The National tribune., 1900-02-01

| amount due AFTER allowing all creQltS ano
set-offs. and swore positively that it had
not been paid. Tho attorney for the De.
fendant simply produced receipt in fuliy
signed by Hoblit prior to the beginning OF
the case. Hoblit had to admit the signing
of the receipt, but told Lincoln he supposed
the cuss had lost It," Lincoln at once arose
and left the courtroom. The Judge told
| the parties to proceed with the case; and
Lincoln not appearing, Judge Treat di,
rected bailif to go to the hotel and call
him. The bailiff ran across the street to
| the hotel. and found Lincoln sitting in the
office with his feet on the stove, apparently
in deep study. when he interrupted hlm
| with: Mr.. Lincoln, the Judge wants you:
"Oh, does he?" replied Mr.. Lincoln. We'll,
you go back and tell the Judge cannot
come. Tell him have to wash my hands. "
The bailiff returned with the message, ana
Lincoln's client suffered non-suit. twas
LIncoln's way of saying he wanted nothing
more TO do with such case.
COULDN'T TAKE PAY FOR DOING HIS
DUTY.
Mr.. Lincoln would never advise clients
into unwiSe or unjust lawsuits. He would
always sacrifice his own interests, and re-
fuse a retainer, rather than be party to a
case which did not command the approval
of his sense of justice. He was once waited
upon by lady, who held a real-estate claim
which she desired to have him prosecute,
putting into his hands, with the necessary
papers. check for $3.50 as retaining fee.
Mr. Lincoln said he would look the case
over, and asked her to call again the next
day. Upon presenting herself, Mr.. Lincoln
told her that he had gone through the
papers very carefully, and was obliged to
tell her frankly that there was mot a peg
to hang her claim upon, and he could not
conscientiously advise her to bring an
action. The lady was satisfied, and.
thanking him, rose to go. wait" said Mr..
knSo 4So GbdcR Hmbng 81. il Rh hs ves here M
Lincoln" returned the lady. Il think you
have earned that" mo, no, he responded,
handing it back to her; that would not be
right. l can't take pay for doing my
duty"
BETTER MAKE $500 SOME OTHER WAY"
To a client who had carefully stated his
case, TO which Mr.. Lincoln had listened
with the closest attention, be said: Yes,
there is no reasonable doubt that can gain
your case for you. can set a whole neigh
borhood at loggerheads; l can distress
widowed mother and her six fatherless
children, and thereby get for you 5000,
which rightfully belongs, it appears to me.
as much to the woman and her children as
it does to you. You must remember that
some things that are legally right are not
morally right. l shall not take your case,
but will give you little advice, for which
Will charge you nothing. You seem to be
a sprightly, energetic man. l would ad-
wise you to try your hand at making 5000
some other way
"a SMALL CROP OF FIGHT FOR AN ACRE
OF GROUND"
Senator Mcdonald states that he saw q
jury trial in Illinois, at which Lincoln de.
Tended an old man charged with assault
and battery. No blood had been spilled,
but there was malice in the prosecution,
and the chief witness was eager to make the
most of it. On croSS-examinatIon, Lincoln
gave him rope" and drew him out; asked
him how long the fight lasted, and how
much ground it covered. The witness
thought the fight must have lasted half an
hour, and covered an acre OF ground. Lin
coin called his attention to the fact that
nobody was hurt, and then with an inimit-
able air, asked him if he didn't think it was
"a mi ighty small crop for an acre of ground;
The jury rejected the case will contempt,
as beneath their dignity.
FIXING A PLUG" FOR HIS "GALLUs."
Many Of the stories told of Lincoln at the
bar are extremely ridiculous, and represent
him in anything but a dignified light.
But they are part of the character of the
man, and should be given wherever there Is
reason TO suppose they are genuine. Be
sides, they are usually full of humor that
is irresistible. Such an incident Is given
by the Hon. Lawrence Weldon, Lincoln s
old friend and legal associate in Illinois.
Il can see him now" says Judge Weldon,
the decaying memories of 80
years, standing in the corner of the old
and as 1 approached him with
a paper | did not understand, he said:
Wait until fix this plug for my "gallus,"
and will pitch into that lik dog at a root.
While speaking, he was busily engaged in
trying to connect his suspender with his
trousers by making a plug perform the
function of button. Mr.. Lincoln liked CID
fashioned words, and never failed to use
them if they could be sustained as proper.
He was probably taught to say 'gallows,