Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-16
TAGGART DIVORCE SUIT
LONG ORDEAL ON
STAND ENDED YESTERDAY.

ended at Wooster. Ohio, yesterday, after
being on the witness stand ever since last
Thursday afternoon and having been sub
jected to rigid cross-examination since
Saturday morning. Judge Smyser con-
cluded his questioning at 4 o'clock yester-
day afternoon and after q short direct ex-
animation by Attorney Sterling >the case
was adjourned for another day.
i Judge Smyser's last efforts were produc-
tive of some success in that the plaintiff
was led to identify about twenty letters
which he had written to his wife in the
most humiliating terms asking her to for
give and again live with him. In one Of
the letters he wrote: II never knew what
1t was to be unhappy. In all those years
I could see an all-day affection which made
my home heaven on earth. II all the
saints had come below to say something
would come between US. I would not have
believed 1t. hunnbly pray to God that He
and you will forgive me for the part I
have taken In all this.
And now I ask you to make the paths
come together. am the one to start It over
again and all I wish you to do Is to show
me the way. I have faith in your hard.
common sense the sense that will take you
and me and Culver and Tiddles through
life together"
Speaks Of lawful Conduct"
Another quotation read was: II want to
get down on my knees and plead as no one
as ever done for your forgiveness and your
charity.
II knew 1t was my awful conduct which
made you go to California and must make
proper amends. If ever q man has been
punished for his rash acts by all the tor
lures by day and night I have suffered
them"
Letters to TO- inclusive. were written in
the hospital while plaintiff was recover
~. = SyCyH
In another letter he says: I'm the mean
time do not talk about my case, and de-.
stroy the unfortunate membranes of our
affair at home. sa. na..,r
to was the torn clothes. Here Judge Smy-
ser produced a mass of flmy lace torn into
small shreds and asked II they were part
of the clothes his wife wore on the fateful
night.
"They may be, but didn't destroy them
like that. said Taggart.
Another letter written while Taggart was
imprisoned at Fort Leavenworth read:
please let me ask your forgiveness, par
don and pity for my awful condition. You
have been Inundated enough, and please
tell me you will never permit your name
and mine to be dragged publicly before q
general court-martial. Do think of one
think you may have told Col. Miner. that
Is, that l put you out of the house naked.
Don't let that be said Of us. You know 1t
was not outside, and before it Is too late
correct it. My charges are probably being
made out now. If that is In them 1 look
ahead to an awful future and am an out
cast in the world II this be true. You must
do this, Grace, and today. at once Then
I will say goodbye to you and to the boys
and you may go to San Francisco, where 1
hope you will try to forget If you cannot
forgive me. You may say you know my
trouble Is drink and ask to put me on the
pledge"
Taggart said that Col. Hoff, who was
Gen. Miners envoy, had urged him for two
hours and half to write to his wife and
urge conciliation. Asked If his wife had
not kept him from being court-ma rtialed,
Taggart said he did not know.
Try to Disprove Miner Incident.
When court opened in the morning and
Judge Smyser. by placing Mrs Taggart at
one end Of the table tried to show that 1t
would have been impossible for the incident
at the dinner table at Fort Leavenworth
IN which Cen Miner was mentioned, to
have occurred.
Taggart went down from the stand stood
between his wife and Judge Smyser and
said: "Oh. this table is, not anything like a
dining room table,,
Maj; Tasgart, during his cross-examina-
ton. leaned forward in his chair. watched
his questioner closely. listened carefully ana
answered belligerently Once he said To
Judge smyser. LAS soon as get to a point
ana 1t hurts you. you butt in"
Oil eiiorl 10 snow that Witness had
written to his wife asking that she plead
as she never had before" counsel at
tempted to Introduce this part Of the letter
RMS was objected to. Taggart's counsel
making an imprisoned speech Directing to
the method of conducting the cross-exa mi
nation The court ruled in favor of the
admission of the letter and Taggart stated
that he wrote the words in question.
PURSUING this further. counsel said:
You wrote the words please send for
Col. Miner You intended by that that she
should see the colonel
Counsel Wrangle Again.
There was a wrangle over this. but the
court allowed the question temporarily.
and the witness then answered, mo I
think not"
Your object and purpose was to have
an interview between your wife and Col.
Miner?''
not intend her to him"
Now let's come to him. Do you know
Billy Taggart?"
Yes"
SIS he related to you?"
"Dstantly."
Ever take little nip with him.
"Nevert
"Since that time you have been mighty
careful about drinking whisky"
Il have not taken drink of whisky In
over two years"
Asked whether his attorneys had SUBJ
poenaed BILLY" Taggart. witness said: IT
believe nv attorneys said thew would SUBJ
poena Billy for fear you would spirit him
out of the country"
Smyser also tried to make It appear that
a number of presents he should have re-
ceived in the Philippines were given him
for the purpose of obtaining concessions
differences.