The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-08-23
GENERAL miner SAYS
HE DIDN'T PINCH MRS.
TAGGART UNDER TABLE
AYERS HE WASN'T DRUNK ANnn
NEVER HEARD ANYTHING 4
ABOUT THE iNpiscRETioN.
THE GENERAL ADMITS THAT
HE MADE FALSE REPORT OF
CAPTAIN TAGoART's
RECORD.

Il
divorce trial this morning. Miners
admission, made late yesterday. that
his annual report made at the time
he is accused OF conspiracy against
Captain Taggart contains demerits
that should not be In 1t and omits
merits that should be included was
taken up. Attorneys for Mrs. Tag
gart asked that the testimony should
be ruled out on the ground that MI
ner's report to the war department
was privileged communication.
The motion was refused by Judge
Eason.
Il want to make correction in my
testimony of yesterday" said Miner.
my first order after the report of
Captain Taggart's attack on his wife
came to me was one I sent to Lieu.
tenant Fortescue. | ordered him to
keep away from Captain Taggart's
house. pending a settlement OF the
trouble. This was because OF the
manner in which Lieutenant Fort.
escue's name had been connected
with the Affair.""
Miner yesterday admitted that his
formal report to the War Depart.
ment the summer OF Taggart's impris.
onment was incorrect and unfair to
Taggart. This report forms part
OF Taggart's official record. Miner
admitted that the report contained
matter dlscrediting Taggart that
should not have been in the report.
He admitted that account OF service
10 Taggart's credit has been omitted.
He put the blame on his adjutants
and said the omissions had not been
intentional. In saying in that re-
port that Taggarts habits were bad,
Miner admitted he was biased.
Miner said his charges against Tag
CART seeking court martial were
made on the publication in a newspa-
per OF Taggart's amended petition in
this divorce case. In this petition
Miner is named correspondent.
General" asked the cross-exam-
ining attorney. were you drunk the
night of the celebrated dinner par
ty?"
II was not" said Miner. Eat all
the dinners we gave there was a
cocktail before dinner and claret
and cherry on the table but drank
very little" Again Miner denied he
had ever. pinched Mrs. Taggart's
neither timber and said he would like
to call on her when Taggart was not
at home
did you hear that Mrs. Taggart
told her husband you had done these
things. that Taggart said he would
be justified in shooting you and that
Mrs. Taggart pleaded with him to
use no violence?"
81 never heard of such thing"
said Miner.
The official medical record Of Tag
gart's confinement in the hospital at
Fort Leayenworth was introduced.
1t records that Taggart was "sick in
hospital July to s. Disease con-
tracted in line of duty. In arrest
July 2. Commanding company after
July s.
Il thought Captain Taggart was
mentally unbalanced as many other
men have been by service In the
Philippines says Miner. THAT was
the only conclusion could reach af-
ter hearing he had assaulted his wife
and torn OF her clothes. 1 had him
locked up for observation.
After Captain Taggart had been
In the hospital several days Surgeon
Hoffman reported that he had found
no sign OF mental disturbance. /
ordered him released several days
later
do you mean to say that you sent
back to his command in charge of a
company armed with deadly weapons
an officer you believed was mentally
Tunsound7y
T accept Surgeon Hofmans re-
port said Miner.
Questioned further Miner said Tag
CARTS amended divorce petition filed
last spring, charging army oflcers
with misconduct with Mrs Taggart
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