MMmm, OK, nearest i can get is Styphnolobium japonicum 'Variegata'
There are however one or two rare sports as this could've been.
Is it also possible that as a late leafer and early dropper, could it not have been a weird interveinal sclerosis? There is alos one or two (one pictured above) different varietes of variegated trees, non-really cultivated anymore
Varieties
The weeping form of the Pagoda tree was particularly suited to the picturesque tastes of the Victorian era, and was more commonly used than the species during that period. Styphnolobium japonicum 'Pendula' had first been cultivated in China; the plant-hunger Robert Fortune reported seeing a weeping Pagoda tree in Shanghai during his visit to that city in 1853. Although it seldom flowers, and is difficult to propagate and expensive, Scott called this variety:
the finest of small pendulous trees. ... [its] branches are green and somewhat angular or crooked so that in winter the tree has a somewhat knotted and curious look. ... It is at the same time symmetrical and picturesque.
Sargent praised it as well:
It has long pendulous shoot ... We hardly know anything more ornamental or striking; even in winter, the long slender branches of beautiful bright green render it most attractive.
'Pendula' is still used today as a formal specimen or living sculpture. Its convoluted branching structure makes very little growth on its own, so it must be grafted to seedling understock at the desired ultimate height of the resulting tree.
Another early variety, Styphnolobium japonicum 'Violacea', is apparently no longer available in the nursery trade, although it is grown at the Arnold Arboretum. Brought from China to the Paris Jardin des Plantes in the 1850s, this variant was described as having flowers "stained with rose-violet". Although the flowers may have been beautiful, it bloomed too late to open well. and may have been given up because its flowering was unreliable.
A third variety, 'Variegata', was soundly disliked by all who wrote about it, and is also no longer available. Sargent wrote, "The color of the leaf is sickly and we do not consider it desirable, except for arboretums."
A variety that can still be found is 'Tortuosa', which is marked by twisted branching and very slow growth.
There is also some good images on http://www.davesgarden.com (but they're copyrighted and didn't know if i could post here), if you search for sophora japonica not styphnolobium japonicum, yes confusing i know:001_rolleyes:
Hope this has helped and i will carry on searching everynow and again:thumbup: