Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-07
TAGGART DIVORCE CASE
THE CAPTAIN LAUDED By A sU-
PERDoR OFFICER.

WOOSTER, Ohio, August THE testi-
mony in the Taggart divorce trial was re-
sumed today at the point where It waH
abandoned Saturday. in the middle of the
| deposition of Maj Morton. now attached to
| the war college, Washington. but formerly
| Capt Taggart's superior officer at Fort
! Leavenworth. The deposition covered Tag
| CARTS department before and after his ar
rest on charges of intoxication. which fol-
| lowed the Taggarts final quarrel and sep
! -aration in July, 1903
! Taggarts domestic habits had always
been excellent and exemplary, deponent said,
as was his reputation for morality and So
briefly. II think Capt. Taggarts treatment
| Of his wife should be model for every hus.
| band in the world" Morton testified: land
his treatment Of his children was always
kind and considerable"
| Testimony as to whether Taggart's arrest
and confinement were usual was ruled out
temporarily, though the plaintiff argued
that upon this arrest was based the cruelty
count OF the captains charge as against his
| wife. 1t being alleged that 1t was unusual.
contrary to regulations and the result OF
conspiracy.
The custom Of becoming intoxicated Is
looked down upon both socially and official
ly in the army" the deponent said.
ut is one OF the strangest things In the
world to put an officer in confinement, de-
ponent had said on cross-examination I
never saw 1t done but once In my life. when
a man was suffering from delirium tremens.
I saw Capt. Taggart before he was put In
the hospital and he was utterly sober. I
also knew 1t 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"
spired against, Taggart could not have OBJ
| tanned redress through court-martial. de-
ponent said the whole theory Of army dis
cipline was that the presumption was al
~ thAu
and that to obtain redress Taggart would
have to overcome that presumption.
Van Hon's Deposition.
The deposition Of Colonel John Van Hoff,
assistant surgeon general of the army, fol-
lowed. He had been at Fort Leavenworth
in July, 1905. and had gone with Colonel
Miner to see Mrs. Taggart He did not
consider her condition nervous or hysteri-
cal, but was impressed with her self-pos-
session. This was July /. the day Of Tag
CARTS arrest. The quarrel and skirt-tear-
ing had occurred the night before.
On cross-examinatfon the surgeon had
testified that he attended Mrs. Taggart at
Colonel Miners request, going 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 very dis
| agreeable occurrence" and asked the sur
geon's advice. Captain Taggart seemed
much distressed, and there was deal OF
talk about the affair.
Finally Taggart had said he could per-
heps persuade Mrs. Taggart to withdraw
her complaint and asked permission to go
| to see. That was refused. and Taggart sug-
gested that Colonel Miner go.
Miner refused to go alone and Van Hofr
had therefore accompanied him.
Bore Evidence Of Bruises.
Her face bore evidence of having been
| bruised in some way" the deposition went
! on. Such condition might have resulted
! from an assault, such as the one men
| toned. I remember my impression was
| that her face was swollen and bruised, but
| that she was perfectly composed"
Thrteen-year-old Fanny Everly 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. Taggart. The girl
| was under cross-examination by Judge
| SmySer when court adjourned at noon,