The Washington times., 1922-02-21
STRAIN TOO
MUCH FOR.
A Il { Sc D
.PERJURER.
Dramatic interruption Of Lit
tie Reno" Hearing Causes
Postponement Till March 2.


Don't do that-don't do that"
walled Little Reno's" divorce
queen just before she collapsed
this morning in the police court
of Alexandria, where she had
been called to answer a charge
of perjury. .t.- .s..
.. Breaks Under Strain.
Court room scenes are as familiar
to Mrs. l.. Baggett, professional
divorce witness Of Alexandria. as
they are to the majority of lawyers
of that city. Her income Is derived
from divorce cases In which she
appears as witness as to residence
of the plaintiff ~
But--wl1en the divorce queen ap-
peared today as a defendant, she
broke under the strain.
The frail little gray-haired WON!
an was carried from the court room
In the arms OF one of the 100 men
who thronged the place.
Removed to an ante-room. Mrs.
Baggett later revived and was able
to walk to her rooming house near
by, where she swore last year that
sons lived every night. Those 115
were seeking divorces.
The hearing on the perjury charge
was continued, on motion of Ed
mund Burke. Mrs. Baggett's coun-
sci, until Thursday morning, March
2, at 10 o'clock.
Mrs. Bagpett was not a stranger
to the presiding police judge, #. O..
Duyall, because Duvall has used
Mrs. Baggett in more than one case
to testify In divorce cases where
he was counsel for the plaintiff.
Wright Denied Records.
That the divorce ring of Little
Reno" regards the case against Mrs.
Baggett as significant was indicated
today when the clerk Of Moncure's
court denied Frank Stuart. counsel
for Thomas J. Wright, States wit
ness against Mrs. Baggett, the privi-
lege Of examining the records Of the
court. .s
This was disclosed by Mr.. Stuart
when he told the court that in spite
Of the efforts to balk the prosecu-
ton Of the case he was prepared to
go ahead with II.
The case is that of the State of
gett. Wright swore out a warrant
for Mrs. Baggett last week charging
her with perjury, in that she swore
that his wife, who secured a divorce
In Alexandria, had resided at her
rooming house for a period of one
year. -
by my wife's own sworn state
ment filed in the District court here
in Washington" Wright said, "she
was living in Washington. ..I
Attorney Burke, counsel for Mrs.
Baggett, told the court that one Of
his most important witnesses, Attor-
ney Carl Budwesky, was engaged in
he trial Of a case In Spottsylvania,
and could not be present today. Mr..
Budwesky, with CORTLAND H. Davis.
constitute the leading divorce law
firm Of Little Reno They were
formerly associated in the practice
of law with Robinson Moncure, Lit
tie Reno's" divorce Judge, Budwe-
sky and Davis were COUNSEL for Mrs.
Wright. s
Answer Is Missing.
Mr.. Burke also announced that the
answer in the Wright divorce case,
most important exhibit in the case,
was Ninystcfiousiy Hiss1B from the
records. I.s
Certain papers in more than n
score OF divorce suits are also miss.
ing, and a committee OF three men,
bers Of the Alexandria Bal Asso-
citation has been named to attempt
to find them before the formal hear.
ings begin on Thursday next on the
divorce evil In the Virginia city.
Mr.. Burke asked for a contin-
uance of at least ten days that
he may locate several Washington
witnesses and prepare certain ex-
hibits.
During these proceedings ms.
Baggett sat unmoved. When Attor-
ney Stuart rose to object and de.
clared that ''in spite of the fact
that some of our witnesses are
missing and / am not permitted to
examine the court records In the
case, we are ready to proceed" !"
Mrs. Baegett tainted.
Mr.. StuNtt branded as "unprece-
dented" the order of Judge Mon
cure that he (Stuart) would not be
permitted to examine the court rec
Continued on Page Q. column 81