The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-02-11

Lane. He mentioned to his wife the
case of the application Of a daughter
to save 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.
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 it 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 is?'
''Luckett," replied Senator Lane.
Henry NJ. Luckett?"
EYES," Mrs. Bullitt answered eagerly
my fathers name is Henry NJ. Luck
ett."
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 is TO be
shot tomorrow. No, no; there shall be
no shooting or hanging in this easel
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, 81
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 the ex-
ecution of Henry NJ. Luckett and await
further orders in the case.
This sudden change from death te
life in the case of her father was a
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 his own emotion by
repeating to himself:
Henry NJ. Luckettl 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
stand out respondent acts Of mercy at
a time when all else was barbaric
cruelty. They were preparing the way
for q great change in the methods Of
nations as to the treatment Of those
who either justly or unjustly have
raised hand against an established
government and failed. When the
struggle ended. unlike similar cases
since government was established on
the earth, not 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 TO thank the president
for his life He went to Mr.. Voorhees,
called him from his desk and in the
same room where the old mans daugh
ter had made her appeal thanked him
and asked him to take him to MFR. Lin
coin that he might also express his
gratitude to him. But, though the
president had time to spare life. he
had not time to be thanked therefor
The call was never made.
1t is now nearly half a century since
the man who while in 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..
Lincoln's pardons, considering them
subversive to discipline and detrfment-
al to the cause But. while we have
ceased to be stirred by accounts of the
battles, we are ever ready to listen to
stories of the presidents pardons