New-York tribune., 1911-12-24


woman in shabby clothes, woman who had sat IN
dark corner OF the courtroom crying silently, who had
stolen forward and spoken timd word to Lincoln.
With her he turned into OF the poorest houses OF the
town and had dinner with her and her cousin the car
pcntcr and his family.
That's the prisoners mother, a woman whispered,
when hour later court opened again and the defend
ants lawyer came up the steps with the torlon little
woman and seated her very carefully before he went
forward to his place.
THE District Attorney in his shirt sleeves in chair
L t;nnod AGAINST the wall called and examined wit
ncsscs Proof made Of the location; the place was
described eve witnesses testified to the details OF the
crime There appeared to be no possible doubt OF the
criminals guilt
The lad sat huddled, colorlcss from months in Jail;
sunk now in an apathy murderer at fifteen Men on
the Jury who had hardy, honest boys of their at
home rowncd at him, and, it may be- considered that
Of this sort would be as wcremoyed Back IN
the dark corner the shabby woman sat quiet
The sultrv afternoon wore Outside the open win
dows a puff Of wind moved branches of trees and
then; hardly breath came inside. 1t was hot, wear
some; but vet 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 MUIR
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 to stare at the thin
woman covering in her dark seat, shaking with that
continual rcprcsScd crying All this was too good to
lose: the crowd stayed The District Attorneys nasal
But the big lawyer sitting there did satisfy people
He did not cross examine one witness he did not make
one objection, even to statements very damaging 70 his
client. He scrutnizcd the Judge and the jury. One
might have said that he studying the character OF
each man.
At length the afternoon had worn to an end and the
District Attorney had examined the last witness and
had risen and said "he people rest That side of the
finished, and court adjourned for supper, to
reopen at sevcn-thirty in the evening
REFORE the hour the audience had gathered. The
" sentiment ran in favor OF condemnation. To have
killed at fifteen showed dcpravitv which was best
put out OF the way. Stern narrow, the hard-lvng
and women OF the backWOols set their thin lips into this
sentence yet down inside each beat heart capable
Of generous warmth il only the way it found if
finger with touch might be laid the sealed gen
tcncSS
Court opened. Not a seat was empty. The small
woman in her calico dress sat forward this time
close to the bar few feet separated her from her SON.
The lawyers took their places. The Sheriff brought in
the criminal. The Judge entered And then Abraham
Lincoln stalcd slowly in through the silent full benches
and paused he came 10 the prisoner. He laid big
hand on the thin shoulder and the lad started Lincoln
bent from his great height
Don't YOU be scared Sonny, ne said quietly: vet
everyone heard every word I'm going TO Dull YOU out
Of this hole Try 10 be pucky for your mothers sake"
And the boy lifted his blue Young eyes and glanced
over 90 the shabby woman, and she met his look with
difficult SMILE and he tried to smile back The audience
saw the effort OF each for the other: the IuJg saw
and the jury and LincoIns keen eyes caught Il spasm
of pity in more than face He took of his coat and
folded on the back of his chair and stood i'm his shirt
sleeves He stood man Of the people in look and man
ncr and "a comfortable sense pcrvadci the spectators
that what he going to say they going To under
stand. The room was still
GENTLENIEN of the jury. began Abraham Lincoln.
~ standing i'm his shirt sleeves before the court 81 ar,
going try this case i'm manner not customary am
not going to venture To- the track of the gentleman
who has tried It for the prosecution shall not call