The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-05-14
HOOVER'S NOMINEE
TOSUPREME court
OFFICIALLY HUMAN
Didn't Take Up Law Until Sure
He Could Preserve His Hon.
esty in Profession
ADVISED JAIL FOR CLIENT
Drunken Millionaire Was Seek
ing Way Out in Killing OF
Three Women by Car
ADVISED JAIL FOR CLIENT

Three Women by Car
Washington, May l4.-(NEA)-A
"Philadelphia lawyer" in the figura-
tive sense, as we'll as the literal, is
Owen J.. Roberts, nominated oy
President Hoover to fill the vacancy
on the supreme court bench caused
by the death of Justice Edward T.
Sanford and marked more recently by
the Senate rejection OF Judge Jonn
J.. Parker of North Carolina.
Roberts is not only an attorney
with offices in Philadelphia. He is
n of those shrewd g~eniuses with a
knack for unknotting the most COM
plicated of legal problems who nave
given rise to the familiar expression
"Only a Philadelphia lawyer could
solve that"
Much of his work has been quietly
for other attorneys who brought to
him matters that were too difficult
for them to handle and sought MS
guidance.
When Roberts rose to national fame
almost overnight after President
Coolidge appointed him as a govern
ment prosecutor in the Teapot Dome
oil scandal cases several years ago ne
made good with a bang.
Isn't that Owen Roberts. II OF
the government counsel" a frieno
asked Harry Sinclair day. 1ndl-
eating a tall, broad shouldered man
with a briar pipe between his teeth.
lone of them!" replied the OIL a
'Hell, that's all Of them!"
Sinclair was in position to know.
Roberts had prosecuted him.
Stalks Big Game For Exercise
Roberts is a big man, physically as
we'll as in ability. He towers six feet.
He has iron gray hair, smooth race
and a square. determined jaw. HIS
is quick and alert ana MS
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 it is the tnrii!
of the chase rather than the zest OF
the kill In which he finds his great
est pleasure. ~
Guides tell the story Of how Rob-
erts. after a tiresome all-day tramp
over rough ground, finally got with
in rifle range of a big moose. Bu'
Roberts didn't shoot; he merely IN.
spected the animal with interest ano
then turned around and started home
Friends say that he hunts tor ex'
ercise: not to STAY.
Roberts has some interesting quail
tiles. not the least Of which Is a rep
utation for integrity. When he was
named to conduct the oil scarda'
prosecution he naturally came inte
the public eye and his record wa'
placed under the microscope BY TN
opposition. The result was IN M
favor.
Feared He Couldn't Be Honest In Law
The story is told that when yount
Roberts preliminary education wa
completed his father suggested tina
he choose law for his career.
But can ! be a lawyer and be hon
est?" the youngster demurred'
want to teach school"
The matter was put up to DR.. WI
liam Kershaw. headmaster OF Ger
mantown Academy, where he had at
tended.
my boy. you can be honest at any
thing" replied DR.. Kershaw.
And SO the die was cast Tor law.
\ X
Two incidents show the human sid
-. So -;@aow3ks, ~ DahartC Inn
identified with wealthy clients.
A railroad worker was crippled II
9 wreck and CHANGED to engage Rob
erts as his lawyer in a damage suit
Roberts won for him a judgment q
SIS, 900 from the railroad.
In contrast was the case OF q mil
lionaire Philadelphia who. Will
drunk, ran down and killed thre
women with his auto.
What shall I do?" the millionair
asked Roberts. seeking out the ma
who In his opinion was the best al
torney available.
Surrender yourself ana plea
guilty" Roberts advised.
The millionaire did. He got
prison term of several years an
served it.
Satisfied Coolidge In Is Minutes
"Owen was never fond of athleti
in school, as he preferred study" n
father once said.
Three incidents I remember pa
ticularly were those in which Owe
tried to become a painter, when ]
learned to swim, when he learn
to play the cornet. His first two e
forts were not so successful as Il
third, for after diligent practice WI
the cornet he was chosen corn
soloist at the Baptist church. Lat
ne joined the Episcopal church.
"Owen had only n fault as
boy. He was inclined to be a lit
too eager to quarrel when he thong
his rights were transgressed.
learned later to control his tempe
X \ X
Roberts personality inspires ca
fidence. After only Is minutes OF
terview, President Coolidge decided
appoint Roberts as a governmt
prosecutor in the oil lease scand
along with Ex-senator Atlee Pom
enc of Ohio. The two served
gether. ;,
He spends long hours at his OIL
and then he likes to come nome q
\turn on the radio. He doesn't G.
for golf. He belongs to the best
Philadelphia clubs, is a quiet n
assuming man and has never beel
candidate for public office.
AS a conversationalist he Is WI
and, like most lawyers, he is able
tell a good story as it should be u
He has q deep, runnbling voice
short, he talks like a Philadelphia
Virginia has 1859 registered pm
tnacists.