Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-06-21
THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 81, 1860.


that knew no such word as fail. Feeling
that the poisoned condition Of the public
mind was such as to preclude the possibility
of empanneling an impartial jury in the
Court having Jurisdiction, he procured
change Of venue, and postponement of the
trial. He then went studiously to work un-
raveling the history Of the case, and satisfied
himself that his client was the victim of
malice. and that the statements of the accus-
er were n tissue of falsehoods. When the
trial was called on, the prisoner, pale and
emaciated with hopeessuess written on eve
rs feature, and accompanied hy his haf-ho-
ping, half-despairing mother-whose only
hope was in his mothers belief of her sons
! Innocence, in the Justice of the God she wor-
shipped, and in the noble counsel, who,
without hope of fee or reward upon earth,
| had undertaken the cause-took his seat in
the prisoners box, and with a "stony firm
ness" listened to the reading Of the indict-
ment. Lincoln sat quietly by, while the
large auditory looked on him as though Won
dering what he could say in defence of one
whose guilt they regarded as certain. The
examination of witnesses for the State was
begun, and well-arranged mass of evidence,
circumstantial and positive, was introduced,
which seemed to impale the prisoner beyond
the possibility of extrcatiun. The counsel
| for the defence propounded but few qucs-
tions, and those of character which excited
no uneasiness on the part of the prosecutor;
merely, in most cases, requir ng the main
witness to be definite MS to time and place.
| When the evidence of the prosecution was
ended, Lincoln introduced few witnesses to
remove some erroneous impressions in regard
to the previous character Of his client, who,
| though somewhat rowdyish, had never been
| known to commit vicious act; and to show
that greater degree of ill-fceng existed be-
| tween the accuser and accused than the ac-
cused and deceased. The prosecutor felt that
the case was ciear one, and his opening
speech was brief and formal. Lincoln arose.
while a deathly silence pervaded the vast
audience and in clear hut moderate tone
began his argument. Slowly and carefully
he reviewed the testimony, pointing out the
hitherto unobserved discrepancies in the
statements of the principal witness. That
which would seem plain and plausible, he
made to appear crooked as serpents path.
The witness had stated that the affair took
place at certain hour in the evening, and
that, by the aid of the brightly shining
moon, he saw the prisoner inhct the death
blow with a slung-shot. Mr.. Lincoln show
ed that the hour referred to, the moon had
not vet appeared above the horizon and con-
seauenty the whole tale was fabrication.
| An almost instantaneous change seemed to
have been wrought in the minds Of his audi
tors. and the verdict of "uot guilty" was at
the end of every tongue. But the advocate
was not content with this intellectual achieve
ment His whole being had for months teen
bound up in this work of gratitude and mer
cy; and, as the lava of the overcharged cra-
ter bursts from its imprisonment, SO grea.
thoughts and burning words leaped forth
from the soul of the eloquent Lincoln. lie
drew picture Of the perjurer so ghastly and
horrd that the accuser could sit under it no
longer, but recled and staggered from the
Courtroom. while the audience imagined
they could see the brand upon his brow
Their in words Of thrilling patbos, Lincoln
appealed to the jurors as fathers Of sons who
might become fatherIess, ami As husbands of
wives who might Gc widowed, 10 yield to no
previous impressions. no il-founded prelu-
dice, but to do his client justice, and as he
alluded to the debt of gratitude which he
owed the boys sire, tears were seen to fall
from many eyes unused to weep. 1t was
near night when he concluded by saying TINT,
il Justice was done, as he believed !; would .
be--before the sun should set, ii would shine
upon his client free man. The jury retir
ed, and tho Court adjourned for the day
Half an hour had not elapsed, when, as the /
officers Of the Court and the volunteer attor-
ney sat at the tea-tabie Of their hotel, mes
scnger announced that the jury had returned
to their seats. All repaired immediately to
the Court-H House. and while the prisoner was
being brought from the Jail. the Court room !
was filled to Overlooking with citizens of the
town. When the prisoner and his mother
entered, silence rcigncd as completely MS
though the house were empty. The fore
man Of the Jury, in answer to the usual IN
quiry from the Co TT, delivered the verdict
OF Not Guilty." Tue widow dropped in
to the arms of her son, who lifted her up,
and told her to look Upon him as beiorc--
free and innocent. Then, with the words,
"Where is Mr.. Lincoln ?" he rushed across
the room and grasped the hand Of his delv-
erer, wi lie his heart was too full for utter
ance. Lin on turned his eyes towards the
West. where the sun still fingered in view,
and then, turning to the youth, said At is
not yet suLdown, and yon are free | con-
fess that my cheeks were not wholly unwet
by tears and | turned from the affecting
scene AS | cast glance behind, | saw
Abraham Lincoln obeying the divine injunc-
ton, by comforting the widowed aud tho
fatherless. - Correspondence Of the Clereland
Dealer,