The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-10
THOMAS TAGGART
 CLEARS HIS NAME
french Lick Politician Appears
 In Ging|es Case.
TESTIMONY IS VERY BRIEF
Mir. Taggart Testifies on Stand That He Knows One of the Women Concerned in the Case Who
 Lived at French Lick.

Chicago, July s-Thomas Taggart of French Lick Springs, Ind, former mem Der of the democratic national commit tee. whose name was mentioned in the testimony given by Ella Gingles, the 1S- : year-old Irish lacemaker took the witness stand in Judge Bretanno's court for the purpose of clearing his name of any con- nection with the case.
 AS a preliminary to his testimony in point which brought him into court, MT. Taggart stated that he had lived in h. diana for 35 years; that he was married and had been in the hotel business at French Lick Springs for a great many years.
 T have been mayor of Indianapolis, chairman of the national democratic com mittee and president of street railway company the witness continued. Do you know Miss Barrette, the com plainant in this case?"
 Yes"
 How did you get acquainted?'
 She worked as a manicure for a man by the name of Gibson at French Lick. He sold out to her and 1 on the other hand rented to her the apartments in one of my hotels.'
 Did you ever hear anything against her character?'
 This question started wrangle between the attorneys in the midst of which At torney O'Donnell, addressing both the court and MT. Taggart, made a formal statement exonerating MT Taggart in every particular, saying: T want it dis tinctly understood that MT. Taggarts name was brought into this case over my protest. We have proof that Miss Gingles was never acquainted with Mr. Taggart, and his name was mentioned only indi- rectly to her. It might have been any one of 10000 names of wealthy men, but 1t happened to be Taggart, and in this par ticular MT. Taggart is unfortunate"
 This interrogation of the witness as to Miss Gingles was exceedingly brief.
 Do you know Miss Gingles?' asked Attorney Short
 T do not" answered Mr. Taggart with emphasis.
 Miss Gingles' eyes were glued upon the witness as he spoke. She took in every detail Of his light suit, his low shoes and the diamond which sparkled in his era vat.
 Did you ever hear of Miss Gngles be- fore this case?" continued MT. Short.
 "Only some months ago when somebody brought me newspaper containing the names of Miss Gingles and Miss Bar rette"
 You were not subpoened here by the state, were you?"
 "I was not subpoened by anybody I heard that my name was being used and as a man of family came to clear my name of any shadow which might have been thrown over it..
 At this point Attorney O'Donnell re- peated with emphasis his statement that there was not a scintilla of evidence Tn his position or of his client justlfyng the use of Mir Taggert's name He declared it had lbeen brought into the case by the prosecution.
 You don't know me, do your" MT O'Donnell asked
 "I do not
 And I don't know you" echoed the de- fense lawyer.
 "Oh you're too busy trying to clear your own skirts" said Mir. Short, glanc- ing sharply at the rival attorney.
 DO you know of any branch of white slave clique that has it's headquarters at French Lick?'' asked Mir Short of the witness.
 What is a white slave?" MT Taggart inouired with a prrplsked look.
 The defnitio nwas gicen by MT. Short and then Mir Taggart replied:
 ''No. sir I never heard of any such thing
 MT O'DonnelI again took the witness.
 MT. IaERart. WnO HrSt 1nJected your name into this case?"
 ''I don't know"
 MT Short again interrupted, accusing MT O'Donnell of having given out state ments to the papers using Taggart's name.
 "T did not" replied Mir O'Donnell po- ltely. "T am not an assassin.
 Dr. IT. A. Watson house physician for the Wellington hotel. was then called to the stand.