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Show ilflE GF TAEGART IS FBLLTCLEABED Former National Chairman of Democratic Party Gives Testimony Tes-timony in Gingles Case. ALSO EXONERATED BY COUNSEL FOR THE GIRL Politician Not Subpoenaed, but Came Voluntarily to Defend De-fend Himself. CHICAGO, July 9. Thomas Taggart of French Lick Springs, Ind-, former member or the Democratic national committee, whoso name was mentioned in the testimony given by Ella Gingles. the .lS-3'ear-old Irish laecmakcr, took the witness stand today in Judge Bren-tauo's Bren-tauo's court for tho purpose of clearing his name of any connection with tho case. Mr. Taggart was complcteh- exonerated exoner-ated 1)3" si formal statement made by Attorney P. II. O'Donuell, counsel for the Gingles girl, and also by his own testimony. As a preliminary to his tesiimony on the point which brought him into court. Air. Taggart stated that he vhad lived in Indiana for thirt3'-fivc years and that he was married and had been in the hotel business at French Lick Springs for a great many years. j "I nave been mayor of ludiauapolis, chairman of tho national Democratic committee and president of a street railvray coinpau'' the witness continued". con-tinued". Knows the Complainant. "Do you know Miss Barret to, the complainant in .this cas-e?" "Yes." "How did you get acquainted?" "She worked as a manicure for a man of the name of Gibson at French Lick Springs. Ifc sold out to her and I of course rerented to her the apartments apart-ments in one of m3- hotels." "Did you ever hoar anything against her character?1'" This question started a wrangle between be-tween the attorneys, in tho midst of which Attorney O'Donnell. addressing both the court aud Mr. Taggart, made a formal statement exonerating -Mr. Taggart in every particular saying: "I want it distinctly understood that. Mr. Taggart "s name was brought into this case over mv protest. We have proof that Miss G-inglos was never ac-. quaiufed with Mr. Taggart and his name was mentioned only indirectly to hor. TttiyghJiQJaiiLJu; ,.SJl Q. J L . 'feh'TnrKisn men. but it happened to be Mr. Taggart. and in this particular Mr. Taggart is unfortunate." un-fortunate." The interrogation of tho witness as to Miss Gingles was exceedingly brief. "Do you know Miss Gingles?" asked Attorney Short. Never Knew Miss Ginglos. "I do not." answered Mr. Taggart. with emphasis. Miss Gingles eyes were glued on the witness as he spoke. 'She took in every' detail of his light suit, his low shoes and the diamond which sparkled on his craval. "Did you ever hear of Miss Gingles before this case?" continued Mr, Short. "Only some months ago, when sonic-body' sonic-body' brought me a paper containing the name of Miss Gingles and Miss Barrett Bar-rett e." "You, vrere not subpoenaed here b3" the state, were you?" "I was not subpoenaed b3" anyhody. heard that my name yvas being used, and as n man of family- and, in order to clear 1113 name of any shadow which might be cast on it, 1 came here." At this point Attorney O'Donnell repeated re-peated yvith emphasis Ins statement exonerating ex-onerating Mr. Taggart. Mr. Short interrupted, accusing Mr. O'Douncll of having given out statements state-ments to papors, wherein Mr. Taggart 's name was mentioned. "T did not," replied Mr. O'Donnell hotly; "T am not an assassin." Hotel Physician. Testifies. Dr. If. A. Watson, house physician of tho Wellington hotel, was then called to the stand. Dr. Watson yvas called to the Wellington Well-ington hotel bathroom yvhen M.is Gin tries was found there. "Tho door had already been opened when I reached the room," said the physician, "and 1 sayv the girl lying on the floor. Her knees yvere tied to the bathtub aud her hands were bound togelher aud alao to a leg of the tub. tier logs were tied with a stocking and her hands with a string." "What yvus her condition?" "She yvas lrysterical, but not unconscious. uncon-scious. The pupils of her eyes showed that ho had not been drugged, and she was conscious. I asked her her name and she told me and asked me to send for Mr..O'Donnll and Chief of Detective-: O'Brien. Then she screamed: 'I yvon't go into that cab; I won 't drink any more yvine; they threw popper into mj' C3'es. ' "T examined hor, but fouud no evidence evi-dence of an attack, save a few slight scratches. Miss Gingles was removed 1o a room and shortly afterwards Captain Cap-tain O'Brien and Mr. O'Donnell nr-rived." nr-rived." Wounds Were All Slight. ' Dr. Watson snid Mr. O'Donnell called her "Dearie" and attempted to sootho her. Miss Gingles. he said, throw her arms abont. tho lawyer. ' ' Her yvounds were slight aud superficial. .1. believe that she did not lose an ounco of blood," "You suv there was blue cloth on her log? ","Mr, O'Donnell asked, on cross-examination. "Yes." Miss Gingles here bared her arm, exhibit ex-hibit ing four scars, but Dr. Watson said ho did not recollect seeing such yvounds on her at tho hotel- Dr. Watson yvas then recalled to the stand to identify some strings which he sa'ul had been used to bind Miss Gingles. Miss liarrette laughed aloud when Mr. Short held up tho tyvine, which yvas about an eighth of an inch thick. "Would y'ou say that was all tho cordage that was found in the rooms',' " askod Mr. O'Donnell on cross-examination. ' Yes. " "You say that this is all that was used to bind her?" "Yes, except the stocking." The trial yvas then adjourned until Monday. Judge Brentano receiving word fiiat one of the brothers of the jurors had died. |