The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-05-19
Some interesting sketches Of
Owen ]. Roberts, chosen by
President Hoover to serve on the
nations highest court, are pre-
sented here by Staff Artist
Joe King.
Choice for U. S. Supreme
Court Justice Is Big Man
Physically as Well as in
Ability.

BIZ NEA Serrice
xxTAsHINGTON, May ia
w philadelphia lawyer" in the
hgurative sense, as well as the lit
eral. is owen j. Roberts, nominated
by President Hoover to fill the va
cancy on the supreme court bench
caused by the death of Justice Ed
ward IT. Sanford and marked more
recently by the senate rejection OF
Judge John j. Parker Of North
Carolina.
Roberts is not only an attorney
with offices in Philadelphia. He is
one of those shrewd geniuses with
a knack for. unknotting the most
complicated of legal problems who
have given rise to the familiar ex-
preston "Only Philadelphia law
yer could solve that"
Much of his work has been quietly
with other attorneys who brought to
him matters that were too difficult
for them to handle and sought his
guidance.
VXTHEN Roberts rose to national
w fame almost overnight after
President Coolidge appointed him
as a government prosecutor in the
Teapot Dome oil scandal cases sew
eral years ago he made good with
bang. .
isn't that Owen Roberts, one OF
the government counSel?' a friend
asked Harry Sinclair one day, indl-
eating a tall, Droad-shouldered man
with a briar pipe between his teeth.
zone of them!" replied the oil
man. Hell, that's all of them"
Sinclair was in position to know.
Roberts had prosecuted him.
g n
I'D OBERTS is a big man, physi-
N cally as well as in ability. He
towers six feet. He has iron gray
hair. smooth face and square,
determined jaw. His manner is
quick and alert and his speech
always to the point.
He likes to stalk big game, not
only in the courts Of law, but IN
the forests as well. His vacations
are spent in the Maine woods,
hunting moose and bear, but 1t
is the thrill of the chase rather
than the zest of the kill in which
he finds his greatest pleasure.
Guides tell the story of how
Roberts, after tiresome all-day
tramp over rough ground, finally
got within rife range of a big
moose. But Roberts didn't shoot;
he merely inspected the animal
with interest and then turned
around and started home.
Friends say that he hunts for ex-
ercise; not to STAY.
TWO incidents show the human
side and deep sincerity of Rob-
erts, long identified with wealthy
clients.
A railroad worker was crippled in
wreck and CHANGED to engage
Roberts as his lawyer in a damage
suit. Roberts won for him a judg-
raent of $55,000 from the railroad.
In contrast with the case of
millionaire Philadelphia who, while
drunk, ran down and killed three
women with his auto.
what shall I do?" the millionaire
asked Roberts, seeking out the man
who in his opinion was the best at
torney available.
Surrender yourself and plead
guilty." Roberts advised.
The millionaire did. He got
prison term of several years and
served it.
ID OBERTS' personality inspires
IN confidence. After only fifteen
minutes of interview, President Cool
idge decided to appoint Roberts as
a government prosecutor in the
oil lease scandals along with Ex-
Senator Atlee Pomerene of Ohio.
The two served together.
He spends long hours at his Office
and then he likes to come home
and turn on the radio. He doesn't
care for golf. He belongs to the
best of Philadelphia clubs, is a
quiet and unassuming man and has
never been a candidate for public
Office.
AS a conversationalist he is witty
and, like most lawyers, he is able
to tell a good story as it should be
told. He has a deep, rumbling voice
lin short, he talks like a Philadel-