Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-05-31
Thrilling Episode in the Life Of
ABE Lincoln"


Corr'dence of the Cleveland Plaindealer.
AS Western man, wish space
to give vent to my enthusiasm over the
nomination OF Hon. Abraham Lincoln
for President of the United States.
Mr. Lincoln. or 'O.d Abe,' as his
friends familiary call him, is self
made man. a Kentuckian by birth,
he emigrated to Illinois in his boy
hood, where he earned his living at
the anvil, devoting his leisure hours
to study. Having chosen the law as
his future calling, he devoted himself
assi1u, usly to its mastery, contend
ing at every step with adverse fortune
During this period of study, he for
some time found home under the
hospitable roof of one Armstrong, a
farmer who lived in q log house some
eight miles from the village Of Peters.
burg. Menard County. Here. clad in
homespun, with elbows out, and knees
covered with patches, young Lincoln
would master his lessons by the fire.
light of the cabin, and then walk to
town for the purpose of recitation
This man Armstrong was himself
poor, but hc saw the genins sturg.
CLING in the young student, and opened
to him his rude home and bid him
welcome to his coarse fare.
How Lincoln graduated with promise
how he has more than fulfilled that
promise-how honorably he acquitted
himself alike on the battlefield, il
defending our border settlements
against the ravages of savage foes and
in the halls of our national Legislature
are matters of history, and need no
repetition here. But one little Incl
dent OF more private nature. stand
ing as it does as sort of sequel tt
some things already alluded to, deem
worthy of record. Some few years
since the oldest son of Mr.. Lincoln
old friend Armstrong. the chief sup
port of his widowed mother-the goot
old man having some time previously
passed from earth-was arrested OF
the charge of murder. n young mar
had been killed during riotous melee
in the night time. at a camp meeting
and one of his associates stated that tn
dcath-wound was inflicted by young
Armstrong. y preliminary examin
alton was gone into, at which the ac
cuser testified so positively that Their
seemed no doubt of the guilt of tn
prisoner, and therefore he was hel,
for trial. AS is too often the case
the bloody act caused an undue de
gree of excitement in the public mind
Every improper incident in the life o
the prisoner-each act which bore tn
least semblancc of rowdyism-eacl
school boy quarrel-was suddenly re
membered and magnifed, until the
pictured him as a fiend of the mo
horrid hue. AS these rumors sprea
abroad. they were received as gospe
truth, and feverish desire for ven
geance seized upon the infatuated pop
ulace. whilst only prison bars pre-
vented horrible death at the hand
of mob. The events were heralde
!. in the County papers. painted in higl
est colors: accompanied by rejoicin
over the certainty of punls hment b,
ing meted out to the guilty party
The prisoner, overwhelmed by the ci
cumstances under which he found hin
self placed, fell into a melancholy col
+. lition. bordering upon despair; an
the widowed mother, looking throug
her tears, saw no cause for hope fro
earthly aid.
At this juncture. the widow r.
ceivcd letter from Mr.. Lincoln, vo
unteering his services to save Il
youth from the impending stroke
Gladly was his aid accepted. althoue
it seemed impossible for even his 5
gacity to prevail in such a case; b
the heart of the attorney was in h
work, and he set about it with Wi
that knew no such word as fail. Fee
ing that the poisoned condition of 4
, public mind was such as to preclu
the possibility of impannneling
impartial jury in the court having j
risdiction, he procured change
venue. and a postponement of the Il
al. lie then went studiouslyto wo
unraveling the history of the cas-
II and satisfied himself that his ellie
Il was the victim OF malice, and that t
n statements of the aceuser were a tlss
of faisehoods. When the trial was ca
: ed on, the prisoner, pale and ematiate
with hopelessness written on eve
feature, and accompanied by his la
hoping. half-despairing mother,
whose only hope was in a mother
/, belief of her sons innocence. in I
justice of the God she worshippe
and in the noble counsel. who, wit
ID out hope of fee or reward upon ear