Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-24


dark corner of the courtroom crying silently who had
stolen forward and spoken tmid word to Lincoln.
With her he turned into one of the poorest houses of the
town. and had dinner with her and her cousin the
penter and his family.
"That S the prisoners mother" a woman whispered,
when hour later, opened again. and the defend
ants lawyer up the steps with the tOrlOrn little
woman and seated her very carefully before he went
forward to his place.
THE District Attorney in his shirt sleeves in a chair
tipped against the wall, called and examined wit
Proof made of the location; the place
described eye witnesses testified the details of the
crime. There appeared to be possible doubt of the
criminals guilt.
The lad sat huddled, coorless from months in jail;
the jury who had hardy honest boys of their own
home frowned at him. and it may be, considered that
monster of this sort would be we'll removed Back in
the dark corner the shabby woman sat quiet.
The sultry afternoon Outside the open win
dows puff of wind moved branches of trees and
then; hardly breath came inside. 1t was hot weari-
some; but yet the crowd stayed. These were people
who had theaterS 1t play to listen to the Dis
tric Attorney drawing from witness after another
the record of humiliation and rage, eliminating in
der 1t excitement to watch the yellow haired child
trial for his life. 1t added thrill for those who
knew the significance of her presence the thin
woman covering in her dark seat shaking with that
lose: the crowd stayed The District Attorneys nasal
voice and fell examining witnesses.
But the big lawyer sitting there did satisfy people.
He did not cross witness, he did not make
objection, to statements very damaging to his
client. He scrutnized the Judge and the jury One
might have said that he was studying the character of
each
At length the afternoon had worn an end and the
District Attorney had examined the last witness and
had risen and said THE people rest That side of the
finished, and court adjourned for supper,
reopen at seven thirty in the evening.
BEFORE the hour the audience had gathered The
~ sentiment in favor of condemnation. To have
killed at fifteen showed depravy which was best
put out of the Stern, narrow, the hardiving
and of the backwoods set their thin lips into this
sentence; yet down inside each one beat heart capable
of generous warmth if only the way to it found, if
finger with touch might be laid the sealed gen.
tenesS
Court opened. Not seat was empty. The small
woman in her calico dress sat forward this time,
close to the bar few feet separated her from her
The lawyers took their places The Sheriff brought in
the criminal The Judge entered. And then Abraham
Lincoln stalked slowly in through the silent full benches,
and paused as he to the prisoner He laid big
hand the thin shoulder. and the lad started. Lincoln
bent from his great height.
"Don't you be scared, sonny he said quietly; yet
everyone heard every word. I'm going pull you out
of this hole Try to be plucky for your mothers sake
And the boy lifted his blue, young eyes and glanced
to the shabby woman and she his look with
difficult smile and he tried to smile back. The audience
the effort of each for the other the Judge it,
and the Jury-and Lncons keen eyes caught spas1n
of pity in more than one face He took off his coat and
folded the back of his chair and stood in his shirt
sleeves He stood man of the people in look and man.
ner, and comfortable pervaded the spectators
that what he going to they going to under
stand. The still.
GENTLEMEN of the jury, began Abraham Lincoln,
standing in his shirt sleeves before the court, IL
going to try this case in not customary. am
not going to venture to the track of the gentleman
who has tried it for the prosecution. shall not call
witnesses: the little prisoner there is all the witness
want shall not argue: | shall beseech you make
the argument for yourselves. All going to do is to
tell you story and show you how it connects with this
case; and then leave the case in your hands.
There stir through the courtroom. The voice,
rasping, unpleasant at first.
"YOu lin Beck: VOL lack Armstrong