The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-06-21

! opened to INN his rude nome ana Did
him welcome to his course fare. How
Lincoln graduated with promise--how he
has more than fulfilled that promise
how honorably he acquitted himself alike
on the battle field, in defending our bor-
der settlement against the ravages Of saw
ace foes. and in the halls Of our national
legislature, are matters of history, and
need no repetition here. But one little
incident of more private nature, stand
ing as it does as sort of sequel to some
things already alluded to, | deem worthy
| of record. Some few years since the
oldest son Of Mr Lincoln's old friend
Armstrong, the chief support OF his wild
owed mother-the good old man having
some time previously y passed from earth
was arrested on the charge of murder.
A young man had been killed during a
riotouS melee, in the night time, at a
camp meeting, and one OF his associates
stated that the death wound was inflicted
by young Armstrong. A preliminary
examination was gone into, at which the
accuser testified so positively that there
seemed no doubt of the guilt Of the prls-
oner, and therefore he was held for trial.
As is too often the case, the bloody act
caused an undue degree Of excitement in
the public mind. Every improper Incl
dent in the lie of the prisoner each act
which bore the least semblance of rowdy-
Iism-each school-boy quarrel-was sud
denly remembered and magnifed, until
they pictured him as a fend of the most
horrid hue As these runlors spread
abroad, they were received as gospel
truth, and feverish desire for vengence
seized upon the infatuated populace,
whilst only prison bars prevented hor-
rible death at the hands of a mob. The
events were heralded in the country pa
pcrs, painted in highest coloIs, accompa-
MED by rejoicing over the certainty of
punishment being meted out to the gull
ty party. The prisoner, overwhelmed BY
the circumstances under which he found
himself placed, fell into a melancholy
condition, bordering upon despair; and
the widowed mother, looking through her
tears, saw NO cause for hope from earthly
aid.
1T this juncture, the widow received a
letter from Mr. Lincoln, volunteering his
services in an effort to save the youth
from the impending stroke. Gladly was
his aid accepted, although it seemed i'm
possible for even his sagacity to prevail
in such desperate case but the heart
Of the attorney WAS in his work, and 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 ofimpanneling
an impartial jury in the court having
jurisdiction, he procured a change of
venue, and postponement of the trial.
lie then went studiously to work unrav-
cling the history of the case, and satifed
himself that his client was the victim of
malice, and that the statements Of tie
accuser were q tissue of falsehoods.-
When the trial was called on, the pris-
ouer, pale and emaciated, with hopeless
ness written on every feature, and accom-
panied by his half hoping, half despair
ing mother-whose only hope was in a
mothers belief of her sons innocence, in
the justice of the God she worshipped,
and in the noble counsel, who without
hope Of fec or reward upon earth, had
undertaken the cause-took his seat in
the prisoners box, and with "stony
iirmness listened 70 the reading of the
Indictment. 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 re
garded as certain. The examination of the
witnesses for the State was begnn, and q
wei! arranged mass of evidence, circum-
stantial aud positive, was introduced,
which seemed to impale the prisoner be-
youd the possibility of extrication The
counsel for tue defence propounded but
few questions, and those of a character
which excited 40 uneasiness on the part
OF the overwhelmingly, in most cases,
requiring tue main witness to be defni.e
as to the time and place When the ev,
idence Of the prosecution was ended,
Lincoln introduced few witnesses tore,
move some erroneous impressions in re-
gard to the previous character Of his eli
e.t, who, though somewhat rowdyiSh, had
never been known to commit vicious
act; and to show that greater degree
Of ill-feeling existed between the accuser
and the accused than the accused and the
deceased. The prosecutor felt the case
was clear one, and his opening speech
was brief and formal. Lincoln arose
while deathly silence pervaded the vast
audience, and in a clear but moderate tone
began his argument. Slowly and care
fully he reviewed the testimony, pointing
out the hitherto unobserved dlscrcnencies