Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-08
DEPOSITION FAvoRS TAGeART
Army omcer says ttA Captain Treated
His wife add Family
wed.

WOOSTER. O.. Aud 1.-THE testimony
in the Taggart divorce trial was resumed
today at the point whete Il was aba ndoned
Saturday, in the middt Of the deposition
Of Major Morton. now attached to the war
college at Washington. but formerly Cap
tain Taggart's superior officer at Fort
Leavenworth. The deposition covered Tag
gart's department before and after his ar
rest on charges OF intoNica ton which fol-
lowed the Taggarts' inal quarrel and sep
aration in July. 1908. Taggart's domestic
habits had always been excellent and ex-
emplary, deponent said as was his reputa-
ton for mortality and sobriety.
Il think It is plain Taggarts treatment
of his wife should be a model for every
husband in the world" Morton testified,
and his treatment OF his children was al
ways kind and considetate."
Testimony as to whether Taggart's ar
rest and confinement were usual was ruled
out temporarily, though the plaintiffs ar
gument was based on the cruelty count OF
the captains charges against his wife. il
being alleged that II was unusual, con-
trary to regulations and the result of con-
spiracy.
THE custom Of becoming intoxicated is
looked down upon socially and officially in
the army" the deponent said.
1T is one of the strangest things in
the world to put an oficer in confinement" "
deponent said on cross-eXamination. Il
never saw it done but once in my life when
man was suffering fro1 delirium tremens.
I saw Captain Taggart before he was put
in the hospital and he was utterly sober.
I also know 1t was recorded in the hos
pital that he was there for alcoholism.
That was wholly untrue and was put
there to cover up the real facts"
In reply to a question: whether. II con-
spired against, Taggart could not have OBJ
tanned redress through courtmartial, de-
ponent said the whole theory of army dis
cipline was that the presumption was al
ways in favor of the commanding officer
and that to obtain redress Taggart would
have TO overcome that presumption.
The deposition of Colonel John Van Hoff,
assistant surgeon general of the army,
followed. He had been at Fort Leaven-
worth in July, 1903, and had gone with
Colonel Miner to see Mrs. Taggart. He
did not consider her condition nervous or
hysterical. but was impressed with her
/ self-possession. This was July of the day
of Taggarts arrest. Quarrel and skirt
tearing had occurred the night before
| On cross-examination the surgeon had ties.
tilted that he had attended Mrs. Taggart
at Colonel Miners request, going first to
the latter's headquarters. There Miner
told him that Taggart had assaulted his
! wife and that she was reported to be in
fear for her life. Miner had called it a
very disagreeabe occurrence" and asked
! the surgeons advice.
Captain Taggart seemed much distressed
and there was a deal of talk about the
affair. Finally Taggart had said he could
| perhaps, persuade Mrs. Taggart to with.
draw her complaint and asked permission
/ to go and see her That was refused and
Taggart suggested that Colonel Miner go
| Miner refused to go alone and Van Hon
| had therefore accompanied her
| Her face bore evidence of having beer
! bruised in some way TN deposition went
| on. "Such a condition might have re-
suited from an assault from him My i'm.
preston was that her face was swoler
and bruised, but that she was perfectly
| composed"
| Thirteen-year-old Fannie Everly was the
! first witness put on the stand. She now
! lives in Pittsburg, but formerly lived ir
! Orrville, and frequently visited the house
| there occupied by Mrs. Taggart. The gir
was under cross-examination by Judge
! Smyser when court adjourned at noon.