Kentucky Lawyer

No striped pants

9 Mac Swinford cessful businessman of Cincinnati and a subject of Great Britain. When the naturalization eaminer asked him his place of birth, he answered Scotland. He was then asked, “How long have you lived in the United States?” He replied, “Seventy-si years.” The eaminer said, “Have you always thought you were a citizen of this country?” He answered, “Yes, and still think so.” He took the oath with the others and court recessed. I was interested in finding out about this man and the reason for his answers. The naturalization agent gave me this account. His father and mother were natives of Scotland and from very old and respected families in the Highlands. They had married in Scotland and had come immediately to America. When it was learned that a baby was to be born, the father began to save his money for the purpose of a return trip to his native Scotland. He had been born on an ancestral estate which had been the birthplace of his lineal forebears for four hundred years and he wanted his child to be born there, too. When the time of the epected birth was about to arrive, he put the mother on a boat bound for England with a round trip ticket. She returned to Scotland. The baby (our petitioner) was born and in two weeks was brought back to America. No striped pants Colonel William Colston of the Cincinnati law firm of Harmon, Colston, Goldsmith and Hoadly, was a well 93 Kentucky Lawyer known attorney in Kentucky. He was a Confederate veteran and, I am told, lost an arm in the service of the Southern cause. He was counsel for the Southern Railway System for many years. At one time when he had a case to argue before the United States Supreme Court, he took the president of the company to Washington with him. While they were waiting for their case to be heard, the client wandered about the building, inquiring of the habits and practices of the justices in the conduct of the business of the court. He found a bailiff who was glad to answer all questions and who entertained him with various stories of incidents in connection with sessions of that eminent tribunal. One thing he learned was that there was a rule of court that any attorney addressing it must wear a vest. “You see,” the garrulous attache elaborated, “some of the attorneys go far beyond the rules and appeal to the vanity of the judges by dressing in formal attire, with striped trousers and cutaway coat. Your lawyer is complying with the rules by wearing a vest but has on only a plain business suit.” Several weeks later the ruling of the court came down deciding the case against the railroad. Colonel Colston immediately phoned the company and talked to the gentleman who had been with him in Washington. “Well, we lost our case,” he said. “I know why,” was the disgruntled response. “Why?” asked the Colonel. “Because you weren’t dressed right,” said the president. To which came the rejoinder from the disappointed but still belligerent Colonel Colston, “Well, by God, that’s a better reason than any they gave in the opinion.” ...