One of the most vivid verses creates a word-picture of Liston in his prime with photographic clarity: "Black Cadillac, alligator boots, money in the pockets of his sharkskin suits."

But you already have those alligator boots.

"Enter justice, in alligator boots and a polka-dot tie" (December 11, 1984)

He wears alligator boots and happily uses words you can't say on TV.

Most of the cabin was occupied by Texan businessmen in sharkskin suits in various shades of blue and grey, with alligator boots and big hats.

One of them wears low canvas sneakers, one of them wears tall alligator boots.

He had alligator boots on his feet.

He pulled himself erect and, ankle deep in paper, regarded his wife, his cherished wife, in her camel-hair coat and her alligator boots.

He'd worn the rawhide clothes of a rancher it seemed, even to the alligator boots, except for a pair of exquisite black kid gloves and a large pair of gold-rimmed blue-tinted glasses.

The Journal article also quoted co-workers who said Mr. Coughlin had demanded they create fake invoices to pay for hunting trips, a $1,359 pair of alligator boots and a $2,590 dog pen.