The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-09


supplies met him and took MN pa'A u
camp.
What course the boy had been obli@-
cd to take To avoid being arrested uE
Federal troops does not appear. but Tile
renort of the officer in charge OF the
forauinr PARTY vas that lie was head
in- for the Confederate lines. The
fact that lie had had brother IN the
Confederate army also told against
him He was tried by court martial
for deSertion and sentenced TO be shot
one mornin. while Mr.. Lincoln was
talking with a visitor at the Nhlle
House an attendant entered and hand
ed the president a card. 4 panied eX
presSion crossed Mr.. Lincoln's face as
he recognized the name OF Julia At
water The papers in the case OF her
sons court martial had been forward
ed to him. and his signature was neceS-
sary before the death sentence could
be carried out. The visitor offered to
give way 10 the newcomer. but MT
Lincoln urged him TO remain where
he was. at the same time giving an
order that the woman was TO be ad-
mitted.
Presently the door was opened, and
a pale faced woman entered.
My son has been condemned to die.
she said. "and will he executed unless
you will save him
"Wllat is he charged with, madame"
"DeSertion"
WAS he not regularly tried by court
martial:"
"YeS, but
"And was he not arrested passing to-
ward the Confederate lincs:"
YES, but there is another side to the
story"
Il have heard the story, and | am
sorry to say to you that cannot poSSi-
bly, interfere with the sentence of the
court"
Mr. Lincoln turned away from the
woman, but was recalled to her by the
sound of falling body. She had
tainted
The president FASTENED to her, raised
her and called an attendant. Together
they worked over her till she was re-
stored to consciousness.
At the time the secretary of war. Mr..
Stanton, and the generals of the army
were complaining bitterly OF Mr.. Lin
coins interference with their efforts to
maintain discipline by pardoning those
who were sentenced, especially for de-
sertion. 1t was these complaints that
had moved him to put curb on his
sympathies and refrain from interfer-
ence. Papers in the case Of Arthur At
water had passed through the war de-
partment, and Mr.. Stanton had fore
stalled any action on the part Of Mr.
Lincoln in the doomed mans favor.
When the woman had recovered she
begged so hard that the president would
hear her side of the story that he final
ly consented to do so. IF you really
come here for justice" he said, sitting
down beside her, you shall have it,
and it will make me happy to give it,
but If you merely wish to work on my
sympathies in order to blind Inc to my
duty you will make me miserable with
out making yourself less miserable"
God bless you, Mr.. President" was
the reply. Il only ask that you will
hear what | have to say, and If you
can he convinced my story is true that
you will interpose in my sons behalf"
The widow then told Mr.. Lincoln the
story as it has been told here When
she had finished Mr. Lincoln said to
her:
You may go now, madam, with a
good heart l promise you that pro-
ceedings shall be stayed and that you
shall have an opportunity to prove the
truth of your statement If you do so
you have nothing to fear"
The president repressed the express
sions of gratitude Of the woman he had
made happy, interrupting her to say
that he was only doing his duty, and
she went out weeping tears of relief
and joy
Arthur Atwater was preparing HIM
self to meet his fate when a telegram
""s itNtitu ny uiln tuHt Ills eAecu-
tion had been ordered delayed by the
president for an investigation of his
case. His mother made good her state
ment, anl he was returned to duty.
His life was saved by the appeal of
his mother to one who mingled kind
iy nature with sense Of justice.
There is no record at hand of what
the secretary of war said when it was
announced to him that stay had
been granted in the case of Private
Arthur Atwater. Ii is quite likely.
however, that he frowned and nut.
tered. Another case Of chicken heart.
edness on the part of the president"
There is a sequel to the story which
gives 1t a fitting ending. When the
truth came out that the officer to
whom Arthur had applied for leave
had In face of the evidence at hand
accused the boy of cowardice and had
called his mother a scheming rebel.
the captain was taken to task BY his
colonel. who preferred charges against
him. While the case was pending the
captain got on a spree and while drunk
H.. i