That was refused and Tag
CART suggested that Colonel Miner go.
Miner refused TO go alone and Van
HOff had therefore accompanied him.
Her Face Was Bruised.
Her face bore evidence of having
been bruised in some way" the de-
ponent went on Such condition
might have resulted from an assault
such as the one mentioned. remem-
Der my impression was that her face
was swollen and bruised, but that she
was perfectly composed"
Thirteen year-old Fanny EVERY was
the first witness put on the stand
She now lives in Pittsburg, but formerly
lived in Orrville and frequently visited
the house there occupied by Mrs Tag
CART. The girl was under cross exami-
nation by Judge Smyser when court
adjourned at noon.
Favorable to Taggart.
The afternoon session was taken up
mainly by the reading of dispositions
of army officers.
The deposition of Captain Edwin D.
Coe referred to an alleged pledge taken
by Major Taggart TO abstain from
drinking. He described the confine-
ment OF the major in a hospital in
Leavenworth- A written statement
from Thomas II. Peale, of the corps
of engineers, declared that Major Tag
CART always looked sober to him and
that the plaintiff had been kind to
his children.
Following came the deposition of
Captain Omar Bundy. He was also
at Leavenworth with Major Taggart,
and said that he was considerable in
his relations with the two boys The
last deposition was that of Captain
Benjamin w. Atkinson of the sixth
infantry
In his opinion Major Taggart was
popular with his brother officers