Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-17
The Argus Daily Story
He Shall Not Die-By F. A. M itchel.
Copyrighted. 1918. by Associated Literary Bureau

to do anything. The matter of sup
plying aid and comfort to the enemy
was crime as serious as giving infor>'
nation Of military movements. which
is punishable with the halter
. The only material at hand with which
to work was documents that Mr. and
Mrs. Bullitt had collected where the
latter's father was known, testifying
TO his good character. Nevertheless
Mr.. Voorhees, entered heartily into the
cause of his friends. Senators are sup
posed to be more powerful in Wash
ington than representatives, and Mr..
voorhees, applied to the two senators
from Indiana, Hendricks and Lane, to
so 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 quiniue and ammunition.
Senator Hendricks was more tractable
and consented. But later woman's
more impressibla nature came in to
break down the sternness Of Senqtor
Lane. He mentioned to his wife the
case OF the application OF q daughter
to save the life OF her father, and che
good lady sent her husband to seek
Mr.. Voorhees, to eat his words and
help on the work.
1t was not till the next morning.
twenty-four 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 presi-
dent. Mr.. Lincoln received them with
out delay, and Senator Lane stated the
case. The president listened patiently,
but there did not seem to be anything
in the case to separate II from others
of like character But when Senator
Lane had finished Mrs. Bullitt began
such an appeal as a 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 tsp
'Tuckett," replied Senator Lane.
Henry NJ. LdckettF"
yes" Mrs. Bullitt answered eagerly.
"My fathers name is Henry NJ. Luck
EFT"
Did your father preach In Spring
field years ago?"
HE did"
"This is strange" said the president
thoughtfully. 81 have often heard him
preach, and I've often been mistaken
for him. He is tall, dark complexioned
man, very like me. And he IL TO be
shot tomorrow. No, no; there she'll be
no shooting or hanging in this case!
There must be something the matter
with him or he would not have been
caught in such an AFFAIR as this" Then,
turning to Mrs Bullitt, he added. IT
don't know how shall proceed in the
matter, but you may rest assured. my
child, that your fathers life is safe"
Before the party left him Mr.. Lin
coin summoned a telegraph operator
from an adjoining room and dictated
a dispatch to General Hurlbut at Mem
phis directing him to suspend tho ex-
ecution of Henry NJ. Luckett and await
further orders in the case.
This sudden change from death to
life In the case Of her father was
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. The
president showed bis own emotion by
repeating to himself:
Henry NJ. Luckett! No, no; there
shall be no shooting In this case"
This is only one Of the many similar
Incidents that occurred in that historic
executive mansion during those four
! years of civil war. Viewing them now
| at a distance OF half a century, they
stand out Respondent acts of mercy az
time when all else was barbaric
cruelty. They were preparing the way
| for a great change in the methods Of
nations as to the treatment OF those
who either justly or unjustly have
raised a hand against an established
government and failed. When the
! struggle ended. unlite similar cases
since government was established on
| the earth, not a drop OF blood of even
the leaders OF the movement was shed.
Mr.. Luckett when released. though
straitened for means. insisted on going
/ TO Washington 10 thank the president
for his life. He went to Mr. voorhees,,
called him from bis desk ana in the
same room where the old mans daugh-
ter had made her appeal thanked. him
and asked him to take him to Mr.. Lin
coin that he might also express his
gratitude to him. Bit though the
president had time to suAre a life. he
had not time q be thanked therefor.
The call was never made.
1t is now nearly half a century since
the man who while fn the midst of
bloodshed never lost an opportunity Of
showing mercy fell by the bullet OF an
assassin. yet With every year the re-
membrance OF those acts grows dearer
TO the American people. The secretary
of war, the generals. all dreaded Mr..
Lincolns pardons. considering them
subversive to discipline and detriment.
al to the cause. But. while we have
ceased TO be stirred by accounts Of the
battles. we are ever ready to listen "a
stories OF the presidents pardona
I