Evening star., 1905-08-29
TAGGART DIVORCE SUIT
DEFENDANT TOLD HER STORY AT
WOOSTER YESTERDAY.

an excellent witness for herself Mrs. Tag
CART wore a becoming black hat, neat white
shirt waist and black skirt. A trif1e paler
than usual, but self-composed all the hours
she was on the stand. she answered ques-
tions in a clear tone and in excellent IAN
guage expressing quickly what she had 70
say.
When Mrs. Taggart was called to the
stand at Wooster, Ohio, yesterday Judge
NJ. L. Smyser began asking questions She
gave her age as thirty-five years, and said
that she joined the Episcopal Church IN
1889, in Sandusky. Ohio, where she was
visiting. Before her marriage her mother
informed the captain twice that she was
only an adopted daughter. 49,
''At the time of my marriage l was III
with the grip and was unable to accom-
pany the captain" she testified. My
mother bought all our household goods
when we went to Plattsburg and went to
housekeeping. AT Plattsburg l tasted my
first whisky. 1 might have tasted beer pc
fore that. From Plattsburg We moved 10
Fort Thomas
"Where did you first get acquainted wi n
the Poores?" AT Forst Thomas, when
they came there
How did you come to get acquainted
when they left West Point my husband
wrote them to make our house their nome
until they could go to housekeeping for
themselves"
Tells of Her Children.
"Where did YOU first meet Mrs. Saffrons? ~
AT Fort Thomas"
Mrs. Taggart then told of the birth of
their four children. of whom two died IN
infancy. Going into the social life at Fort
Thomas she said they were both young and
lively and enjoyed the society dolnss at at
the post. The birth of her first child ieit
her with trouble which from 'lme -
emf
into in detail for the purpose OF rebuttng
the evidence offered by the plaintiff as 70
the cause of her confinement In Christ
Hospital.
"At the time Tiddles was six months,
old by request of my husband, l joined
him at Macon. Ga, leaving Tiddles at fort
Thomas in the care of the surgeons Wlie.
1 was advised not to nurse Tiddles, and ne
was living on the bottle, and I knew the
surgeons wife could take good and Dos
sjbly better care of him than | could. Inc
captain told me TO always De particular "
set out the drinks to visitors When they
called On one occasion visitors drove out
from Cincinnati. and in looking over the
sideboard for some wine l could nne none,
but found a new bottle of something. l
gave them all a drink, but when l tasted
il I noticed it tasted strange and did not
drink it. When the captain came nome
and saw my full glass on the table ne a asksa ss q
me If / had been giving that stuff to the
visitors. l said Yes and he sald; w ell
I'm surprised that they could drink 1t.
It's vermuth. $3.50
"One night shortly after the o1rtn ,, oi ,,
"Did YOU ever smoke cigarettes at Fort
Thomas?" Never but once when
smoked part of one
''Did you ever tell any of these stories
that you are reported to have told?' No.
ST. 1 never heard of those stories until
after this suit commenced
That Drinking Contest.
what truth is there in the alleged drink
ing contest between you and Mrs. Poorer
II don't remember anything about such a
contest"
RELATE the events of the drinking In the
GA fe at MatanZas, Cuba" There was COM
pany at our house that evening, and after
most of them had gone Lieut.. Bencard,
Lieut.. Parker. Mrs. Saffrons and myseif,
on invitation of one of the officers went to
the cafe for sandwiches and lemonade.
Capt. Taggart said he was tired and would
not GO but we should go and bring him
sandwich. We went, and the officers took
gin rickeys and we took lemonade. one OF
the officers then paid bill he owed, and
the proprietor gave him a bottle of cham
pagne. l was just about to taste my glass
when in walked the captain and said to me
and Mrs. Saffrons: This is nice time OF
night for you ladies to be out ! raised my
glass to taste it. when the captain knocked
it out of my hand, and l went home with
him. He did have any shirt or coat on.
but had on his overcoat, with the collar
turned up around his ears. There is no
truth in the testimony that we picked up
these officers upon the street. They were
old acquantances."
How did drink at Mantanzas affect Capt.
Taggart?'' 1T made him very eXcitable.''
The witness then told of their residence
at Camp Meade. Pa. and at San Francisco.
where she stayed at TIE hotel until he
sailed.
Stunning Through Chinatown.
up to this time nothing had happened
between us to mar the relations of hus-
band and Wife" said the witness.
Describe what took place on your slum-
ming expedition through Chinatown with
the captain I'VE had visited several
places of interest. when the guide called
the captain to one side and told him OF
something to be seen that would cost 81
extra.
The witness then told of returning to
Fort Thomas after the captain sailed, and
in the latter part of November, 1893, going
parents until March. when she went to the
Hurd Hotel for a few weeks, and then
rented house of her own
"Where did you first meet Billy Tag
gart?' Il don't remember whether it was
at Leikhem's grocery or at his home. His
mother and 1 were good friends, and 1 fire.
quently called at her house."
How did you come to go to the dance
one night with Billy?' Father Taggart
was old and not able to go out so l went
to the grocery and asked Billy to call at
the house that night, and II I felt like
going to the dance 1 wanted him to take
me. Billy couldn't dance, but he took me
and brought me home"
What took place in the house after you
returned homer" I'VE had little lunch,
and then Billy left"
What object had you in conversing in
whispers? mo object that know of. ex-
cept to avoid awakening the old folks
Nothing Improper.
What, If anything improper. took place
between you and Billy that night?' Moth
ing whatever"
did you buy Billy a pair of shoes at
Akron on one occasionY' Yes. He asked
me to get them for him. when / went to
Akron because he could not get any In Orr
vile to fit him.
Mrs. Taggart then described the events of
her trip to Akron with Billy to attend a
concert given by an old friend Of hers, Miss
Jackson. Billy registered for both of them
at the Windsor Hotel and gave their res
ideEce as Cleveland.
What act Of impropriety took place be-
tween you and Billy on that trip?' '.Abso-
lEtely none"
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