Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-05-30
THE CHAMPION LITIGANT.

lldTIlSoll Np6iNiS WIN ii"S J>''o
been convicted of prcjury in Wash
ington court, may claim to be the
champion litigant of the world. 1t
appears that he has been engaged in
litigation twenty-ninc years, during
which he has instituted suits by tho
thousand and has fought them
through every court he could reach.
In one action brought in the United
States District Court in this city some
years ago he claimed about 81 800, 600
on 900 judgments purporting to
have been given by a justice OF the
peace of Frederick county. The
courts of Maryland, Virginia the Dis
trict of Columbia have been used in
proceedings brought by him.
1t is alleged that he made a prac-
ticc of bringing suits for which there
was not any real basis. The infer
ence is obvious that American iudic-
ial methods lend extraordinary facil-
itics for litigation when one man can
keep using them year after year with
out actual grounds of action. In an
Injunction case brought against him
in Frederick county his numerous
judgments were said to have been OBJ
tanned by collision with magistrates.
which, if true, makes interesting sug-
gestions as to the sort of justice liable
to be dispensed in magistrates courts.
1t is ALLEGED that Wagner's method
was to hunt up some magistrate in
remote district who would entertain
his suits, and then get judgment on
the. non-appcarance of the defendants.
Some of his suits were based on mag
istrates' judgments obtained III Dick
inson county, Virginia, said to bc the
most inaccessible point in that State.
With suits by the thousand, his Gus
tom was valuable from the standpoint
OF fees.
After Wagncr's recent conviction
on the charge of prciury his attorney
intimatcd that application would be
made for a commission to inquire in
to his mental condition. The ,ug-
gcstion seems quite proper. But
whatever be the opinion as to Wagner
himself, there can be no doubt that
his career has been the means of APP
plying tests to the character of the
magistrates courts that might well
attract the attention of legal reform
ers.-Baltimorc News.
The indictment upon which Wag
ncr was convicted charged that on
February 9, 1908, he obtained judg-
ment for 50, 152. 81 against John Rel
singer, of Rockville, Md, in the Cir
cult Court of Dickinson county, Nir-
ginia. After Mr.. Rcisinger's death,
his son and executor, Henry Reising-
er, retained Washington Bowie, Jr.,
OF Baltimore, and the judgment was
set aside and vacated by the order of
the Virginia court. This was on the
ground that the defendant, John Rel
singer, had never been served with
summons or notice of the filing of such
suit. On December 81, 1905, after
such judgment had been set aside,
Wagner instituted suit in the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia a.
gainst the executor and legatce of John
Reisinger, based upon the judgment
formerly obtained by him in the Vir-
ginia court, and accompanied the dec
laration of suit with an affidavit ire
quired by the Supreme Court, in
which he swore that the judgment a
gainst John Reisinger obtained by
him in the Circuit Court of Dickinson
county was then in full force and
effect and not reversed or otherwise
vacated; whereas, in truth, the judg-
ment had been set aside and vacated,
as he well knew at the time Of the in
stitution of the suit in the District of
Columbia. 1t was for the making of
this affidavit that Wagner was con-
victed.
The suit in Dickinson county, Vir-
ginia, was based upon alleged judg-
mcnts which he had obtained against
Mr.. Reisingcr before Justice of the
Peace John Haynes, of Frederick
county, Maryland. All of these
judgments were alleged forgerics, and
this Assistant District Attorney Proc
tor endcavored to show in his cross
examination of Wagner. In res
ponse to questions from Mr.. Proc
tor, Wagner admitted that he had
sued a great number of persons in
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