Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1915 — TAGGART OUT OF IT. [ARTICLE]

TAGGART OUT OF IT.

Prosecutor Says Testimony Given Before the Grand Jury was Changed. Indianapolis, Oct 19.-—Thomas Taggart, Democratic national comm’tteeman, today was removed from the list of defendants to the indictment charging conspiracy to commit felonies at the last election and primaries. Action was in criminal court on motion of Presecutor A. J. Rucker. ” In presenting this motion to W. H, Eichhorn, special judge, Mr. Rucker said witnesses, who were before the grand jury previously to the return of the indictment, had failed to substantiate the testimony they gave before the grand jury when called to the witness stand in the trial of Mayor Joseph E. Bell, and as a result the state found its case as it related to Mr. Taggart materially weakened and changed.

Mr. Rucker referred specifically to Paul Hagen, secretary of the Home Brewing Company, who testified before the grand jury that he had given Thomas Taggart $750 at the Denison hotel in 1914, and on the witness stand had sworn he was mistaken in his testimony and that a contribution had been made to Mr. Taggart previously to that year but no money had been given him as was related to the grand jury. Differences in the testimony of other witnesses was also mentioned. Judge Eichhorn said the motion was proper and would be sustained. He also advised the prosecutor that some other defendants appeared to be in the same position as Mr. Taggart. He said the state should go over its evidence and ascertain what should be done in reference to these others who were jointly indicted.

When Mr. Hagen testified in criminal court during the trial of Mayor Bell that it was in 1913 he gave a contribution of $750 to Thomas Taggart at the Denison hotel and that he did not give any contribution to Taggart in 1914, but carried $750 in cash to the Democratic headQuafters in the K. of P. building, he said he could not tell to whom he had given the money. ”1 delivered it to the eommittee'men in the K. of P. building." said Hagen on the witness stand. "I don’t know whom I gave it-to. I made a check payable to myself, cashed it and took the money to the committee room.’’ Pressed by Prosecutor Rucker, Hagen said he did not know to whom he had given the $750 contribution in 1914, except that he left the money in ti e committee room. It developed that Hagen, about a week before he was put on the witness stand, and Several weeks after the trial of .Mayor Bell started, came to the prosecutor and told him he had made a mistake when he testified before the grand jury several months before that he had given $750 to Taggart at the Denison hotel as the. Home Brewing Company's contribution ten the Democratic campaign fund. I'roSecutor Rucker asked that action in the election, cases be deferred until December 1 because of the congested, condition Of the criminal court docket. He said there are a large number of other cases which should be tried before further action is taken .in the election cases.. Accordingly the other election Cases were continued to December.