The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1916-12-01
Lincoln as a Cross-Examiner.

of an almanac TO prove the falsity OF
witnesses testimony and thus sue
ceeded in proving the witness him
self guilty of the crime has often
been told. but Lincoln's handling of
the case was so skillful that the story
is well worth repeating in detail.
A young man named Grayson had
been charged with the murder OF an
other young man named Lockwood
BY shooting him. From the evidence
that had been given il appeared that
Grayson was guilty and that he would
surely be convicted. The principal
witness for the prosecution was a
man named Sovine who declared that
he was with Lockwood at the time he
was killed and swore that he saw
Grayson fire the fatal shot.
The mother of the prisoner tried
to get some one or other OF the we'll
known lawyers in that section to de-
fend her son but she was unsuccess-
full. At length she gave the case to
young Lincoln who was then un-
known and untried as a lawyer this
being his first case.
Everybody present at the trial was
utterly amazed when the young at
torney for the defense sat quietly by,
said not word and let all of the wit
nesses go without cross-examining
them. When Sovine entered the box
to testify. however. Lincoln demon
strated to all hands that he knew ex-
actly what he was about and that he
was an expert at conducting cross
examination. Lincoln's questions
and the witnesses answers were as
Lincoln-And you were with Lock
wood just before. and saw the shoot
ing? Sovine-Yes.
Lincoln-And you stood very near
to them? Sovine-No, almost 20
feet away.
Lincoln May II not have been 10
feet? Sovine-No, it was 20 feet
away.
Lincoln-In the open field? So
in the timber.
Lincoln What kind of timber?
Beech timber.
Lincoln-Leaves on II are rather
thick in August? Sovine-Rather.
Lincoln-And you think this pis-
toll is the one used? Sovine- 1t
looks like it.
Lincoln-You could see the defen-
dant shoot. see how the barrel hung,
and all about it? Sovine-Yes.
Lincoln How near was this to
the meeting place? "a revival meet
ing was in progress in the communl-
ty and Lockwood was on his way to
this at the time of his death.) So
quarters of mile off.
Where were the lights?
by the minister's head.
Lincoln-Three quarters of mile
away? Sovine-Yes, | answered ye
twice.
Lincoln-Did you not see a candle
there with Lockwood or Grayson!
Sovine-No. What would we want
a candle for?
Lincoln-How then did you see the
Sovine-(d efiantly - BY
moonlight.
Llneoln-You saw this shooting at
10 o'clock at night. In beech timber,
three quarters OF mile from the
lights, saw the pistol barrel. saw the
man fire. saw IL 20 feet away, saw II
all by moonlight, saw II nearly mile
from the camp lights? Sovine-Yes,
told you so before.
After this answer from the witness
Lincoln drew from his pocket blue
covered book. The people in the
courtroom were now all keenly alert
and on tip-toe with expectation.
watching the lank young attorney
with breathless interest. The book
proved to be well-known almanac.
When the court had granted permits
sion to use this as evidence Lincoln
proved by means of II that on the
night OF the crime the moon was I'M
seen. that 1t actually did not rise
until one O'Clock the next morning.
Suddenly and dramatically he then
turned to the Judge and asked that
Sovine be Immediately arrested and
charged with the murder OF Lock-
wood. declaring that nothing but a
motive to clear himself could have In
dueed him TO swear away so falsely
the life of one who never did him
harm"
Sovine collapsed and at once con-
fessed that he had killed Lockwood
accidentally.
NothinR makes an angry wife 20