The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-08-03
He DEFENDED YOUNG Girl
Passed BY the Witnesses and Made a
Strong Plea to the Jury; Secured
Her bCqulttal.

members were in attendance. John d.
Edwards of this city is a member of the
association but he could not be present
However, he has received copy of the
proceedings, which are very interesting
Among the many letters written receiv-
ed at the gathering was one from Cap
tain w. r. Hodges, who relates an in
cident in the life of Abraham Lincoln
and one which shows his kindness of
heart:
'To the Boys of the Old Thirty -sevond:
AS the time draws near for your annual
meeting my mind gets busy with the
days of long ago, and scenes and Incl
dents as fresh as these of yesterday
pass before me.
"You all remember doing provost
guard duty in North Memphis i'll the
spring 1868. 1 believe it was once in
ten days that 1 met with Company B to
perform the duty of policeman. We had
to maintain order, arrest deserters and
all violators of military law. Two OF
three times, big red headed, broad
shouldered citizen doctor from Illinois,
by the name of Cole, was brought in by
the guards for breaking some secession
lists Jaw. | demonstrated with him for
being so quarrelsome, and he turned up
on me and said: Young man, I'll tell
you story. Some years ago 1 was liv-
ing up in Illinois. 1 had some business
at a neighboring county seat. Having
finished that l found that no train
went my way until night. TO pass the
time 1 went to the court house where
a murder trial was on. The prisoner
was young girl of about eighteen who
had killed the man who had brought her
ruin. She was poorly dressed, and wore
upon her head calico sun bonnet which
hid her face. The states attorney in a
brutal way opened the case with coarse
insinuatiOns that she had been the
temptor. When he had finished, the
Judge asked if she had an attorney. She
shook her head and said she had no
money. At this moment tall angular
man strobe down the isle to the place
reserved for counsel and said to the
Judge: IF your honor please, 1 will de-
fend this prisoner She looked at him
in amazement, as she had never seen him
before. He went over to her side, stOop-
ed down and united the strings of her
bonnet, removed it and disclosed pref
ty,sweet face which looked into his with
wonder. TO her he said: Little one,
you don't know me, but many years ago
when was a friendless lad your father
gave me employment and was kind to
me. Yesterday l saw by the newspapers
that this daughter of my old friend,
long since dead, was to be tried for
killing the man who under promise of
marriage had accomplished her ruin He
said: we admit the killing. There is
no need of Witness There, standing by
her side, he made an address which
brought tears to eyes of all and ver-
dict of not guilty from the jury. / was
very near to him at the time He bent
over her and said: Goodbye little one.
You are free now Go back to your
mother and give her my love- At the
same time he slipped $40 gold piece
into her hand and hurried away. Now,
he said, you will understand why when
1 hear secsh say anything against Abe
Lincoln that 1 break his jaw.
the great army which stood by Lincoln
and the Union in those days of peril.
1862, we camped south of Memphis near
Fort Pickering One night l was on
picket duty with my reserve on the
Hernaudo road. Along toward morning
we heard the baying of hounds and af-
forwards came shot from the man on
duty straight in front. l took three
men and ran down the road to the post.
Near the guard was trembling negro
with child in his arms, and few PAGES
in front lay the dog killed by the guard.
The man with wife and child were try
ING to reach our lines when they were
pursued by hounds. He had become sep
arated from his wife and was almost
frantic for fear the dogs had overtaken
her. The party were nearly starved.
The boys supplied them bountifully
from their haversacks and / sent him
to camp. The wife had reached our
lines to the left of us and | saw them
reunited on my return to camp. 1t was
my first glimpse of slavery.
Zone of the pleasantest recollections
of recent years is of our reunion at Mar
inette. How L would love to grasp you
all by the hands, but it cannot be this
year. Remember me kindly to every one
of the boys, and to the good people who
will entertain you"