The Snowflake herald., 1922-02-03
CHAPTER XXI.
ii

IL
Wherein Abe Lincoln Reveals HE
Method Of Conducting a Lawsuit in
the Case of Henry Brimstead ct al,
VS.. Lionel Davis.
They found many Of Davis notes
In Tazewell county. Abe Lincoln's
complaint represented seven clients
and sum exceeding twenty thousand
dollars.
With the papers in his pocket Harry
went on to the Honey Greek settle
ment. There he found that the
plague had spent itself and that BIN
had gone to a detention camp outside
the city Of Chicago. He was not per-
mitted to see her, the regulations hav-
ing become very strict In the city he
went to the store of Eli Fredenberg.
The merchant received him with en-
thusiasm. Chicago had begun to re-
cover from the panic. Trade was
lively.
Harry spent the afternoon with Mrs.
KelsO and Bins baby boy. He wrote
a very tender letter to BIN that day.
He told her that he had come to Chi
cago to live so that he might be near
her and ready to help her if she need
ed help. '"The same old love is in my
heart that made me want you for my
wife long ago, that has filled my let
ters and sustained me in many an
hour of peril" he wrote. eff you
really think that you must marry Da-
Wis, ask you at least to wait for the
developments Of a suit which Abe Lin
coin is bringing In behalf Of many
citizens of Tazewell county. 1t is
likely that we shall know more than
we do now before that case ends.
saw your beautiful little boy. He looks
so much like you that long to steal
him and keep him with me-"
In few days he received this brief
reply:
Dear Harry: Your letter pleased
and panied me. 1 have been so tossed
about that don't know quite where 1
stand. For a long time my life has
been nothing but a series of emotions.
What Honest Abe may be able to
prove l know not, but 1 am sure that
he cannot disprove the fact that Mr..
Davis has been kind and generous to
me. For that l cannot ever cease to
be grateful. should have married
him before now but for one singular
circumstance. My little boy cannot be
made to like him. He will have moth
ing to do with Mr.. Davis. He will not
be bribed or coerced. l saw in this a
prophecy of trouble. l left home and
went down into the very shadow of
death. 1t may be that we have been
saved for each other by the wisdom
of childhood. / must not see you now.
Nor shall / see him until have found
my way. Even your call cannot make
me forget that 1 am under a solemn
promise.
"Im glad you like the boy. He Is
wonderful child I named him Ne
hemiah for his grandfather. We call
him MIN and sometimes Mr.. Nimble'
because he is so lively. I'm homesick
to see him and you. / am going to
mother and the baby. Don't tell any
one where l am and above all don't
come to see me until in good heart
can ask you to come.
"God bless you!
"BIM."
In a few weeks the suit came on.
@ riU IN hn
swer, alleged that the notes were to
be paid out of the proceeds of the
sale of lots and that in consequence
of the collapse of the boom there had
been no such proceeds. AS to the un-
derstanding upon which the notes
were drawn, there was direct issue
of veracity for which Abe Lincoln
was exceedingly well prepared. His
crOss-examination was as merciless
as sunlight falling round helpless
thing" 1t was kindly and polite In
tone but relentless in it's searching.
When it ended, the weight of Davis
character had been accurately eStab
lished. In his mastery summing up
Mr.. Lincoln presented every circum-
stance in favor or the defendantS pO-
sition. With remarkable insight he
anticipated the arguments of his at
torney. He presented them fairly and
generously to the court and jury. Ac-
cording to Samson the opposing law
yers admitted in a private talk that
Lincoln had thought of presumptions
I'm favor of Davis which had not oc
Cured to them. Therein lay the char
acteristic of Mr.. Lincoln's method In
lawsuit.
''It was a safe thing for him to do,
for he never took a case in which JUS
tice was not clearly on his side," Sam
son writes. eff he had been deceived
as to the merits of a case he would
drop it. With the sword of justice in
his hand he was invincible."