Evening star., 1909-01-10


Marlboro as associate justice OF the sew
enth judicial circuit of Maryland, embrac-
ing Prince George, Charles, ST. Mary and
Calvert counties, to succeed Judge George
c. Merrck, who retires from the bench the
latter part of next April on account of
having then reached the age limit of
seventy years, is of interest to Washing
ton Many citizens of the capital have
from time to time business before the
court of Prince George county over
which Mr.. Clagett will preside as chief
judge.
During recent years many cases have
come before the court here for violation
of the statutes against gambling in some
form or other and for infractions of the
Sunday and other liquor laws of the
county. Citizens of Washington have been
interested, if not directly, through agents
operating in the county.
The prospective judge is a member of
the Episcopal Church and for the past
ten years has been superintendent of the
Sunday school of Trinity Church here. He
has always stood for a strict observance
of Sunday and of laws against gambling.
Lawbreakers can hope for little leniency
when brought before him. ='f"
Career Of New Judge
Thomas Van Clagett. the prospective
appointee, is a son Of the late Gonsalvo
Clagett and Caroline V. A. Clagett. He
was born at the ancestral home. Weston,
near Upper Marlboro, May l, 1871. Grad
uatlng from the care OF Il goyerness, he
attended the Upper Marlboro Academy,
remaining at that institution for six
years.
| In 1880 he left the academy and taught
school at Melwood, near his birthplace,
where he remained for about one year.
While at the Mellwood School he was
one of the local trustees.
| From 1891 until 1895 he engaged in
| farming. At this period he became a
student OF law. In 1896 he gave up farm
| ing and entered the law office of his
brother-in-law, the late State Senator
Joseph S. Wilson. Under this guidance he
pursued his studies until 1S9S, when he
was admitted to practice before the cir
| cult court of his native county over which
| he will shortly be called to preside.
Shortly after his admission he formed
| a partnership with Senator Wilson under
| the firm style OF Wilson & Clagett. The
firm was dissolved by the death of Sena-
tor Wilson in 1904.
| Mr.. Clagatt continued to practice alone
| in the old offices until January, 1908, when
| he took the place Of George S. Hoover in
the firm Of Wells, Hoover G. Wells. He
| is now a member of the firm of Wells.
Clagett & Wells of Washington and Mary
! land.
Several years ago Mr.. Clagett was ap-
pointed legal adviser to the board of cleo
ton supervisors for Prince George county.
| Later he received appointment as MEM
ber OF the board and was elected it's
president in which position he has served
| for the past five years.
| Mr.. Clagett is a member of the board
| of directors of the First National Bank
| of Southern Maryland and also the at
| torney to the board.
| November 2S last he married Miss Eliza
| beth Lansdale Sasscer of Upper Marl-
! boro, daughter of Mrs. Rosalie Sasscer
and sister of Frederick Sasscer. editor of
the Marlboro Enquirer and school eX-
aminer and superintendent of the county
public schools.
Other Aspirants for Place.
Mr.. Clagett is a cousin of State Senator
William 3. Clagett. Although the ap-
pointment of Mr. Clagett was anticipated
by those well posted in political matters
in the county, there were several other
asprants, all opposed to that wing of the
democratic party over which Senator
Clagett rules as chairman of the county
central committee.
Prominent among these is Fillmore
Beall of Vansville district. Mr.. Beal
SAYS he will probably be a candidate next
fall when nominations for two judges tc
serve each for fifteen years in the sew
enth judicial circuit will be made.
r 1t has been the custom that the judge
, who procures appointment is nominated
to succeed himself. Mr.. Clagett has sig
nified his intention to do what he can II
see that precedent is adhered to in hi:
| case.
In this connection the HyattSvi'le m
Z dependent, in an editorial. says: Viewed
5 purely in the light of d development il
the politics of Prince George county, The
assertion may be ventured that the nam
ing OF Mr.. Clagett is distinct triumph
! for the organization wing of the demo
cratic party, but as the governor states
, Il am opposed to politics in the judiciary.
, we are bound to assume that no consid
erations of political nature figured il
the making of the appointment
. fractional Fight On.
i AS a matter of fact. whatever the GOV
r ernor's motive, the appointment ha
opened wide the breach between th
Clagett and Robinson factions of TIL
democratic party in the county. The sit
:, uation will grow more acute with the ap
!, proach OF the day for the primary meet
: ings to select delegates to county an,
:, judicial conventions,
The impression prevails that the Claget
faction figures on the consent of DIR
J. Charles y. Wells of Hyattsvile to be
i come a candidate for the state senate
o In the upper districts DIR. Wells is popu
e lar with the rank and fi'e of the party
J. The state central committee, of whlc
r State Senator Clagett is chairman. wi
probably order that but one set of pri