The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-06-30

was clear one, and his opening speech
was brief and formal, Lincoln arose.
while deathly silence pervaded the
vast audience, and in clear and mod
crate 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 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 a certain hour in the
evening, and that, by the aid of the
brightly shining moon he Saw the prlso-
ner inhict the death blow with a slung-
shot. Mr.. Lincoln showed that at the
hour referred to the moon had not yet
appeared above the horizon, and con-
sequently the whole tale was fabrica-
ton.
"An almost instantaneous change
seemed to have been wrought in the
minds of his auditors, and The verdict
OF mot 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
been bound up in this work of gratitude
and mercy, and, as the lava of the over
charged crater bursts from its imprison-
ment, so great thoughts AID burning
words leaped forth from the soul of the
eloquent Lincoln. He drew a picture
of the perjurer SO horrid and ghastly
that the accuser could sit under it no
longer, out reeled and staggered from
the court room, whilst the audience
fancied they could see the Erand upon
his brow. Then in words of thrilling
pathos Lincoln appealed to the jurors
as fathers of some who NIL hit become
fatherless, and as husbands of wives
who might be widowed, to yield to nc
previous impressions, no ill-founded
prejudice, but to do his client justice
and as he alluded to the debt of graft
tude which he owed the boys sire, tears
were seen to to fall from many eyes
unused to weep.
at was near night when he con.
cluded, by saying that if justice be done
as he believed it would be-before
the sun should set, it would shine upor
his client free man. The jury retired
ard the court adjourned for the day
Half an hour had not elapsed, when. a:
the officers of the court and the volun.
teer attorney sat at the tea-table of theil
hotel, messenger announced that the
jury had returned to their seats. Al
repaired Immediately to the court house
and whilst the prisoner was beins
brought from the Jail, the court room
was filled to overlooking with citizen:
from the town. When the prisoner anC
his mother entered, silence reigned al
completely as though the house wa
empty. The foreman of the jury, in an
swer tothe usual inquiry from the court
delivered the verdict of Not Guilty
The widow dropped into the arms o
her son, who lifted her up and told he
to look upon him as before, free anC
innocent. Then, with the words
where is Mr.. Lincoln?' he rushed
across the room and grasped the hand
of his deliverer, whilst his heart was too
full for utterance. Lincoln turned hi
eyes toward the West, where the SUI
still fingered in view. and then, turnin!
to the youth, said: 1T is not yet sun
down and you are tree Iconfess the
my cheeks were not wholly unWet b,
tears, and l turned from the affecting
scene. As l cast glance behind,
saw Abraham Lincoln obeying th'
Divine injunction of comforting tn
widowed and fatherless."