The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1913-07-12
there. tb. r-ntleman .ent bl. card to .

there. the gentleman AeDf ola cara 70 0
member Of cOngre~s-voorhees Of In
diana. afterward q senator Of national
reputation. The card bore the name
OF Bullitt, q resident OF the congres-
sional district represented ny Mr.. Voof-
bees The latter arose I - hts desk.
ioined Mr.. BnllItt. with whom be was
well acquainted. and the two went m
tho anteroom. where Xrs. Builitt await
ed them. They found her very much
agitated. and she greeted Mr.. Voor-
bees with the words:
My father. ID to b sb9t the day
after tomorrow"
1t behooved the conxressmaD to do
what he could for the unfortunate vo-
man. though 1t hardly seemed possible
amid the turmoil Of great war at thu
capital, where 1t was being directed.
to do anything. The matter Of SUD
plying aid and comfort to the enemy
was a crime a. serious n giving fnfor-
nation Of military movements. which
ID pnnishs bic with the halter.
The only material at hand with which
to work was documents that Mr.. and
Mrs. Bullitt had collected where the
iatter's father was known, testifying
to his good character. Nevertheless
MIR. Voorhees, entered heartily into the
cause Of his friends. Senators are sup
poset to be more powerful in Wash
ingtnn than representatives. and Mr..
Voorhees, applied to the two senators
from Indiana. Hendricks and Lane. to
20 with him to the president and In
tercede with him for the life Of Mr..
Luckett Senator Lane refused to ask
for a pardon for any man who had
been guilty Of supplying the Confeder-
ates with quinine and ammunition.
Senator Hendricks was more tractable
and consented. But later woman's
more impressible nature came in to
break down the sternness Of aenator
Lane. He mentioned to his wife the
case of the application Of daughter
to s"ve the life Of her father. and the
good lady sent her husband to seek
Mr.. Voorhees, to eat his words and
help on the work.
II was not till the next morning.
twenty-fo hours before the death sen
tence was to be carried into effect. that
the party went to the White House to
lay siege to the tender hearted preri.
dent Mr.. Lincoln received them with
cut delay. and Senator Lane stated the
case. The president listened patiently.
bnt there did not seem to be anything
in the case to separate It from others
of like character. But when Senator
Lane had finished Mrs. Bullitt began
such an appeal ms q daughter would
make in behalf of an aged father. Be-
fore she had finished Mr.. Lincoln turn
ed to Senator Lane and asked:
Lane, what did you say this mans
name isY'
"Luckett." replied Senator Lane.
Henry N. Luckett?'
.Yes," Mrs. BuIlitt answered eagerly.
my fathers name u Henry n. Luck
stt.r
-Did your father preach In Spring
6eld years aeof"
"He did"
..This IL strange" said the president
thoughtfully. II have often heard him
preach. and I've often been mistaken
for him. He is tall. dark complexionef
man. very like me. And b. Il 70 b
shot tomorrow. No. no: there she'll be
no shooting or hanging In this case!
There must be something the MATES
with him or he would not have been
caught in such an affair As this" Then.
turning to Mrs. Bullitt. he added. Il
don't know bow shall proceed in the
matter. but you may rest assured. my
child. that your fathers life 10 safe"
Before the party left him Mr.. Lin.
coin summoned q telegraph operator
from an adjoining room and dictated
4 dispatch to General Hurlbut at Mem
phis directing him to suspend the ex.
ecution Of Henry N. Luckett and await
further orders In the case.
This sudden change from death ID
life in the case Of her father was q
great strain on Mrs. Bullitt. She be-
came hysterical. crying and laughing
by turns. Nor was the incident with.
out effect upon the others Of the party.
some Of whom were In tears Tbs
president showed his own emotion By
repeating to himself:
Henry NJ. Luckett! No. no; thers
shall be no shooting in this case"
This is only one Of the many similai
Incidents that occurred in that historic
executive mansion during those four
years Of civil war. Viewing them now
at a distance Of half q century. they
stand ont Respondent acts Of mercy at
time when all else was barbaric
cruelty. They we're preparing the way
for grent change in the methods Ut
nations as to the treatment Of those
who either Justly or unjustly have
raised hand against an established
government and failed. When the