The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-04-04
MORE ANECDOTES OF LINCOLN.
His Friend on the JUry-His Reliance upon
a liz


A Higher Power.
In an address in Chicago on Tuesday
evening upon the esrly practitioners of the
Chicago Bar; Judge Grant Goodrich related
the following;
when the only terms of the Supreme
were held at Springfield, the evenings OF
the members OF the Bar in attendance were
usually spent in the library or courtroom,
where they were entertained by Lincoln,
Gillespie, Purple, and others with anecdotes
and stories of their circuit life and practice
Such meetings and entertainment were the
only means of Amusement and mental re-
taxation 10 be TO- nd at that time. They
were not only occasions of social enjoyment,
but excellent schools, where much was to be
learned Of the skill of the practitioner, and
where the varied phases of character and
human nature we're taught and learned.
As everything connected with Mr.. Lincoln
possesses peculiar interest L may recall q
few anecdotes concerning him. In q patent
case trial in Chicago some years after. in
which he took great interest, the Judge
had charged the jury pretty strongly against
Us, We thought, and he expressed his fears
IS 10 the result. Bat there WAS one msn on
the jury whom / knew to be great admir-
er of Mr.. Lincoln, and of q mental structure
and temperament that whatever position he
took that he would never recede from il.
msde this known TO Mr.. Lincoln, aud ex-
pressed great confidence there would be no
verdict against as II any rate. TIE jury
remain ed out some time. MIR. Lincoln went
out TO walk, and passing by the room where
they were celebrating he saw the iuryman
of whom had spoken at the window, who
held up one finger He came into the off 20
quite excited and stated the fact, expressing
tie belief that this jdrymsn wss standing
out alone against the other eleven. | as
sured him If such was the case did not be-
lieve he would yield. After few moments
silence, said he: IF be is like iurymsn
had in = divorce case in Tazswell County
We are all right 1 was employed for the
complainant, a woman of intelligence and
good appearance. The defendant was an
idle, shiftless, goodfor-n othiDg fellow, with
bad temper and an abusive tongue. The
proof of abusive language and general IL
treatment and failure to provide for the
family was ample, but that ef personal
violence pretty weak. 1 made the best
argument l could, but, as L feared, the
jury were not entirely satisfied the
evidence of cruelty would justify
q verdict for the plaintiff, though their sym
psthies were strongly in her favor, and they
proceeded to draw up and sign q verdict
OF not guilty. enejuryman, however, had
taken no part IN the discussion, and when
asked to sign the verdict emphaticelly re-
fused, and taking OF his overcoat, rolled it
up and laid it on bench saying, 81 Sun 60
ing to take sleep. AID when you get read 2
to sign verdict for that woman you can
wake me up, for I'll stay here til / 70: be-
fere give q verdict against her" The
other Jurors, fsiling to move him, finally
agreed TO verdict for my client Now, If
your Juror will stick like tina. one We are
/ safe His anxiety was soon happily re-
lieved by the return Of the jury with YER
bdict in our favor.
"There is one more personal reminiscence
CT Mr.. Lincoln, though of a very different
character, which it seems to me worthy OF
being preserved a short time before he
left Springfield FOR Washington to be inau
grlrsted | called upon him sc his homa
( and him surrounded b. friends from ell
parts of the State, rendering their congresu-
lsEons and advice. BE listened attentiFely
to ell that wss'ssid, but seldom made saw
reply. There wsz a fixed aud fsr-off gaze of
his eyes, which showed his mind was en-
crossed with the threatening perils which
overkang the country and darkened his
own future. The shadow which usually
rested upon his face, when in Thoughtful re-
pose, was deepened into q lock of painful
detection; he seemed oppressed with tho ina
pending responsibilities of bis position. On
my rang 10 retire be requested me to wait
moment and walk with him - the hotel.
where rs had an appointment. Excusing
himselfto his visitors, with his hands locked
behind him, with bowed head he proceeded
in silenee until we reached his estimation,
when he t1rned and took nay hand. and in
q voice trsmulous with emotion and with
solemn oar1estness said: DO you believe
any man ever lived who had responsible
4ies laid upon him, and saw great difficult
ties before him be could not ace his way out
Of who did not look to some wiser and
stronger being Cor help and wisdom to sup
port and guide himp On my replying that
did not, said he: That is my condition, ,
and turning from me passed into the hotel.
That humble confession Of his ogn weakness
and want of ability TO guide the country
through the periIs he saw so threatening
and imminent, that look of almost sgoniz.
ing concern which Haddened his face. that
pathetic appeal for Divine held, haunted
me Tor months