New-York tribune., 1911-12-24

with front vcranda Of Dorc pillars. The door stood
wide To the summer morning Court was already IN
session The place crowded; for there was to be a
murder trial that day. The congressional candidate
unnotccd stepped inside and sat by the door IN the last
Of seats.
1t was crude interior Of white walls. OF unpainted
woolwork Of pine floors and wooden benches. The
Franklin stove that heated it in winter stood there yet
its open mouth showing ashes OF the last March hrc
It's wards Of sovcpipc ran zgzag overhead Inc new
conner glanced about as if familiar with the type.
larceny case was being tried. The man listened, and
seemed 10 study lawyers and Judge lie was interested
in the comments OF the people near him. ne case
being ended, another was called man was to be tTed
this time for assault The stranger in the back seat
missed no word This case too came to a close ne
District Attorney rose and moved the trial OF John
Wilson for murder.
THERE was a stir through the courtroom people
turned on their benches and faced toward the front
door the one entrance In the doorway appeared the
Sheriff leading boy OF fifteen dressed IN poor, home
made clothes with conspicuous bright head OF golden
hair He was pale desperately frightened; his eyes
gazcd on the floor. Through the packed crowd the
Sheriff brought this shrinking, hating creature TIL ne
stood before the Judge, inside the bar. The Judge faced
the criminal and there was pause. 1t seemed 10 the
stranger watching from his seat by the door, that the
Judge was stcadying himself against pitul sight.
At length, "Havc YOU COUNSEL? the Judge demanded.
shuddcr shook the slim shoulders there was no
other answer.
The Judge repeated the question in no unkind
manner. Have you a lawyer: he asked.
The lad lips moved before one heard anything; then
he brought out, 81 dunno-what that Is.
y lawyer IS a man to see that You get your rights.
Have a lawyer
The lad shook his unkempt yellow head. no l
haint gOt-mOncy-tO pay.
"Do YOU wish the court 10 assign YOU counsel: The
Judge was unconscious that the familiar terms were
unknown tongue to the lad gasping before him. With
that through the stiffness sound OF boot that
scrapcd the floor. The man in the back seat rose,
.1alf f,rv.l- .l-i b,f1r he Itilg
May il please your Honor he said, Il am lawyer.
l should be glad to act counsel for the defense"
The Judge looked at him. There was something
common in this lOoschung figure towering inches above
six feet there was power The Judge looked at him.
"What is your namc; he asked.
abraham Lincoln
\ tall, gaunt man in common clothes gave his name.
Frontier farmers and backwooismcn in homcspun jeans
some with bucskn brccchcs in their shirt sleeves
women in s,lnbOnncts sat about. and listened. Nobody
saw more. Nobody dreamed that the name spoken and
heard fill one OF the great places in history.
The Judge, who had learned 10 classify humanity a
bit, alone placed the outside the procession Of
the average. Moreover, he had heard Of him. 81 know
your name, Mr. Lincoln. shall be glad assign YOU
10 defend the prisoner, he answered.
THE jury was drawn Man after man they came un-
der the scrutiny of the deep eyes under the over
hanging brows,-eycs keen, dreamy sad, humorous
man after man. those eyes Of LncOln sought out the
character Of each But he challenged no one. The Dis
trct Attornc, examined each; the lawyer for the de-
fgns. examined none: he accepted them ALL The hard
faced audience began 10 glance at him mpacntly The
feeling against the prisoner; yet they wished TO
some fight made for HIM they wanted play of swords
There was no excitement IN looking at "a man who sat
still in his chair
The District Attorney opened the case for the people
II told with few words the story Of the murder The
prisoner hal worked on the farm Of one Amos Berry in
the autumn before in 1919 On this farm was an Irish
man, Shaugncsy by name. He amused himself by Wor-
rying the boy, and the boy came TO hate him He kept