St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-28
ONE OF LINCoLN's CASES.

The Great Man Whitfield a Little
Windmill to Convince the Jury.
Chicago Tribune
In the year 1S4S there was a memoir
able lawsuit in Chicago between Parker
and Hoyt over the infringement of a
patent right of waterwheel. Adams,
Butterfield and others were attorneys
for the plaintiff. and Abraham Lincoln
appeared for the defendant. During
the progress of the suit John Brink, now
of Crystal Lake, ILL.,, CHANGED to be in
the city, and the following is his ac-
count of it:
The tri.l lasted thirteen days, and ex.
cited an unusual amount of interest.
I When Mr. Brink reached the city be
found every one talking about the suit
and the great supreme court lawyer,
Abraham Lincoln. Judge Drumm0nd.
of the United States district court, pre-
sided at the trial. He sustained Lin
coin in all of his propositions to the
court, and in all of his objections TO the
positions taken by the opposing coun-
sci.
In the course of the trial a flume was
made and water applied to the wheels
for the purpose of demonstrating to the
Jurors the exact facts in the case. In
dian meal was thrown into the water to
show the Jury more clearly the effect OF
the water on the wheels. Soon after
this experiment had been made LAWYER
Adams said to Mr. Brink: Don't you
think we have the best of the case?'
Mr.. Brink replied: II do not know that
| am suitable judge, as did not arrive
here until the suit had been in progress
two or three days. But this man Lin
coin seems to hold you five fellows
pretty snug"
Then Adams said: II would rather
fight every lawyer in the State of llli-
nois than Abe Lincoln, because he is
natural man, a natural lawyer, natu-
raj mechanic, in fact a natural any,
thing, and he knows more about that
waterwheel than the man who made IL,
and don't know anything about it.'
While the attorneys for the plaintiff
were making their pleas Lincoln sat
there, and, although listening attentive
ly. Whitfield out pine stick about half
an inch square and a foot long. From
that he cut off two pieces about three
inches in length, and with these two
pieces he made the wings of windmill.
He fastened them together by running
a pin through the center of the two
wings and that pin into the end of the
other and longer stick. After hav-
ing put it together he blew upon it, and
when it worked to his satisfaction he
took it apart and placed it in his pocket
There were eighty-four witnesses on
the two sides. and Mr.. Brink thinks
Lincoln took no notes, but trusted
wholly to memory.
He requested the witnesses to be pres
ent during his plea. and saiu if he made
any mistakes in regard to their testi-
money he wished them to correct HIM.
While presenting his side of the case he
took out the aforementioned windmill
from his pocket, and, putting it together,
blew upon it and explained it to the
jury. lie assured them that if any in
frlngemeut had been made Parker had
infringed upon the old-time windmill,
and that ROyt had not infringed upon
2 alker. Adams was to make the clos
ing plea, and in incoln's speech he an
ticipated what Ada rs would say, aud
by this means weakened the force OF
his plea. Lincoln won his case, and the
jury were out only little over two
hours.