The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1882-06-01
THE SUPREME COURT
SHOCKED.
A Kansas Lawyer Appears Before
the August Tribunal without
Collar or Nccktie.

/ lh0 August L TlDunal WIGnOUC
Collar or NccStie.
The Supreme Court of the United State
is the embodiment of dignity and ponder
GUS solemnity. The Justices are hedgeC
about by bristling points of etiquette tha
protect them from ordinary people. Yes
terday the court observed with uneasi,
ness the presence Of a tall, angular indi-
Vidual, Who souched into the court room
without collar or necktie. The absence OF
these usual adornments was made more
| CONSPICUOUS through the fact of his neck
being very long and narrow.
Later in the day he was presented to the
Supreme Court by Senator Plumb, and
was duly admitted to practice of Mr.. Lynn
of Allen County, Kansas. The newly adj
mitted Kansas lawyer appeared at his pre-
sentation still without collar on tie. Itwas
announced that he would make an argu-
ment before the court the next day in the
case Of the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance
Company VS.. Caroline A Dester, et al. A
perpleXing question at once arose in the
minds of the court. Possibly Lynn, of
Allen County, Kansas, might outrage the
court by leaving off his collar and tie when
he came to make his argument. If that
was already reasonably celtain, might he
not take off his coat in the heat Of his ar
gumeEt, and grow excited and yell his
brief into the sensitive ears of the now
deeply agitated court? Justice Gary who
had sternly refused a lawyer withouta col
lar permission to make an argument in
the Massachusetts court, where he former
ly presided, was naturally consulted in this
trying emergency. 1t was finally agreed
that the Chief Justice should check Lynn,
OF Allen County, Kansas, in his mad ca
reer, If he should persist in his outrage
upon decorum.
Just before the case was called Lynn en-
tered the court room accompanied by his
partner. His partner, a dark, salloW-faced
man, wore a collar about which black
tape was tied. After a hurried consuIta-
tion it was resolved to first consult the
partner who wore the one collar belonging
to the firm before proceeding to extreme
measures. The partner was mysteriously
summoned to the clerk's office, where the
matter was submitted to him by subor-
dinate of the court: ''Why does your
partner refrain from wearing a collar Or
tie? Has he taken any VOW that cOmpels
him to assume such peculiar attitude to-
ward society 2" It was explained to the
partner that the Supreme Court was ex-
tremtly doubtful Of the propriety Of per
nlitting Lynn Of Allen County, to appear
in the case until he had ut least corrected
the details of his garb. The partner ex-
planned that Lynn had throat trouble,
and could not wear collar. ooh, that is
it. An explanation was made to the Chief
Justice, and he smiled, glad to be rid of
the disagreeable task Of reprimanding the
offender, and SO Lynn was allowed to ap-
pear.
The appearance Of Lynn before the bar
Of the court made sensation. His general
appearance of roughness, his angularity
Of manner and reckless ease made every
one expect some absurd contretemps. He
was an object well worth sketch as he be-
gan his argument. His high, white fore
head was surmounted by a high peak Of
dark hair that curled backward. His sharp
nose, heavy lips, and pointed brown goatee
stood out in bold relief upon counte-
nance tanned by years of exposure to
prairie winds and sun. His shirt was open
at the throat, showing a red flannel under
shirt. At the wrists the red flannel ap-
peared again in the place of cuffs. The ar
gument was clear, shreWd, and able, but
the manner of its delivery was as uncouth
and peculiar as the makeup Of the speak
er. He stood with his hands il his pock-
cts at times, and then he would bound at
the Justices, swapping his bony fingers in
their faces as if they were so many jury
men. But the argument came to an end
without accident, greatly to the relief of
the justices, who had been upon the rack
of suspense for nearly tWenty-four hours.
Lynn is the first man who ever made an
argumenti in the court without :. COLLAR
Chicago Times.