The Washington times., 1905-08-19
JUDGE SCORES
CORRESPONDENTS
Would Not Dismiss Charges
in Taggart Case.
HANDS DOWN HIS DECISION
General Miner, Lieutenant Fortescue,
Bash, and Billy Taggart
Are Lashed.
HANDS DOWN HIS DECISION

WOOSTER, Ohio Aug. 19.-When court
opened this morning Judge Eason ha@d-
ed down his decision in regard TO mo-
tion introduced last night for the court
to rule out the charges as against the
principal men named as correspondents
in the case.
Judge Eason said he would dismiss the
charges against Captain Ritcher and
Clinton Spencer. Of Chicago. The charges
against General Miner. Lieutenant For
tescue. Captain Bash and Billy Taggart
he would not dismiss, and the court
said the defense must produce strong
evidence TO disprove these charges
In regard TO the letters. Judge Eason
stated that II half the charges against
Miner imprtsoning Taggart were not
disproved, Major Taggart- would have
been justified in writing almost any kind
Of letter to get out of prison
He went at length into the other
charges and severeIy scored Miner,
Fortescue. Bash. and Billy Taggart,
stating that the evidence so far pro
duced must be disproved or it was
against them
The decision is regarded as a partial
victory for the defense. Captain Ritcher
was 10 be In Wooster today, but will
probably now not come.
OSuieS Seliaf EplSOQe-
The deposition of Lieutenant Fortescue
was then read. His residence was given
as Washington, D. c. and his occupa-
ton as an officer of the army He got
to know Major Taggart and his wife
very well. and was often entertained
by them. He denied the charges Of
criminality between himself and Mrs
Taggart.
J-,,or, J.,.-s,s o,,,i,.,+-,- r ;,,,. az. 10. ~,
Fortescue deposed that he had a stand
ing invitation TO call at the Taggart
home. and used TO call on Saturdays and
have drink with the major. He had
| no recollection of taking a drink with
| Mrs, Taggart alone at any time
He was on the water wagon every
| day of the week except Saturday and
+! cotilhon he drank whisky and high
/ balls He and Mrs. Taggart drank to-
gethcr five times al the outside, he said
! Mrs. faggart was not intoxicated. He
| denied having gone down in the cellar
! with Mrs. Taggart, as charged. He re-
| membered seeing. Mrs, Taggart smoke
| cigarettes. and said il was the custom al
/ Fort Leavenworth for the women 10
! smoke cigarettes after dinner
/ The deposition Of Capt Louis Bash,
I who is accused by Augustine De la
| Cruise and Taggart with indiscretions at
/ Manila, was read today.
/ Mrs, TaggdTt first in Manila on July (.
/ 1901. knew neither Intimately.
! knew Mrs. TaggaTt simply as the wife
+ of a brother officer.
/ ''As nearly as ! can recOllect. ! call
/ ed at the Taggart house but four times
/ during their stay in Manila.
Bash Denies All.
When / first met Major Taggart i'm
/ Manila, he asked me TO call, and / call
/ ed afterward as matter OF courtesy.
| There was no intimacy between me and
Mrs. TagEart. and mono would have been
/ possible. ! never saw her alone under
/ circumstances that would make any
/ condolences or intimacy possible /
never witnessed any fndiscretion on the
/ part Of Mrs. Taggart. and never heard
/ Of any
/ Denying directly the adidavit of De
/ La Cruise, Bash declared it was false in
: every detail.
II was never enough acquainted with
f Ms1OT TaggaTt IC say much about his
( drinking habits continued Bash
! ~'Fhc night Of my quarrel with him
/ il was apparent he had been drinking ="
/ on cross examination, Bash denied he
! ever played poker for money with Mrs
! TaggarJ, and denied that she ever visit