The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-05-26
The Supreme Court Shocked.

The Supreme Court of the United
States is the embodiment of dignity
and ponderous solemnty. The JUS
tees are hedged about by bristling
points of etiquette that protect them
from ordinary people. Lately the
Court observed with uneasiness the
presence of tall, angular individual,
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 as
Mr.. Lynn of Allen County. Kansas.
The newly admitted Kansas lawyer ap-
peared at his presentation still without
collar or tic. 1t was announced that
he would make an argument before
the Court the next day in the case of
the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance
Company VS.. Caroline A. Dester ct. 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
argument. If that was already
reasonable certain, might he not take
off his coat in the heat of his argu-
ment, and grow excited and yell his
brief into the sensitive ears of the now
deeply agitated Court' Justice Gray
who had sternly refused lawyer
without collar permission to make
an argument in the Massachusetts
court, where he formerly 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
career, if he should persist in his out
rage upon decorum.
just before the case was called
Lynn entered the court room accom-
panied by his partner. His partner,
a dark, sallow faced man, wore a col
lar about which black tape was tied.
After a hurried consultation 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 mysteri
ously summoned to the clerks office,
where the matter was submitted to
him by subordinate of the court
"Why does your partner refrain from
wearing collar or tie? Has he taken
any vow that compels him to assume
such Il peculiar attitude toward soci-
ety. 1t was explained to the partner
that the Supreme Court was extremely
doubtful of the propriety of permitting
Lynn of Allen Couty to appear
in the case until he had at least
corrected the details of his garb
The partner explained that Lynn had
throat trouble, and could not wear a
collar 'Oh, that is it," An explana
ton was made to the Chief Justice, and
he smiled, glad to be rid of the disa-
greeable task of reprimanding the of
, fender, and so Lynn was allowed to
appear.
The appearance of Lynn before the
bar of the Court made a sensation. His
general appearance of roughness, his
i angularity of manner and reckless ease
made every one expect some absurd
contretemps. He was an object well
, worth sketch as he began His argu
ment. His high, white forehead was
q surmounted by high peak of dark
: hair that curled backward. His sharp
= nose, heavy lips, and pointed prowI
goatee stood out in bold relief upon F.;
countenance tanned by years of expos
ure to prairie winds and sun. His shir
was open at the throat, showing a red
; flannel undershrt AT the wrists tn,
, red flannel appeared again in the plac'
q !, Of cuffs. The argument was clear
= = shrewd, and able, but the manner o
, y its delivery was as uncouth and pecu
II liar as the makeup of the speaker II
. stood with his hands in his pockets a
u times, and then he would bound at tn
. Justices, swapping his bony fingers il
I their faces as if they were so man,
:. jurymeII. But the argument came t,
u an end without accident, greatly T.
. the relief of the Justices, who ha,
IS been upon the rack of suspense TO
:, nearly twenty-four hours. Lynn is tn
u first man who ever made an argumen
u in the ooart without collar - Chicag
Il Times.
y -