The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1891-01-30
ONE OF lINcoLM's EARLY CASES.
The Great Man Whitfield a Little Wind.
mill to Convince the Jury.

In the year 1913 there was a men,
orable lawsuit in Chicago between
Parker and Hoyt over the infringe
ment of n patent right of a water
wheel. Adams, Butterfield and others
were attorneys for. the plaintiff and
Abraham Lincoln appeared for the
defendant. During the progress of
the suit John Brink, Esq, now of
Crystal Lake. ILL.,, CHANGED to be in the
city, and the following is his account
of it,:
The trial lasted thirteen days and
excited an unusual amount of interest.
Whom Mr. Brink reached the city he
found every talking about the suit
and the great Supreme court lawyer
Abraham Lincoln. Judge Drummond
of the United States District court pre-
sided ut the trial. He sustained Lin
coin in all of lis propositions to the
court. aud in all of his objections to
the positions taken by the opposing
counsel.
In the course of the trial q flume
was made and water applied to the
wheels for the purpose of demonstrate
ing to the jurors the exact facts in the
case. Indian meal was thrown into
the water 10 show the jury more clear
ly the effect of the water on the wheels.
Soon after this experiment had been
made Lawyer Adams said to M.
Brink: ''Don't you think we have the
best of the casePn MI. Brink replied:
Il do not know that [ am II suitable
Judge, rs l did not arrive here until
the suit bad been in progress two or
three days. But this mar Lincoln
seems to hold you five fellows pretty
snug"
Then Adams said: Il would rather
fight every lawyer in the state of Hi.
nois than Abe Lincoln. because he is a
natural man, a natural lawyer, q nat
ural mechanic. in fact n natural any.
thing, and he krows more about that
waterwheel than the man who made
it, and / don't know anything about
1 it."
While the attorneys for the plaintiff
were making their pleas Lincoln sal
there, and, although listening atten'
lively, whitfield out a pine stick abou'
half an inch square and a foot long
From that he cut off two pieces abouI
three inches in length, and with these
two pieces he made the wings of
windmill. He fastened them togethel
by running Il pin through the center o
the two wings and That pin into thu
end of the other and longer stick
Alter having put it together he blew
upon it, aud when it worked TO his sat
isfaction he took it apart and placed i
in his pocket.
There were cighty-four witnesses OIL
the two sides, and Mr.. Brink think
that Lincoln took no notes, but truste,
wholly to memory.
He requested the witnesses to b
present during his plea, and said
he made any mistakes in regard t
their testimony he wished them to cor
rect him. While presenting his sid
of the case he took out the above-men
toned windmill from his pocket and
putting it together, blew upon it an,
explained it to the jury. He assure
them that if any Infringement ha
been made Parker had infringed upo
the old-time windmill, and t1ut Hoy
had not infringed upon Parker. al
ans Has to make tl,e closing plea. an
in Lincoln's speech he anticipate
what Adams would say. and hystht
means weakened the force of bis pies
Lincoln won his case. and the jur
We're out only II little over two hour.
tAiaago 1ribaae.