The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-11
lincoln Among I,awyers.


lincoln Among Lawyers.
Speaking Of Lincoln as a lawyer,
Leonard SWEET, his contemporary and
friend, once told me that Lincoln was
not worth cent in case in which he
did not believe. In this connection, he
related an incident of Lincoln and
himself being appointed by Judge
David Davis to defend a man indicted
for murder who was supposed to be
without means = retain a lawyer. How
ever, the prisoner had friends who
were able to raise 800 for his defense.
me money was turned over to SWEET,
who handed half Of it to Lincoln.
When they came to consult with the
prisoner, Lincoln became convinced
that he was guilty, and that the only
chance of saving his neck was to have
him plead guilty and then appeal for
leniency. This was opposed by SWEET,
who was an extremely adroit criminal
lawyer. The case, therefore, came to
trial, but Lincoln, though present and
sitting beside SWEET took no part in it
further than to make an occasional
suggestion to his associate in the
course of the examination of witnesses.
The outcome of the case, thanks to
technicalities which Unexpectedly ap-
peared, and which SWEET was not slow
to take advantage of, was that the man
was acquitted. When the Jury render
ed its verdict, Lincoln reached over
SWEETS shoulder. with the $50 in his
hand, and said: Here, SWEET, take
this money. 1t is yours. You earned
it, not l."
Lincoln's career as a lawyer shows
him in an amiable light and as q man
who cherished no malice. and this was
equally true even in the midst of the
most heated political contests 1t was
indeed beautiful side of his charac-
ter. for no man in politics was ever
fv-@rS Ar,k -
his election to the presidency at least,
to drink to the dregs the bitter cup
of political disappointme nt.--Century.
Temple Bar.
Temple Bar, which it is proposed to
move from Theobald's Park, was re-
yiled enough when it stood in Fleet
street. Throughout the eighteenth CEN
fury there were spasmodic agitations
for its removal, and in 1859 the city
corporation went far as to make
provision for the lessees of the rooms
in the Bar to quit possession, prepara-
tory to its demolition. In BLEAK
House" it iS described as a 'leaden-
headed old obstruction, appropriate
ornament for the threshold of a lead
en-headed old corporation" Twenty
years later, Joseph Hatton wrote that
Temple Bar represents little else in
history but a gibbet. There is not one
SAA5lG 5iOliOuS d6cOCAdtlOU COHIAcCI0Q
with it. Even from the antiquarian
point of view it is an impostor. 1t rs
only 200 years old. will take you to
an archwey at Lincoln that was built
before Christ; and yet we gaze at this
crumbling Golgotha standing in the
way of London street progress and
talk of its historical associations."-
London Chronicle.
In Search of His Home.
A peaceable resident of West Sixty
fifth street was rudely awakened from
sleep last week, at about 2:30 a. m,
by a loud ring at his door bell.
Throwing open the window. he stuck
his head out and in no very pleasant |
manner demanded to know what was
wanted.
"'Scuse me, SIR" answered a mud
died voice Does Jones-hic-hic-l
live here?"
"Jones?' said the party addressed |
angrily. "Of course not. What the |
devil do you mean by ringing peoples |
bells at this time of morning? Who |
are you, anyway"
Whom 70" asked the disturber. ap- /
nized. why, I'm Jones. '-Lippin- |
colts.
Accident Rehearsal
Passengers boarding the $40 Lacka-
wanna train from Hoboken to Mont /
clair were startled to see in one coach |
a score of young women bandaging and |
arms and fingers. Their |