Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-24
TAGGART DIVORCE SUIT
GEN. MINER GIVES MORE TESTI-
MoNY IN NOTED TRIAL.

When not to tell the whole truth to
wife" was the theme of an interesting sec
ton of Gen. c. W. Miners testimony in the
Taggart divorce case at Wooster. Ohio, yes
terday. Proper conduct on the part of the
husband when his better half errs was also
dealt with to some extent.
The court room was crowded, owing not
only to the personality of the witness, but
also to his sensa tional testimony Wednes-
day, in which. among other denials, he dis
claimed pinioning Mrs. Taggart beneath
the dinner table at Fort Leavenworth.
General. if you were guilty Of all the
improper conduct with Mrs. Taggart that
you are charged with here would you admit
1t on the witness stand?' he was asked.
Yes on the witness stand 1 would
We'll, would you tell your wife about
it?"
NO sir: of course not"
Gen. Miner reiterated that he did not con-
fine Taggart for acute alcoholism, but for
the purpose of observing his mental condi-
ton
Question Of Mental Disorder.
do you consider It sign of mental dis
order for a man to do all in his power to
lead his wife in the path of rectitude, and,
when she departs from 1t, to throw the
broad mantle of charity over her mis-
deeds?" asked Attorney Sterling.
mo sir; I do not think that could be
called mental disorder"
Gen. Miner asserted that he confidently
expected to see reconciliation the last
time he saw Mrs. Taggart.
As a peacemaker did you think 1t would
effect reconciliation to send Mrs. Taggart
away and have her take the children
away?'
II thought that II she went away she
would be better able to think the matter
over quietly and feel more like reconcile
alton"
I'm other words. you thought that dis
lance lends enchantment to the view?"
Yes. l thought SO. but not in poetry
Gen. Miner stated that as soon as he had
ordered Capt. Taggart imprisoned-July l..
l93-he also issued an order compelling
Fortescue to stay away from Taggart's
house entirely and have no communication
with Mrs. Taggart during her husbands
term In the hospital.
In reply to a question from Attorney
Sterling witness said that he had been told
that Taggart's difficulty with his wife had
occurred on account of Fortescue, and he
had determined not to have anything hap
pen that would emphasize the situation
while Taggart in prison. Capt Poore
had told him about Fortescue, he said.
Taggart Under Arrest.
The muster roll for July 1903, was then
brought out and was identified by Miner 1t
showed that Taggart was in the hospital
July to July s. 1903. with disease con-
tracted In line of duty.
1t also adds, Arrest from July to July
S. 1908" He was then placed in command
OF company. The plaintiff here seeks to
show that although Miner charges Taggart
with being unbalanced when he was placed
In the hospital, he was taken out and put
in command of his company.
In response TO question from Attorney
Sterling Gen. Miner denied ever having told
Mrs. Taggart to call him up at the office.
He was not using telephone then, he said,
and could not hear through one at all.
Gen. Miner, when you released Taggart
and ent him to the rifle range did you think
he was mentally sound7' asked Sterling.
Doubt as to his being sound still fingered
In my mind
do you think that his signing a pledge
10 abstain from Intoxicating liquors was a
cure for his mental disorder
II don't / thought Taggart displayed
mental disease when he brought this suit
for divorce"
''Why2"
Because he waited till all the witnesses
We're out of the country"
Isn't II a fact that the first time yo,,
suspected mental disorders in Taggart's
brain was when he mentioned your name
In connection with Mrs. Taggart's?"
II suspected mental disorder when he
filed an amended petition. charging i'm
proper conduct on the part of Mrs Taggart
with all Of us officers"