The National tribune., 1900-02-01
EVERYDAY LIFE OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
CONTINUED from first page.)

He and his wife had from that time treated
the youth with the utmost kindness, giving
him home when he was out of work. and
showing him every kindness it was in thell
power to offer Lincoln never forgot his
debt of gratitude to them, and when Hannah
now widow, wrote to him of the peril her
boy was in, and besought him to help
them in their extremity, he replied promptly
that he would do what he could. line
circumstances were these: "ln the summer
OF 1857, at camp-meeting in Mason County
one Metzgar was most brutally murdered.
The affray took place about half mile
from the place of worship, near some wag-
ons loaded with liquor and provisions,
Two men, James II. Norris and William
ID. Armstrong, were indicted for the crime.
Norris was tried in Mason County, con-
victed of fmanslaughter, and sentenced 10th
penitentiary for a term OF eight years.
The popular feeling being very high against
Armstrong in Mason County, he took a
change of venue to Cass County, and was
there tried (at Beardstown) in the Spring
of 1858. Hitherto Armstrong had had the
services of two able counsellors, but now
their efforts were supplemented by those
of a most determined and Jealous volunteer
The case was so clear against the accused
that defense seemed almost useless. The
strongest evidence was that of a man who
swore that at IL o'clock at night he saw
Armstrong strike the deceased on the
head; that the moon was shining brightly
and was nearly full; and that its position
in the sky was just about that OF the sun
at 10 o'clock in the morning, and by it he
saw Armstrong give the mortal blow.
This was fatal, unless the effect could be
broken by contradiction or impeachment.
Lincoln quietly looked up an almanac, and
found that at the time this witness declared
the moon to have been shining with full
light, there was no moon at all. MIR.
Lincoln made the closing argument. AT
first" says Mr.. Walker, one of the counsel
associated with him, 'he spoke slowly and
carefully, reviewed the testimony, and
pointed out its contradictions, discrepancies
and impossibilities. When he had thus
prepared the way, he called for the alma
nae, and showed that at the hour at which
Ess principal witness swore he had seen,
sy she light of the full moon, the mortal
elow given, there was no moon. The last
IS minutes of his speech was as eloquent
as l ever heard, and such were the power
and earnestness with which he spoke to the
ary that all sat as if entranced, ard when
he was through found relief in Gush OF
tears" Said one of the prosecutors: He took
the jury by storm. There were teaTS in Mr..
Lincoin's eyes while he spoke, but they
were genuine. His sympathies were fully
enlisted in favor of the young man, and
his terrible sincerity could not help but
arouse the same passion in the jury. l
have said hundred times that it was
Lincoln's speech that saved that man
from the gallows."
Armstrong was not cleared by any
want Of testimony against him, but by
the irresistible appeal Of Mr.. Lincoln
in his favor" says MI. Shaw, one Of
the associates in the prosecution. His
mother, who sat near during Mr.. Lincoln's |
appeal, says: He told the stories about
our first acquaintance, and what did for |
him, and how did it. Lincoln said to me. |
Hannah, your son will be cleared before |
sundown.' He and the other lawyers ad- |
dressed the jury, and closed the case. l
went down TO Thompsons pasture. Stator |
came to me and told me that my son was
cleared and a free man. / went up to the |
Courthouse; the jury shook hands with |
me; SO did the court; so did Lincoln. Wei
were all affected, and tears streamed down
Lincoln's eyes. He then remarked to me, |
Hannah, what did | tell you? l pray to
God that William may be a good boy here |
after; that this lesson may prove in the end
a good lesson 10 him and 10 all After the
trial was over Lincoln came down to where