The herald., 1895-02-14
THE LOYAL LEGION
Details Of the Southern California Assoc
cations neeting

cations Tleeting
A ladies' night meeting of the Southern
California Association of Companions of
the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of
the United States was held on Tuesday
evening last in commemoration of the
birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Through
the courtesy of Mr.. Bilicke, the generous
host the parlors of the Hollenbeck were
thrown open to the association. The at
tractive programme bore principally on
the life and character of Lincoln or
pointed back to that period of our history
which brought out his strongest charac-
teristics 1t commenced with an address
by Colonel c. Wiley Wells, president of
the association, giving synopsis of
Lincoln's life and history. He gave a per-
sonal "Reminiscences showing his charac-
teristic kindness of heart and great SYM
pathy with the suffering. The story has
has never been in print and is practically
as follows:
During the civil war was sent with
dispatch from General Sheridan to the
President. As l entered the room in the
White House where Mr. Lincoln was,
found two ladies there, one elderly and
the other young. 1t appears that they
had come to solicit the President to par
don sergeant who had been convicted
by court martial of taking money for
allowing soldiers to escape who wished to
desert, and had been condemned to be
shot. The elderly lady was the soldiers
mother and the younger one was his
wife. They said he was an only son and
the support of them both and that I'M
doubleday the taking of money in this
illegal way was to assist in their support.
After patiently hearing their story the
President said: Ladies, | cannot pardon
the man. | cannot allow myself to be so
1yn III fhn,, lnI ar 70,
show the ladies out, but when the officer
placed his hand on the arm of the young
wife, she fell on her knees at Lincoln's
feet, and clasping him around the legs,
said: My God If you do not pardon
him he must die and it will kill me.
They were taken from the room and
the President stepping to the window, put
his hand to his face and said in anguish
What shall do? He then called an Off
Ger and instructed him to see Attorney
General Holt and tell him to search the
records at once and report whether there
was any irregularity in the Sergeant's
trial. A few days afterwards | saw an
order in the newspaper releasing the man
on the grounds that the members of the
court martial had not been sworn in in
the presence of the witness. So the great
Lincoln had found a way to do the kindly
act he wished without in any way COM
promising himself or interfering with
military u1SClpl1ne.
After Colonel Wells address there was a
piano recital by Miss Orilla Donnell A
paper was then read by Major Geo. W.
Merrill entitled Our Duty, which appeared
in full in yesterdays Herald and should
be read by all patriotic citizens. After the
singing OF the Star Spangled Banner by
Captain J. A. Osgood, the party proceed
ed to the cafe, where refreshments were
served. When the cravings of the inner
man had been satisfied, the president
called for remarks by several companions
which were responded to by Colonel
Chandler, Major Donnel, Colonel Marble
and others. After singing Aud Lang
Syne, the meeting apjourned. 1t was
voted by all present to have been very
enjoyable occasion.
The following were present; Captain
and Mrs. Rossiter, Mrs. Belle Prentiss,
Captain and Mrs. J. A. Osgood, Colonel
and Mrs. J. G. Chandler, Colonel Charles
Beutzoni, us. A., Mrs Van Slauterback,
Major j. A. Donnell, Miss Grilla Donnell,
Captain W. H. Newman, Captain George
W. Merrill, Mrs. Merrill, Colonel and Mrs.
j. NJ. C. Marble and Miss Marble, Colonel
E. W. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Colonel G.Wiley
Wells, Mrs. Wells, c. s. Gilbert, Mrs.
Gilbert, Major L. S. Butler, Mrs. Butler,
Colonel and Mrs. W. T. Shaw, Miss Shaw,
DR.. H. NJ. Bishop, Mrs. G. G.. Bishop
General B. c. Ludlow, Mrs. Baker.