Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-01-31
ONE OF lINcOlN'S EARLY CASES.
The Great Man whittied q Little Wino'
mill to Convincs the Jury.

In the year 1S48 there was mem-
orable lawsuit in Chicago between
Parker and Hoyt over the infringe
ment OF 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 H.. chanced TO be in the
city. and the following is his account
of Ii:
The trial lasted thirteen davs aud
excited an unusual amount of interest
When Mr. Brink reached the city he
found every one talking about the suit
aud the great Supreme court lawyer
Abraham Lincoln. Judge Drummond
of the United States District court pre-
sided at the trial. He sustained Lin
coin in all of his propositions to the
court, aud In all Of his objections TO
the positions taken by the opposing
counsel.
In the course of the trial hume
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 Mr..
Brink: Don't YOU think we have the
best Of the casep" Mr.. Brink replied:
II do not know that am a suitable
Judge, as l did not arrive here until
the suit had been in progress two or
three days. But this man Lincoln
seems to hold you five fellows pretty
snug"
Then Adams said: II would rather
fight every lawyer in the state of Illi-
nois than Abe Lincoln. because he is a
natural man. natural lawyer q nat
ural mechanic. ia fact natural any
thing. and he knows more about that
waterwheel than the man who made
it, and l don't know anything about
it,
While the attorneys for the plaintiff
were making their pleas Lincoln sat
there, and, although listening atten-
lively. whitfield out q pine stick about
half an inch square and foot long.
From that he cut OFF two pieces about
three inches in length, and with these
two pieces he made the wings OF q
windmill. He fastened them together
by running pin through the center of
the two wings aud that pin into the
end of the other and longer stick.
After having put it together he blew
upon it. and when 1t worked to his sat
isfaction he took 1t apart and placed 1t
in his pocket.
There were eighty-four witnesses on
the two sides. aud Mr.. Brink thinks
that Lincoln took no notes, but trusted
wholly to memory.
He requested the witnesses to be
present during his plea, and said II
he made any mistakes 10 regard to
their testimony he wished them to COR
rect him. While presenting his side
of the case no took out the above-men-
toned windmill from his pocket and.
putting 1t together. blew upon It aud
explained it TO tho jury. He assured
them that II any Infringement had
been made Parker had infringed upon
the old-time windmill, and that Hoyt
had not infringed upon Parker. Ad-
ams was to make the ciosing plea. and
ia Lincoln's speech he anticipated
what Adams would say, aud by this
means weakened the force Of his plea.
Lincoln won bis case. and the jury
were out only little over two hours.
--Chicag0 Tribune.