The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-02-14
LINCOLN RELsNTED.
A Pardon That Was Procured Because ID
Woman's SuIerings.

The Rev DR.. P. D. Gurley was the
minister in charge of the New York
Avenue Presbyterian church, Wash
ington, during Lincoln's administra-
lion. DR.. Gurley was Lincoln's pas
tor, and in many matters his conf
Dental adviser, a post he was admir-
ably fitted to fill, being a strong, 70
bust, honest personality and man
of sweet disposition, great ability
and excellent Judgment.
During the meeting of the first
general assembly of the Presbyterian
church after the war, which conven-
ed in ST Louis, DR.. Gurley, who was
a delegate, was one day the guest of
Rev. Dr. Nicolls, in whose church
the assembly met, and the following
anecdote of Lincoln was related by
DR.. Gurley at dinner in the presence
of a number of friends, among whom
was the present writer:
Soon after the outbreak of hostili-
ties hot blooded, fire eating young
man, a son of members of DR.. Cur
eley's church, made his way through
dsssasl aleS and enlisted in the Confed-
crate army. The fortunes of war
threw him into our hands as pris-
oner. Tt was deemed best to make
an example of him, and he was con-
sequently court martialed and SEN
fenced to be shot. DIR. Gurley inter
ested 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..
Gurley and solicited his aid to Oh
tain pardon. DR.. Gurley strongly
advised against the effort. He point
ed out that the young mans life had
been saved by the president, and
that it would be extremely unwise
and imprudent to apply for pardon
so soon. The father replied that he
felt so himself, but that his wife took
on so about her son that he feared
she would lose her mind if some
thing were not done. Unjust, said
he, make the attempt on his moth
er's account. It is better to fail than
not to try" Consequently Dr. Cur
ley signed the petition for a pardon,
and the father took it to President
| Lincoln.
When the father made known his
errand, the president became very
much excited and fiercely said: 81
saved the life of your son after he
had been condemned to be shot, and
now you come here so soon when
you know I am overwhelmed with
care and anxiety, asking for his par
don. You should have been content
with what have done. Go, and if
you annoy me any more I shall feel
it to DO my duty to consider whether
i ought not to recall what l have al
ready done. "
A few days after the president sent
for the father, apologized for the
way he had spoken to him, and to
his utter establishment handed him
a pardon.
Not long after, and before know
ing what had transpired, DR.. Gurley
met the president Having transact
ed his business, he was about to go
when the president said
"By the way, doctor, you signed
the petition for Mr.. IS sons par
don, didn't you?"
The doctor replied that he had
done so, but explained that he had
advised against making the applica-
ton at that time, and that he was
induced to sign it only by the state
ment Of the father that he feared
his wife would lose her mind if
something were not done to relieve
| her.
The president then remarked
well, Mr.. - came to me with the
petition. 1t made me very angry,
and / dismissed him very roughly.
Afterward | felt so ashamed Of my
self for having lost my temper that
l made out a pardon for the man and
gave it to him.
And then, after a pause and with
a broad smile, added: "Ah, doctor,
| these wives of ours have the inside
track on US. Don't they?"-D. H.
Mitchell in Independent.