Case ID: us-ct-cl_5/html/0637-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Milligan, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

WAGNER’S CASE. Leonard Wagner v. The United States.
    
      On the Proofs.
    
    
      The claimant, who is a native of Bavaria, brings an action on the 17th September!’, 1867, to recover the proceeds of cotton captured at Charleston in 1865. The act prohibiting aliens from suing in the Court of Claims is passed 27th July, 1868. Theelaimant becomes a citieen 9th November following. The defendants put in a plea of alienage 11th January, 1869.
    Tlie rule laid down in Scharfer’s Case, (4 C. Cls.,R., p. 529,) that the disability irr>X>osed on. aliens by tlie Act 27th July, 1868, (15 Stat. L., x>. 243,) from bringing-notions against the United States, does not apply to a-citizen, who was naturalized before-the plea of alienage was filed, re-affirmed.
    
    
      Messrs. Cooley & Clarice for the claimant:
    In tbe confident expectation tbat tbis claimant will recover, we estimate tlie amount to which he is entitled, as follows:
    Five bales of upland, at $131 20 per bale. $656 00
    Five bales sea-island, at $237 61 per bale. 1,187 20
    Making the sum of.. 1,813 20
    
      Mr. li. S. Hale, special counsel of the Treasury, for the defendants.
   Milligan, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court:

This claim is prosecuted to recover the net proceeds of ten hales of cotton, alleged to have been captured at Charleston in 1865.

The petition was filed on the 18th of September, 1867, and claims five hales sea-island and five upland. The claimant is a Bavarian by birth, and at the time of filing his petition he was not naturalized, nor is it shown that the Kingdom of Bavaria accords to citizens of the United States the right to prosecute claims against that government. But it does appear that the claimant was regularly naturalized, and declared a citizen of the United States on the 9th of November, 1868. The act prohibiting aliens from suing in this court, except in cases therein provided, was not passed until July 27, 1868, and tire plea of alienage appears not to have been died until the 11th of January, 1869.

At the time the suit was brought, there was no disability resting on the claimant. He could sue in this court at that time at the common law, and the statute imposing the disability was not pleaded until after he was regularly naturalized. It follows, therefore, that the plea of alienage put in after the naturalization of the claimant is not sustained, and this action can be maintained. Scharfer’s Case, (4 C. Cls., R., p. 529.)

This difficulty out of the way, there is no contest as to the right of the claimant to recover.

His loyalty is established, and his title to ten bales of cotton, five sea-island and five upland, proven. The seizure, shipment, and sale of the cotton is made out, and he is entitled to judgment for the net proceeds, which we find to be $1,563 40, and for which judgment will be entered.