Evening star., 1905-08-22
TAGGART DIVORCE SUIT
DAMAGING TESTIMONY SUBMIT
TED AT HEARING YESTERDAY.

The principal witness for Mrs. Taggart
in the divorce case hearing at Wooster.
Ohio, yesterday was Mrs Irene Shields
Voss, niece of Mrs. Taggart, who has
been with the family for several years. Oft
and on. The damaging part of the testi-
mony of Mrs. voss was relating to Maj
Taggart and Augustine De LaCruz. the
Filipino woman, who testified as to the al
legged improper conduct the part of
Capt Bash and Mrs. Taggart.
Mrs Voss dragged out several family
skeletons. Twice 1 saw Maj. Taggart
strike mis- wife" she said. and described
the quarrels in detail. She said Maj. Tag
gart was very quarrelsome on the subject
of Capt. Bash. One time he came home
to go driving with his wife and discovered
that she had gone out with Bash. He fol-
lowed. and upon catching up with Bash
there was quarrel. after which Bash drove
away. She thought Taggart was intoxi-
cated then. She had observed no indiscre-
tions between Mrs. Taggart and Capt. Bash
Another witness was Mrs. Fannie SAT-
farons. wife of Maj. Saffarons of Denver
She said that she had come here on ac-
count of the scandalous stories circulated
about her. although she had given her dep
ostion. My father was an officer and
married officer, SO l have never been
out of the army" she explained. She was
dressed in pretty white gown and wore
white hat.
She Kissed "Tag."
She unhesitatingly admitted that her age
Is thirty-five, although she looked much
younger. Maj. Taggart called her Fannie
and she called him Tag she said. When
she went to Cuba he greeted her with a
kiss and she admitted that the farewell
was made in a similar way. In regard to
the Matanzas cafe, she said that she and
Arc Toe ey.vfo oy,1 Ia nfN
went there, but nothing intoxicating was
drunk and Mrs. Taggart was not intoxi-
ca ted.
When Maj Taggart came in he said:
Fannie, It's a nice time for you girls to be
out" and with that he smashed the glass
out of his wife's hand. A bottle of cham
payne had been given them. but they had
not had any of it. The officers were not
drunk. either, she averred. The first time
she went to the cafe. she said, was with
Maj. Taggart, who had the best-stocked
sideboard al Fort Thomas He drank any
thing ard everything.
Il will ask you, Mrs. SaffaronS, IL you
are not now the heroine of a big scandal at
Fort Logan?' was the lawyers next ques-
ton, which was not answered.
Isn't 1t fact that young officer,
Lieut.. English, was court-martialed and
found guilty on charge of misanpropri-
ating funds which he spent on your
The court refused to permit the question
or answer to be made a part Of the evil
CtnCe. % unOlner question along the Same
line she denied having had anything to do
with the court-martial of Lieut.. English.
She asked also to her knowledge of
young man at Fort Thomas by the name
of Bolles. but the court ruled the question
OF.
Taggart's sideboard
when Mrs. Taggart did drink, what did
she drink?'
Il really don't know, said Mrs. Saffa
rons.
You say that the major had a we'll
stocked sideboard. What do you mean by
that?"
He kept all kinds of liquors."
Was Mrs. Taggart opposed to drink
ing?"
She occasionally took something to
drink
When Mrs Saffarons left the witness
stand she bowed to the judge, saluted
friends seated about and. walking out to
the sheriff's office, wrote out statement
which she said she desired TO see published.
1t is as follows:
WOOSTER, Ohio August 81.
ITO the Public: Lieut. E. G. English,
9th Z. S. Cavalry was tried by court-mar-
tial, Fort Logan, Colorado, for duplication
of pay accounts. The President has not
passed on the findings of court.
by malicious persons l have been made
the victim of false accusations, and desire
through the press to say that l am entirely
innocent. The animus behind the wrong
that has been done me In this manner is
clearly understood and appreciated at Fort
Logan.
MRS. GEORGE C. SAFFARONS"
Mrs. Saffarons, however, before leaving
the stand, denied that Mrs. Taggart had
ever written to her or told her in words
that after she CMrs. Taggaro had secured
her divorce she intended to change the
name of her youngest child from ''Tiddles"
to "Bonifeld.'
DeDos;tion Told of Screams
The deposition of Capt. Poore, inter-
rupted in the Taggart divorce case satur-
day, was continued yesterday. Capt. Poore
stated that on the night of June 30, 1900,
after he had gone only a few steps from
the Taggart house, he heard the opening
of a window and Emma a servant cry:
For Gods sake he Is killing herr He
heard Mrs. Taggart scream, but concluded
that II she was able to scream she was still
alive: SO he did not go back. The nextday
Mrs Taggart sent for Capt. Pooref and
asked him TO appeal to Col Miner for pro-
lection.
Deponent said he went to Col. Miner and
reported. Col. Meacum then had Maj. Tag
CART brought to Col Miners office. and he
was asked what he had done the night be-
fore He said he did not know. Taggart
had been worried over his wifes conduct
with young officer. according to the depo-
sition. but he promised If he was permit
ted to go he would not use violence toward
her again.
Taggart was permitted to 60 but Col.
Hoff and Col. Miner called on Mrs Taggart.
and We're assured that she could not again
live with her husband. she was fearful
for her safety.
Mrs. Taggart Bruised.
Il saw Mrs. Taggart the day after the
attack" said Poore. Her face was bruised
on the cheek. There was bruise on her
shoulder, and 1 think her hands were
bruised. l saw Maj. Taggart at the hospi-
tai later. l told him every action 1 had
taken had been as friend. told him Mrs
Taggart was leaving with the children. He
begged me to take letter to his wife, ask
ing her not to take the children from him.
He leaned on the table and cried
Questioned about Taggart's drinking hab-
Its, Poore said: He drank about the same
as many other officers did"
The deposition of Mrs Poore wife of
Capt. Poore. told of her cali on Mrs. Tag
gart the morning after the trouble She
said: Mrs Taggart's body was bruised
and the skin was off her shoulders; her
hair had been pulled out by the roots and
her hands were black and blue"
Jude Eason refused to rule out Mrs Tag
CARTS petition for divorce decree Attor-
neys for Maj Taggart made motion that
Mrs. Taggart'S plea be discarded The mo-