Bitle v. Biddle

For years Abraham Bitle had called himself Biddle, pronounced it Biddle, spelled it Biddle. Last week Russian-born Bartender Bitle, 42, went into common pleas court in Philadelphia to make it legal. He found he had failed to reckon with the descendants of another immigrant, one William Biddle, a shoemaker who served in Oliver Cromwell's army, served a jail term for Quaker preachings, and beat William Penn to the New World in 1681.

Said Major Charles Biddle, World War I ace (seven planes), Philadelphia lawyer, cousin of Francis (lately Attorney General) and a swarm of other Philadelphia Biddles: "There would appear to be no good reason why Mr. Bitle should be permitted to . . . give the impression he was of English origin."

Said Petitioner Bitle's attorney: the 175 Biddles in the Philadelphia telephone book (the Social Register lists a mere 86) already include chauffeurs and junk dealers as well as lawyers, bankers and brokers. And the state law says you can take any name you like, if you're not trying to cheat anybody.

Said Italian-born Judge Eugene Alessandroni: nothing unlawful about it. Petition granted.*

*But in St. Louis, Judge Edward Ruddy turned down Martin Weisenberg, told him to take a name "not so prominent in public life" as Truman.

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