The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-06-13
At this jancture, the widow received

At ibis Jancture, the widow received
letter from Mr.. Lincoln, volunteering
bis 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 of impannel-
ing an impartial Jury in the Court hav-
ing jurisdiction, he procured a change of
venue, and postponement of the trial.
He then went studiously to work I'M
raveling the history of the case and sat
isfied himself that bis client was the vic
tim of malice, and that the statements
of the accuser were a tissue of falsehoods.
When the trial was called on, the prison
er, pale and emaciated, with hopelessness
written on every feature, and accompan-
led by his half-hoping, halfdespairing
mother-whose only hope was in a moth
er's belief of her sons innocence, in the
justice of the God she worshiped, 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 'stony firmness" listen
ed 10 the reading of the Indictment
Lincoln sat quietly by, while the large
auditory looked on him as though won
dering what he could say in defense of
one whose guilt they regarded as certain.
The examination of witnesses for the
State was begun, and a well-arranged
mass of evidence, circumsiantial and pos
tive was introduced, which seemed to
impale the prisoner beyond the possibility
extr;cation. The counsel for the defense
propounded but few questions, and those
Of character which excited no uneasiness
on the part of the overwhelmingly, in
most cases, requiring the main witness to
be definite as to time ard place. When
the evidence of the prosecution was end
cd, Lincoln introduced a 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 Wei
Gus act; and to show that greater de-
gree Of ill-feeling existed between the
accuser and the accused than the accused
and the deceased. The prosecutor felt
that the casa was a clear one, and his
opening speech was brief and formal
Lincoln arose, while deathly silence
pervaded the vast audience, and il,
clear bat moderate tone began his argu-
ment. Slowly and carefully he reviewed
the testimony, pointing out the hitherto
unobservcd discrepancies in the statements
of the principal witness. That which had
seemed plain and plausible, he made TO
appear crooked as a serpent's path. The
witness had stated that the affair took
place at certain hour in the evening.
and that, by the aid of the brightly shin
ing moon, he saw the prisoner inflict the
death blow with slung-shot. Mr.. Lin
coin showed that at the hour referred to
the moon had not yet appeared above the
horizon, and consequently the whole tale
eous change seemed to have been
wrought in the minds of his auditory,
and the verdict of "not guilty was at the
end of every tongue. But the advocate
was not content with this intellectual
achievement. His whole being had for
months been bound up in this work of
gratitude and mercy, and, as the lava of
the overcharged crater bursts from itsim-
prisonment, SO great thoughts and burn
ing words leaped forth from the soul of
the eloquent Lincoln. He drew pic
ture of the perjurer so horrid and ghastly
that the accuser could sit under it no long
err, but reeled and staggered from the
Courtroom, while the audience fancied
they could sec the brand upon his brow.
Then in words of thrilling pathos, Lin
coin appealed to the Jurors as fathers of
sons who might become fatherless, and as
husbands of wives who might be widow
ed, to yield to no previous impressions, no
ill-founded prejudice, but to do his client
Justice; and as he alluded to the debt of
gratitude which he owed to the boys
sire, tears were seen to fall from many
eyes unused to weep. 1t was near night
when he concluded by saying that, if
;stice were done-as he believed it would
be-before the sun should set, it would
shine upon his client free man. The
Jury retired, and the Court adjourned
for the day. Half an hour had not elaps-