Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-06-07
Thrilling Episode in the Life Of
"Abe Lincoln" 4
Correspondence Of the Cleveland Leader.l

u
seli-made man. A Kentuckiau by birth, he
emigrsted to Illinois in his boyhood, where
he earned his living at the anvil, devoting
his leisure hours to rudy. Having chosen
the law as his future calling. he devoted him.
self assiduously to its mastery, contending
at every step with adverse fortune. During
this period Of study, he for some time found
home under the hospitable roof of one
Armstrong, farmer who lived in log house
some eight miles from the village of Peters
burg, Menard county. Here, clad in home.
spun, with elbows out, and knees covered
with patches, young Lincoln would master
his lessons by the freight Of the cabin, and
then walk to town for the purpose of recita-
ton. This man Armstrong was himself
poor, but he saw the genius struggling in |
the young student, and opened to him his
rude home and bid him welcome to his
coarse fare. How Lincoln graduated with
promsc-how he has more than fulfilled that
promise--how bonorably, he acquitted him.
self alike on the battlefield, in defending
our border settlements against the ravsges
Of savage foes, and in the halls Of our ma.
tional Legislature, are matters Of history
and need no repetition here. But one little
incident Of more private nature, standing
as it does as sort Of sequel to some things
already alluded to, l deem worthy of record.
Some few years since the Oldest son of Nr
Lincoln's old friend Armstrong, the chic
support Of his wido we'd mother--the good
old man having some time previously passed
from earth--was arrested on the charge of
murder. A young man had been killed during
o riotous melee, in the night time, at q
camp. meeting, and one OF his associates
stated that the death-wound was inflicted
by young Armstrong. A preliminary ex-
animation was gone into, at which the ac.
cuser testified so positively that there SEEM
ed no doubt of the guilt OF the prisoner and
therefore he was held for trial. As is too
often the cuse, the bloody act caused an un-
due degree Of excitement in the public mind
Every improper incident in the life of the
prisoner-each act which bore the least
semblunce of rowdyism--each schooboy
quarrel-was suddenly remembered and
magnifei, until they pictured him as fend
Of the most horrid hue. As these rumors
spread abroad, they were received as gospel
truth, and feverish desire for vengence
seized upon the infatuated populace, whilst
only prison.bars prevented horrible death
at the hands Of mob. The events were
herrlded in the county papers, painted in
highest colors, accompanied by rejoicing
o yer the certainty OF punishment being
meted ou, to the guilty party. The prison.
er, Inclined by the circumstances un.
der which he found himself placed, fell into
a melancholy condition, bordering upon des-
pair; and the widowed mother, looking
through her tears, saw no cause for hope
| from earthly aid.
At this juncture, the widow received let.
ter from Mr.. Lincoln, volunteering his ser
vices in an effort to save The youth from the
impending stroke. Gladly was his aid &C.
cepted, although it seemed impossible for
even his sagacity 10 prevail in such desper.
ate case; but the heart of the attorney was
in his work, aud he set about it with will
that knew no such word as fail. Feeling
that the poisoned condition of the public
mind was such as to preclude the possibility
of impanneling nn impartial jury in the
cour. having jurisdiction, he procured
change OF venue, and postponement of the
trial. He then went studiously to work un-
| eling the history OF the case, and salts.
| fed himself that his client was the victim
of malice, and that the statements of the
accuser were tissue of falsehoods. When
the trial was called on, the prisoner, pale
and ematiated, with hopelessness written
one very feature, and accompanied by his
half-hoping, half-desparing mother--whose
only hope was In a mothers belief of her
sons innocence, in the justice of the God
she worshiped, and in the noble counse who
without hope of fee or reward upon earth,
had undertaken the cause-took his seat in
the prisoners box, and with "stony firm
ness" listened to the reading of the indict
ment. Lincoln sat quietly by, whilst the
large auditory looked on him as though
wondering what he could say in defense of
one whose guilt they regarded as certain
The examination Of the witnesses for the
State was begun, and a well arranged mass
of evidence, circumstantiul and positive,
was introduced which seemed to impale the
prisoner beyond the possibility of extrica-
ton. The counsel for the defense propounC-
ed but few questions, and those of a char.
acter which excited no upeasiness on the
part of the prosecutor--merey, in most
cases, requiring the main witness to be def.
mite as TO time and place. When the evil
dence Of the prosecution was ended, Lincoln
| introduced few witnesses to remove some
erroneous Impressions in regard to the pre-.
vious character Of his client. who, though
somewhat rowdyish, had never been known
to commit vicious act; and to show that a
greater degree OF ill-feeling existed between
the accuser and the accused than The accus-
ed snt the deceased. The prosecutor felt
that the case was clear one. and his open.
ing speech was brief and formal. Lincoln
arose, while deathlv silence pervaded the
vast audience, and in clear but moderate
tone began his argument. Slowly and care
fully he reviewed the testimony, pointing
out the heretolor unobserved discrepancies in
the s,stementsof the principal witness
That which had seemed plain and plausible,
he made to appear crooked asa serpent's
path. The witness had stated that the sf-
fair took place at certain hour 10 the even