The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-01-29
CURIOSIIIES OF CRIME.
HOW A MURDERER WAS ACQUITTED BY A
WRONG ALMANAC.


criminal lawyer furnishes more than one
instance which might with great propriety
be introduced into this collection of the
curiosities of criminal Jurisprudence. For
many years he was leading couDselin almost
every noted criminal case in the State of
Illinois, and his eloquence in pleading, his
keenness in retort and seaching eXamina-
ton of the witEes were famous through
out the West long before either he or his
friends began to dream Of the presidency as
among the possibilities of his future.
One of his most decided triumphs was
won in the case of VIM. d. Armstrong, who
was tried at Beardstown, Cass county, ILL.,,
in 1853, charged with the crime of murder.
In Lincoln's early days, when lie was a
poor, homeless, almost friendless boy, he
formed the acquaintance of a family named
Armstrong, John, his wife Hannah, and
babe a few months old, to whom Lincoln,
by permission, gave the name of VIM. D.,
in honor of one of his best loved friends,
! who had died few months before.
The Armstrong; were hospitab!e and
kind, almost filling the place of parents to
their guest, and he in time grew very fond
of the chil0, which he rocked, carried pet
ted and fondled day after day. for weeks
and months, while he was waiting for en-
nloymeut.
st engt'i new life opened to young
Lincoln, aud he gsaeia.slly drifted away from
the port Of generous sseaeefne into the wide
busy world, and FOR a time his ffqssnds we're
! lost sight of, but never forgotten.
| He sCudisd law, became famous as an
advocate and politician, and these humble
but warm and tried friends watched with
pleasure and pride every step of his progress
up the ladder of fame. The babe he had
| so fondly cared for grew to manhood, and
although brave, generous youth, the
crude pioneer civilization under which lie
grew up unfortunately developed love for
the excitements of the cup, aud taste for
the rougher sports peculiar to the somewhat
primitive society in which he was trained.
In the summer of 1851 there was a Meth
odist camp meeting in Mason county, at
tended by not few Of the rotous element,
and every night some outrage was commit
ted which filled the decent portion of the
community with Indignation. a patrol
was organized for the preservation of order,
which was one night, attacked by the riot
ers, and leading citizen named NIitzar
most brutally murdered.
James ID. Norris and William D. Arm
strong were indicted for the crime Sep
crate trials were demanded, and Norris was
first on the docket. He was speedily con-
victed aud sentenced to long term in the
State Penitentiary. The feeling against
Armstrong was very bitter, and his counsel
was persuaded to take a change Of venue
to Cass county, and the trial came on at
Beardstown in 1853
Hannah Armstrong, the mother of the
accused, was in great distress. Her bus
band, Jack, had been dead for some years.
She was oppressed by poverty, deserted by
old friends, and now a shameful death or
lingering imprisonment threatened her
son. In this emergency she bethought
herself of the poor youth to whom she had
once given home, and who had so often
played with the boy that now stood in such
imminent peril.
For many years Mr.. Lincoln had been
known as a most successful lawyerand Mrs.
Armstrong became possessed of the idea
that if he would but undertake her sons
case he would be saved.
She therefore wrote to him at Springfield
| begging his assistance. Though pressed
by clients on every side. Mr.. Lincoln imme-
diately responded that the memories of past
kindnesses were yet green, and their obli-
CATION sacred, and Providence permitting
he would undertake the defense of her son,
if he didn't try another case that season.
Upon examination he found the case to
be most desperate one. A jury had al
ready passed upon an alleged accomplce,
and rendered a verdict of guilty. The
same evidence would have to be confronted
in the coming trial, and only by miracle
could similar result be avoided. The
only hope was to blot out the record of the
previous trial, refute the senses of witnesses
and cause the jury to forget both their duty
and their oaths.
At length the day of trial arrived, and
the prosecution brought forward their array
of witnesses. AS one after another came
upon the stand and gave their evidence,
they were subjected to rigid cross exam
ination, but without any very satisfactory
results. The testimony seemed conclusive.
and every word fell like the dreaded knell
of death.
When the prosecution had finished their
case, 1T appeared that only one witness had
directly connected the accused with the
crime. He swore that he saw the affray,
that Norris pounded the deceased with a
club from behind, while Armstrong assail-
cd him in front with slung-sbot, and the
doctors testified that the wounds inflicted
by either would have produced death. He
explained that he was enabled to see so
distinctly, owing to the light of the moon,
which was nearly at its full, and at the time
OF the occurrence, eleven clock, standing