The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-08-18
COLONEL MINER FIGURED
IN THE EVIDENCE TUESDAY
Judge smyser Attempts Practical
Demonstration of Impossibility
of One of the Charges.
HARD TO TANeLE UP TAeeART
Searching Questions Failed in Most
Instances to Break Down the
Majors Testimony.

MAJORS testimony.
Wooster, Ohio, Aug. 15.--Major Tag
CART, after being on the witness stand
ever since last Thursday afternoon,
and having been subjected to rigid
cross-examination ever E.nce Saturday
morning in his divorce case, was dis
missed late this afternoon All of
Judge Smyser's examination led up to
climax, and, although the plaintiff
was his match in every point, the last
efforts of the Judge were productive
of better success, in that the plaintiff
was led to identify a mass of about 20
letters which he had written to his
wife, urging in the most humiliating
terms, that she forgive him and again
live with him. Two letters written at
Fort I.eavenworth were admitted. One
said, in part:
II never knew what IL was to be un-
an all-day affection which made my
home heaven on earth. If all the
saints had come below to say that
something would come between us,
would not have believed it. / humbly
pray TO God that He and you will for
give me for the part have taken in
all this"
Il knew 1t was my awful conduct
which made you go to California" said
the second letter, "and | must take
proper amends for your coming. If
rver man was punished for his rash
net by all the tortures by day and
night, | have suffered them ALL"
At the Tuesday morning session of
the Taggart trial the name of Col
known him at Ft. Thomas, officially
and socially, but was not on speaking
terms with him. They both served in
the Spanish war and finally met at
Leavenworth. The general was aged
about 63 or Ga.
Mrs. Miner, her husband, Miss Berry,
Mrs Spears and Capt Boles were
where Miner Is alleged to have be-
come too familiar. Miner sat at the
end of the table, his wife to his right.
Were at the table an hour and half
or two hours.
'"You saw nothing, did you?"
\ -"No, did not. | had my eyes on
the table, not below It,"
At this point Judge Smyser took his
seat at the end of the trial table. He
called Mrs. Taggart to the right, side
and made an effort to illustrate the
impossibility Of the charge made.
Major Taggart came down from the
witness chair and stood between his
wife and the attorney. He insisted
that the dining room table was entire
ly different from the table here used
Witness did not know Col. Miners
reputation at the time the incident oc-
cured Mrs. Taggart and the ladies
got up the invitation list to the big
party that followed He was not con-
suited
"You had more little dinner parties
than any other officer of your rank?"
IL wouldn't say that exactly" was
the answer.
"You were proud of your ability to
give these social functions, were you
not?" @
"They were comforting he an
swered.
The way the cotillion was broken up
was described, The captain took a
small cream pitcher from the table,
filled it with whiskey, said the milk
man had come. gave them all a drink
and they ali went home.
The captain leaned forward in his
chair, watched his questioner closely,
listened carefully and answered belig-
erently, Once, he said to Judge Smy-
ser, ''As soon as get to point and
1t hurts you, you butt in"
Some merriment was caused by this
sally Judge Smyser was persistent,
vigorous and kept his temper very
we'll - a s
Asked to enumerate the reasons
upon which he predcated his charges
against Col Miner, several were mem
toned, Besides the dinner party and
one or two others, he said that Culver
and the Filipino boys told him that
while he was imprisoned Gen. Miner
was al his house alone, IN an effort
10 show that witness had written to-
his wife asking that she plead as she
never had before" counsel attempted