The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-17

Court criticism it touched
 Second is Justice Owen Jo- sephuS Roberts, who, having Sen- sitive ears and sensitive disposi- tion, became alarmed at the din and took lessons from the acro- batic performances of the chief justice.
 ROBERTS HAS BECOME THE SWING MAN OF THE SUPREME COURT.
 Friends say that Owen Josephus is not happy man these days. He has not been in public life long enough to develop the tough hide of his reactionary colleagues, and when the brickbats come his way, he winces.
 Swing High, Swing Low
 Two years ago, faced with the problem of making a choice be- tween the two wings of the bench, he listened to the shrewd and convincing Irishman who sat on his left, Justice Butler, and to the ambitious prattle of Mrs. Rob- erts about stabilizing the country. Almost with a sigh of relief, he cast his lot with the Four Horse men of Reaction.
 But now, as he realizes the direction in which they arc dragging the country, and as he listens to the storm of abuse they have brought down upon their own heads, Roberts has swung back into another period of uncertainty.
 During this period it is Chief Justice Hughes rather than Butt Ter who has become his friend and counselor. The chief jus tice also has been troubled troubled about the prestige and future of his Court. And now he has coached his junior colleague in the art of swinging.
 Bugle Blower
 Roberts Is one of the most charming and likeable members of the Court. and he has had a variegated and strenuous career. His father, who was a wagon dealer back in the, horse-and- buggy days, and who has lived long enough to be inordinately proud of Owen, tells several stories about his sons ambition.
 One of the first ambitions of young Roberts was toabe a mu- sician. So he bought a cornet, and according to his father. made the most ear-racking noises I ever heard in my life. It was always a wonder we didn't get complaints from the neighbors."
 After a year of cornet- footing Owen was proficient enough to unload solos on the members of Philadelphia's Third Baptist church of Sunday morning. He is now an Episcopalian, because, according to his more jocular friends, the Baptists ex-communi- cated him for his cornet-playing.
 My son wanted to be school teacher" says the elder Roberts. 'I wanted him to be . lawyer, but he said he didn't want to be one. So we went
 to Dr. William Kershaw, the headmaster of Germantown academy.
 Owen told him: T don't want to be a lawyer because lawyers are not honest Dr. Kershaw said: You can be lawyer and be an honest man, too. You can be honest at any thing, Owen!" h$
 Honest Lawyer
 So Owen Josepllus became a lawyer, one of the best paid in Philadelphia, although his clients testify to his fairness regarding fees. Congressman J. William Ditter of Ambler. Pa. tells how he brought in Roberts as asso- ciate counsel to help him on a church case. The congregation feared Roberts would charge them a fabulous fee and asked what it would be.
 WOULD $500 BE TOO MUCH ROBERTS ASKED.
 They were surprised and pleased and retained him. In the end he returned the money because he had not been able to complete the work. However, he had done most of 1t. f Many-Sided
 The chief influence in Rob- ertS' life which makes him Swing Man today Is his experience as lawyer, which taught him to be an expert at justifying the position of his client. Roberts had a tre- mendous law practice. He was vigorous and extremely able. He won cases. He did 1t chiefly by his ability to justify his client. and to do 1t so convincingly that he convinced others.
 IN DOING so HE USUALLY CONVINCED HIMSELF.
 Therefore Roberts came to the