Abraham Lincoln (1897) (14754665016)

Identifier: abrahamlincol1479coff (find matches)
Title: Abraham Lincoln
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Coffin, Charles Carleton, 1823-1896 Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Sovereign Grand Lodge
Subjects: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 Presidents
Publisher: New York : Harper & Brothers
Contributing Library: Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection
Digitizing Sponsor: The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant



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the colt. It is a case in which thejury must decide according to the weight of evidence. Now, gentlemenof the jury, if you were going to bet as to which of the mares is themother, on which would you risk your money—even if it was not morethan a picayune ? On which is the preponderance of evidence ? Pos-sibly you might not be right, but that is not the question. It is whetheryou will accept the testimony of thirty men and the silence of one of themares on the one side, or the testimony of thirty-four men, the othermare, and the colt on the other side ? The case was so plain that the jury had no difficulty in deciding asto which farmer was the rightful owner of the colt. They decided justas they would have bet their money. Another case was that of a poor Avoman, nearly eighty years old,who came with a pitiful story. Her husband had been a soldier in theRevolutionary War, under Washington. He was dead, and she was en-titled to a pension amounting to $400. A rascally fellow, pretending
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COURT-HOUSE, PETERSBURG. (From a photograph taken by the author, 1890. The town of Petersburg was surveyed by Mr. Lincoln,and many of his legal arguments were made in this building) RIDING THE CIRCUIT. 105 great friendship for her, had obtained the money, but had put half of itinto his own pocket. The poor woman was the onl) witness. The jury heard her story.Abraham Lincohi tlie while was making the following notes on a slipof paper: Xo contract. • Not professional services. Unreasonable charges. ■• Money retained by defendant not given to plaintiff. ■ Revolutionary War. • Describe Valley Forge. Ice. Soldiers bleeding feet. Husband leaving home for the army. Skin defendant. He rises and turns to the judge. Of the law\yers sitting around thetable perhaps not one of them can sa) just what there is about himwhich hushes the room in an instant. May it please your honor—thewords are spoken slowly, as if he were not quite ready to go on withwhat he has to say—gentlemen of the