The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-31
An Aneodn,s 81 1inAln

The Rev. DR.. ?. D. Gurley was the
minister IN charge Of the New York
Avenue Presbyterian church. Washington,
u - during Lincoln's administered ton,
writes D. H. Mitchell in the Independent.
Ut. Gurley was L-ncOlns pastor. ana in
many matters his confidential adviser.
post ne was admirably fitted TO MI. being
a strong, robust, honest personality and
a man Of sweet disposition, great ability
ana excellent Judgement
During the meeting Of the first general
assembly OF the Presbyterian. church after
he war which convened IN 81. Louis,
DIT Gurley, who was a delegate, was one
day the guest OF the Rev. DR.. Niccolls,
IN whose church the assembly met and the
following anecdOte. Of Lincoln was related
by DR. GUrley Al dinner in the presence
ot number OF friends. among whom was
the present writer;
soon after the outbreak Of hostities
a hot-blOoded. nre-ea ting young man.
son OF members Of Or. Guriey's church,
made his way through oUr lines and en-
Isieu N the confederate army. The for
tunes of war threw him into our hands as
a prisoner. II was deemed best 10 make
an example OF him, ard he was conse-
Quentiy court meFtlaled and sentenced to
be shot. DR.. Cfurley interested himself
in the young mans behalf and secured
a communication Of the sentence. A short
time after the father Of the boy came to
Dr.. Guriey. and solicited his aid TO OBJ
tam a pardon. DR.. Gurley strongly adj
Nlsed against the efIorJ. He pointed out
that the young mans life had been saved
by the President. and that .t would be eX
tremely unwise and imprudent 10 apply
Tor pardon SO soon. The father replied
that he felt so himself, but thGt his wife
took on 50 about her son that he feared
she would lose her mind if something
were not done. I must said he. make
the attempt or his mothers account.
IL Is better to fail than not to try. Con
sequenty Dr. Gurley signed the petition
for pardon ana the father took it 70
President lincoln.
When the father made known his
erTand the President became very much
excited and nrFrnlN sad 4 saved the lfe
of your son after he had been condemned
70 be shot: and now you come here so
soon when you know l am overwhelmed
with care and anxiety, asking for his par
don. You should have been content with
what 1 have done Go; and II you annoy
me any more ! shall feel it TO be my duty
to consider whether I ought not TO re-
call what I have already done
"A lew days alter the President sent
for. the father, apoiogized for the way he
had spoken to him, and, TO his utter as
constituent, handed him pardon.
Not long after, and before knowing
what had transp.red, DR.. Gurley met the
President. Having transacted his bust
ness, he was about to go when Mr.. Lin
"'By-the-way. doctor. you signed the
petition for Mr. IS sons pardon, didn't
''The doctor replied that he had done
so, but explained that he mad advised
against making the application at that
time, and that he was induced to sign IT
only by the statement Of the father that
he feared his Wife would lose her mind
if something We're not done to relieve her
The President then rerna rked. We'll.
AIR. - came to me with the petition. II
made me very angry and dismissed him
roughly. Afterward I felt SO ashamed
of myself for having lost my temper that
I made out pardon Tor the man and
save IL to him
And then, after a pause and with a
broad smile, he added:
All doctori these wives Of ours have
the inside track on US, don't they?